Dropped wrist pin into crankcase……..

[Redman]

Let’s see if I can calm my nerves enough to write this.

putting #3 piston on con rod.
fumbled the wrist pin and it went down #4
(Thru the cloth I had down for stuff like the ring clip)
I saw it down there. My first attempt to retrieve it, it rolled away toward center.
tilt bike and it doesn’t roll back.
fished around with magnet probe, no find in #4 and #3
i figure is down in deeper sump by oil
filter.

question:
Engine in frame. I have exhaust off. 82 1100gk.
So should be able to take off the bottom case cover (“pan”) , right?
and should find the wrist pin there?

[Cipher]

yes take the pan off

[tatu]

What a pig, sorry for that, you'll get it with the pan off.

[Buffalo Bill]

Let’s see if I can calm my nerves enough to write this.

putting #3 piston on con rod.
fumbled the wrist pin and it went down #4
(Thru the cloth I had down for stuff like the ring clip)
I saw it down there. My first attempt to retrieve it, it rolled away toward center.
tilt bike and it doesn’t roll back.
fished around with magnet probe, no find in #4 and #3
i figure is down in deeper sump by oil
filter.

question:
Engine in frame. I have exhaust off. 82 1100gk.
So should be able to take off the bottom case cover (“pan”) , right?
and should find the wrist pin there?

Try fishing with a big magnet?
On the other hand, never a bad idea to take the oil pan off, inspect the residue and replace the gasket. Good chance to replace the shift detente spring. I know mine needs replacing.

[Grimly]

Good idea to remove the pan and clean it anyway. Check the oil strainer while there, it's possibly needing a rinse.

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Get a new oil pan gasket on hand. Mine was a real chore to remove, about 50/50 stayed on the pan/bottom of engine. Scraping gasket residue on your back for hours is not a fun time. Sorry Dave. Bummer.

[Redman]

Got a big magnet on cord. Sticks to any and everything so can’t hardly manouver it.

went and got a small magnet (rated 3 pounds) on extendable probe with flexible end.
Spent a lot of time, can’t find the wrist pin, in any cylinder hole , not much a accessible thru cam chain area.

maybe good idea about that shift spring thing, maybe I should
look into that, but am working crawling/wiggling around on the floor, am barley gonna be able to do the pan removal and replacement. (Darn, now, will need to wait for gasket).

Okay, inspect clean filter.

wow, such good responses in such short time.

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Dave, if I lived closer, I’d come over and help you rake the engine out of the frame.

[chuck hahn]

Once you retrieve it be sure to stuff shop rags around every hole including the one your working on. prevent the retainer clips from falling in also

[zuluwiz]

This reminds me of one of Ed Hertfelder's Duct Tape columns: Saturday Night Favor. One of his better columns, IMHO. Pity they're so hard to find these days.

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Once you retrieve it be sure to stuff shop rags around every hole including the one your working on. prevent the retainer clips from falling in also

Chuck, it happened with the rags in place, see post #1.

[Buffalo Bill]

Got a big magnet on cord. Sticks to any and everything so can’t hardly manouver it.

went and got a small magnet (rated 3 pounds) on extendable probe with flexible end.
Spent a lot of time, can’t find the wrist pin, in any cylinder hole , not much a accessible thru cam chain area.

maybe good idea about that shift spring thing, maybe I should
look into that, but am working crawling/wiggling around on the floor, am barley gonna be able to do the pan removal and replacement. (Darn, now, will need to wait for gasket).

Okay, inspect clean filter.

wow, such good responses in such short time.

After 2 major engine projects in 2 years, I have 2 bikes not road worthy because of small issues.
I wanted to do something else this summer, upgraded the kitchen.

[Redman]

Once you retrieve it be sure to stuff shop rags around every hole including the one your working on. prevent the retainer clips from falling in also

I had some shop rags in place, was thinking of the wrist pin retaining clips, so the rags just kinda layed in place (not stuffed in like you suggested).
Had wrist pin in the piston, trying to get it into the con rod, so holding piston and conrod with fingers, and trying to push-pull wrist pin with thumbs, and inadvertently pulled the wrist pin all the way out, and its weight sagged the shop cloth and the pin fell through.
My stupid fumbling.

[Redman]

yes take the pan off

Yep, okay.

Still not finding the wrist pin.
Was thinking would find it laying in the pan. But that not realistic, now that see all the stuff that is in there.
Poked fingers up thru everywhere I could.


GOt exhaust completly out of the way (had been hanging there, intact, had to separate the pipes to get it completely out of the way)
so can get under there and look up.

Still not finding it.

And, did poke around under the gasket that goes across the pan.

Need to devise other plan (before I get completely discouraged).

.

[Redman]

. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . Good chance to replace the shift detente spring. I know mine needs replacing.

I should look into that more.

Is it related to that obvious bolt head?


(See better in other pic)

That seems to be fairly accessable. Yah, since ordering a pan gasket, I could look into that shift spring.