Sorry about the double post, but we're desperate...

Ok, We took out the starter, and jammed the spanner in the flywheel, so it wouldn't spin when we were taking off the crank & camshaft nuts. The instructions say to align the dots on the timing chain gears. I went to remove the spanner from the flywheel and, of course, it fell in. Does anyone know how I get it out?

It won't come out with the magnetic pen, infact.. I can't even see it.

Manda & Marty

where did it fall into?

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It fell behind the flywheel into the gearbox? Left side of the engine... Clutch-housing maybe?

it won't have gone into the gearbox, must be a small spanner to have gone in behind the flywheel. You will need to pull the Flywheel housing cover off. then you should be able to get to it. if not the flywheel may have to come off, may as well do your clutch if you do. Won't take long. Just take the weight off the engine mount, undo it, undo all the blots on the cover. remove. Simple enough. Painfull but simple enough. You should then be able to see where the spanner went.

BUT
Before you do that, just make sure you havn't actually dropped it, on the ground or it's caught on the subframe etc. You would kick yourself if that was the case

Cheers

Aaron

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Start up the engine, run it for a bit with varying revs... should be enough to pulverise whatever may be near the flywheel

Ignore what willy said.

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Maybe you could consider not worrying about it until you have completed your job at the other end. It's no big drama it can't have gone very far. Maybe if a magnet doesn't work you can take the end cover off.

Once you've completed the timing chain you can then lift the opposite end of the engine after undoing the engine mount, take the cover off the clutch and remove it then. Shouldn't be to difficult.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

but dont forget to take it out !!

......and make a note to yourself to get a better method of locking the flywheel....everyone says use an old bearing shell but they don't hold themselves in place....best I've seen is a V shape piece of flat (about 40 X 2-3 mm) which locks neatly into the starter motor hole. Sorta this shape...
............../--\................
............/......\
........../..........\
......../.............\
....../.................\
..../......................\
../..........................\
..!.......................... !
..!...........................!

The two tongs are V shaped on their ends to engage the ring gear

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"Show me the Mini!"

Like they say, just take off that end cover andyou should be able to see it somewhere abouts. Rest assured, it hasn't gone into your gear box from where you had it jammed (against the flywheel).

Just remember, all of these things are character builders

Good luck with it.

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Rod
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v607/Rodney/

Ohhh yeah....and if it was me....I would be making sure not to turn the motor until you have the spanner out....it could just wedge itself into a more difficult spot

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"Show me the Mini!"

I've always used a tyre lever - the tip is thin enough to fit between the teeth on the flywheel and it's long enough not only not to fall in but you are able to sit the other end on something to steady it while you turn

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!