Technical Dropped sparkplug retrieval

[Alex9721]

Hi All. I purchased my first fiat at the end of last year, it's a 1968 500 and I love it to bits. I've struggled to start it today. Not having any mechanical experience, I thought I would see if a sparkplug change would work and have lost the new sparkplug in the air cooled housing (please don't ask how). I tried to reach it with the longest pliers I have, but now can't see it. Can I pull it back to where the air filter is - I can feel an obstruction ( it not the sparkplug) . I don't want to remove the housing as it a job beyond me. Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks Alex

 

[porta]

time to go magnet fishing, not on a string as it will just stick to the housing

 

[Alex9721]

Ta. Will give it a go tomorrow and let you know how I get on.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Hi All. I purchased my first fiat at the end of last year, it's a 1968 500 and I love it to bits. I've struggled to start it today. Not having any mechanical experience, I thought I would see if a sparkplug change would work and have lost the new sparkplug in the air cooled housing (please don't ask how). I tried to reach it with the longest pliers I have, but now can't see it. Can I pull it back to where the air filter is - I can feel an obstruction ( it not the sparkplug) . I don't want to remove the housing as it a job beyond me. Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks Alex

You can buy a tool with a little plunger operated grab abot 450mm for not much. Have a look on the internet for long reach grab tool. I have such and its been a life save many times. We have all been there! Good luck

 

[AnthonyH]

Aye, a strong magnet is the way to go .

 

[the hobbler]

You can buy a tool with a little plunger operated grab abot 450mm for not much. Have a look on the internet for long reach grab tool. I have such and its been a life save many times. We have all been there! Good luck

If you dropped the spark-plug down by the fan, there is an evens chance that the spark-plug has dropped to the bottom of the fan housing. If it has, the easiest way to try and retrieve it would be to undo the bolts that hold the 2 main parts of the fan-housing together at the bottom of the fan housing and gently ease the two panels apart---with a bit of luck, the spark-plug may drop out.The problem with using a magnet to try and retrieve the spark-plug is that the housing is made of that stuff that magnets are designed to stick too---steel!

 

[AnthonyH]

This is reminding me that I need to get a new spark plug tool, this exact thing happened to me because I used a regular deep socket. I spent longer trying to retrieve one spark plug than fitting all 4

 

[Mike1alike]

The problem with using a magnet to try and retrieve the spark-plug is that the housing is made of that stuff that magnets are designed to stick too---steel!

One of this kind shoud do the trick, though.

 

[Alex9721]

Thank you for all the great advice. Good to see there are a few options. Will try the fishing today and order the grabber (and a light - as using the torch on my phone didn't help) - fingers crossed it has not dropped to the bottom of the fan housing.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Thank you for all the great advice. Good to see there are a few options. Will try the fishing today and order the grabber (and a light - as using the torch on my phone didn't help) - fingers crossed it has not dropped to the bottom of the fan housing.

Good luck. If all else fails make a spark plug drainage hole LOL May a 500 running around with spark plugs rattleing in the bottomof the cowling I expect. Its only a problem when there are sommany of them down there they catch on the fan blades.

 

[Alex9721]

Good luck. If all else fails make a spark plug drainage hole LOL May a 500 running around with spark plugs rattleing in the bottomof the cowling I expect. Its only a problem when there are sommany of them down there they catch on the fan blades.