[djweaz]

Turning over my engine by hand trying to find TDC as it was coming up I was watching the screwdriver just as it was getting to the top the screwdriver made a popping noise it snapped. I took a magnetized screwdriver trying to feel around and can feel it is not all the way to TDC. I'm afraid to do anything to damage it worse but what else can I do?

 

[O'Man]

pull the head.....what else? There could be pieces snapped of the blade or piston damage...best to look and see with the head off.

 

[djweaz]

Man this really blows

 

[Tom Mobley]

You can get small pocket magnets with multi-jointed piece between the handle and the magnet. about 1/4" diameter, fit through a plug hole easy. These things have rescued my butt several times. Before tearing into it I would be using one of the bore scope gizmos to check in there. A small divot is nothing to get sweaty about unless it's right on the edge of the deck of the piston. You might be able to rent a borescope at an auto parts store or big box store like HD or Lowes. If you were turning it by hand I doubt you have damaged a piston.

What sort of engine is this? a 10/10 race car or stock type street build or what? Dome pistons?

 

[Rick Dorion]

I had that happen on my new-ish 1973 240Z. I took the spark plug out of the affected cylinder and cranked it over. The compression spit the piece right out! I was young with no garage and had to do something!

 

[toofastforyou]

I'd do exactly as Tom said…get yourself a tiny magnet ( most tool places have them) that will fit in the plug hole wiggle it a few times into the cylinder and you'll verity likely pick up the broken piece. :yes: If you don't succeed, try again and you'll eventually get it…Good luck!

Claude.

 

[beachbum29]

friend of mine did this to a pontiac 400 engine he had. I had put the distributor in it and it ran for years, he parked it and for some reason thought the distributor wasn't in right as it wouldn't start after sitting.. (BONEHEAD).. He put the screwdriver in the #1 cylinder and bumped it over with the key (why he didn't wait for somebody to help him is besides me, people need to learn patience!), and he broke off the end of a screwdriver in there... After ripping his head off for doing all of that when it ended up being a bad coil, I convinced him to pull the head and do a full visual inspection. Good thing too, because it had damaged the piston, and it needed to be torn down and have that piston replaced. Bottom line.. I'd rather have to pay for a few gaskets to be sure, instead of running it and having it damage the block, or anything else. Those scopes are awesome tools, but you can't get a real good view of everthing in there. Good Luck!

 

[modchevelle]

Maybe this is far fetched but what about a shop vac somehow??? Make sure the vac is totally clean so you can find the tip.

 

[macs69]

Did the same thing 28 years in a 427 that I had just put in the car... Had to pull it apart.

 

[ddeennis]

Turning over my engine by hand trying to find TDC as it was coming up I was watching the screwdriver just as it was getting to the top the screwdriver made a popping noise it snapped. I took a magnetized screwdriver trying to feel around and can feel it is not all the way to TDC. I'm afraid to do anything to damage it worse but what else can I do?

Just a tip, use toilet paper or paper towl or just a crumbled piece of paper and put in the
spark plug hole - not too deep, and bump the key or turn by hand, when the paper towl "pops" out your close to tdc you can turn it by hand the rest of the way to line up your marks.

if you have a budy have him cover the hole with his finger and you will hear the pressure
push is finger out of the way.

I gave the screw driver thing up years ago when someone told me I could put a soft object
over the hole and it would pop out when the piston was coming up to tdc.

Maybe this will help for next time. In the mean time get a magnet as said and fish the junk out.

 

[72ragtop]

See if you can turn it backwards a little bit, either with the crank bolt (might loosen), or the teeth on the ring gear. Then get in there with a magnet and try to get the piece out. Then either look around inside with a scope, or if you're feeling lucky, try to start it and see how it runs.
Good luck, Jim

 

[70SSTHUMPER]

I would not turn engine at all Rob. If that piece is lodged some where as soon as you turn by hand or crank, your problems may get a whole lot worse. If you can't fetch that bit with a tool like this thru the plug hole, I would take it down (intake and head) and be sure with a physical inspection. If that piece is lodged on a valve edge, edge of piston or some other vital clearance component- kiss it good bye if you crank it. I know-it's unlikely, but it's your engine and your dice at this point.

I wouldn't sweat this too much until you give something like this a try. It will be the best 8 bucks you've ever spent:
http://www.harborfreight.com/flexible-magnetic-pickup-tool-94614.html

If you get it out, match it up to the broken screwdriver. Account for all pieces. Just because you get one piece doesn't mean there isn't another one in there.

 

[VenomGT]

Am sorry to ask but how does the piston come in contact with the screwdriver and snap it. I can see it getting bent but sheared by the piston? I am asking a serious question no ambiguity.

 

[Busted Knuckles]

Keep Harbor Freight tools, particularly screwdrivers - away from engines. They're pretty decent for tent stakes if you get the long ones, but otherwise useless. They do make good stocking stuffers for folks you don't like...

I agree with above advice, pull the head. If it gets stuck in the wrong place, it can take out the piston, head and cylinder wall. Next time, use a piece of old spark plug wire.

 

[6426yy]

I broke a telescoping magnet once and used a piece of copper wire to put it back together now it bends and stays in position, may work for you. Just solid wire from 12/2 house wiring.

 

[rkd]

Try a small round magnet or similar one that you can tape onto a pc of wire, so you can bend it to fit to the bottom outside of the cylinder Masking tape.

Used this to fine a bolt on the valley cover of my 4.6 F150 when the straight magnet would not fit.