Transmission

[Loyd Nix]

While reinstalling the shifting tower on my '30 Tudor I dropped a washer from one of the bolts into the transmission case. I drained the oil out of the case but I cannot see the washer or feel it. I have tried a flexible magnet but no luck. Anyone else made the same dumb mistake? Is there any kind of magnet that will fit under the gears?

[SeaSlugs]

have you tried a strong maginet on the outside of the case and slide the magnet up to the side hopefully holding the washer.

[Mitch//pa]

Try and go in through the drain plug with a small flex head magnet

[SeaSlugs]

or even get a long flexible wire and start prodding around, maybe you will get lucky and it will flip around to where you can see it. Or if you have your flex magnet in the bottom of the case poking randomly might get the washer close enough to the mag to stick.

[Rex_A_Lott]

Dont forget that you can put a large magnet to any steel and the magnetism will travel down it....the large magnet can be outside the case and you can fish the small wire.
If you cant get it fishing, pour kerosene through it and maybe wash it to the drain hole.
Good Luck!

[Loyd Nix]

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Thanks guys. I will try all suggestions this weekend.

[Dick M]

Any chance it came out with the oil?

[Loyd Nix]

Not in the drained oil.

[Mike V. Florida]

Rapidly pour in some kind of solvent and see if it washes out of the hole.

[Loyd Nix]

I flushed with almost a gallon of paint thinner with no luck.

[Marshall V. Daut]

This is a last ditch, nothing to lose, "what-the-heck?" kind of suggestion, but if you are unable to retrieve the lost washer by conventional fishing expeditions or flushing with fluids, I wonder if the following idea will work? I have never tried this, but theoretically it should work. Now, remember, though - this is ONLY if nothing else does the trick.
You can't drive the car with that washer in the transmission case, right? So, you're facing a transmission/bellhousing removal issue. This is not a fun procedure because the rear end has to be pulled, including shock links, brake rods, etc. BUT - I THINK if you remove the following items, the washer can be removed without going through all of that:
(1) remove all the bellhousing bolts
(2) disconnect the front axle wishbone connection at the bottom of the bellhousing
(3) take off the brake and clutch pedals
(4) remove all the u-joint bolts from the clamshell housing
(5) disconnect the negative battery cable to the starter
(6) put the transmission into neutral
The shifter housing w/emergency brake handle is already off for your flushing procedures. One less thing to remove. I don't think you'll have to remove the battery, but act accordingly if it's in the way. Whether the muffler needs to be dropped for the pedal shaft to clear depends upon how far over you can rotate the transmission/bellhousing. Be sure the transmission is in neutral or it can't be spun on the front and rear shafts. The engine and the u-joint will prevent that in any case except while in neutral.
The bellhousing and transmission are now free and you SHOULD be able to rotate the unit 180 degrees so that the shift tower opening is facing the ground, i.e., on the bottom. The washer should just fall out, perhaps with a little coaxing from a coat hanger or similar long, skinny stick. Maybe rapidly rotating the transmission back and forth will also convince the washer to drop out. One way or another, gravity is now your friend and will help dislodge the washer.
Yes, this is a lot of work, but almost everything I have recommended you loosen or remove would have to be likewise addressed anyway if you pull the rear end to remove the transmission/bellhousing.
I am trying to envision what I have just written and see no objection to it working - theoretically. Even if this doesn't work, however, you're just that much closer to pulling the rear end and then the tranny. That's REALLY the last resort.
Let us know if this suggestion works.
Marshall

[Marshall V. Daut]

One additional item to possibly remove is the starter. I'm pretty sure the starter shaft and Bendix drive will hit the bellhousing as it is rotated.
Marshall

[Mitch//pa]

1. Try blowing compressed air around wearing goggles using a blower with a long nozzle

If no success that way

Jack up the rear end
Put it in gear by hand
Have 2 people slowly rotate the rear wheels in the same direction while you hold the clutch pedal down and look for the dang lock washer. If the gears stop then the washer maybe between the teeth , then rotate in the opposite direction....
Or leave the clutch pedal out and turn the engine with the hand crank / (rear wheels off the ground). Removing the spark plugs would make the hand crank method easier

Just make sure the washer did not originally fall on the floor and roll into a corner of the garage....

[Brian T]

Just one more thing to try if you haven't done so, the washer now should not be stuck to anything, try blowing air around inside the trans, add an extension to the nozzle to reach inside, it should rattle it around, put the magnet inside drain hole.

Mitch beat me to it, I need to pick up my typing speed.

[Big hammer]

Now where could it be hiding, cluster gear large gear has a trough it runs in and the reverse idler gear would be a good hiding spots. If you put some sticky dumb dumb, play do, or maybe long fiber grease on those gears, then slowly turn? I hope it's in there and you find it, other wise removing the trans to find it's not in there will be a real pain!

[Mitch//pa]

This animation will assist you in putting it in a gear...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTx1...ature=youtu.be