The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Think I Messed Up

So i replaced a head gasket on a 261 while doing some paint removal nearby with an angle grinder and braided wire brush. When i went to button up the head, i wiped down the cylinders and pistons tops. It was late, so i put off the gasket installation until the next day. When i wiped the bores down a very small piece of that wire wheel must have landed in the bore, and when I wiped the bore it fell into the top ring and between the cylinder wall. It was 38 feet long. (actually It was less than 1/16”).

Next morning, i sealed up the head and forgot to blow or vacuum out that small piece of debris.

So...what to do? I think i know the answer...but do i pull the head and try to find and remove it? Will this piece do some damage? Or exhaust out? And get caught in a valve? I know, a head gasket is cheaper than a scored piston wall but still want to know what the experts think.

Thoughts?

Here is what I think. You "messed up".
If you run it and it scores the cylinder, then you will have done way more than messed up. It will require you to replace "messed" with a verb which is unacceptable on a family website.

Thats what i was afraid of. First time in my life I ever messed up too. Looks like i need to do it right, and take things apart and find it and avoid escalating the choice of verbs. Thank you.

Try putting a flexible magnet down the spark plug hole and work it around a little- - - - -you just might get lucky and grab the wire without pulling the head back off. If it doesn't work, all you've lost is a little time! An air blow gun with a thin piece of tubing adapted to it might also come in handy- - - -blow the debris around where the magnet can grab it.
Jerry

Try the air and flexible magnet trick and you might get lucky and snag it. But remember that the wire fell into the gap, it's not like it is wedged in between the piston and the cylinder wall. The piece of wire also has very little mass and size so it's not going to be knocking holes in pistons, etc. I've seen perfectly good running engines that showed signs of ingesting stuff. There were dents in the top of pistons but no other issues. I doubt that a piece of wire brush wire is capable of denting a piston. On the other hand if you have only just bolted the head back on, pull it and retrieve the wire. You'll feel better and only be out the cost of a new gasket.

SimS

Thanks to all for the replies. This is a difficult matter seeing that this is the first mistake i ever made in my life.

Pulled the head. Saved the gasket as a backup if i need it...never ran engine on it.

Installed new gasket.

Could not find it. Used a very fine and sharp pointed awl, a magnet, and air without success.

Dont think the engine will blow up, but did the best i could.

Sure wish I could say that...

"Once, long ago, I thought I was wrong- - - - - - -but I was mistaken!"
LOL!
Jerry

.........First time in my life I ever messed up too........

I can't even say that starting from earlier this evening... And it is still evening.

Keep trying, Carl and DoubleDingo. Maybe some day.