I dropped a small 10mm socket into the lower timing cover on my 97 accord 2.2l...

Do i need to get it out or can I just leave it? I really dont want to have to pull the cover...

 

Did you try using a magnet?

 

Yeah.. You can see it. You can barely see into the timing cover at all... Do i really "Need" to get it out?

 

If it's in the lower timing cover, I would try to get it out. I wouldn't want it to impact the belts and pulleys. I would first try with magnetic pickup tool. Might even have to loosen a few bolts on the lower cover to give more room to use the pickup tool and let it fall out.

 

i loosened the lower bolts and i couldnt see it... i cant really move it all that far though because of the crank pulley

 

YES, get it out of there. Either get a telescopic magnet or remove the cover but get it out. There is way to much spinning around in there to leave it. If it jumps going over a bump it could foul the balancer or timing belt and there goes the nieghborhood.

 

A long time ago I dropped a 6mm nut (10mm head) in the timing cover of an OHC Volkswagen and didn't take the cover off to get out. Locked up the engine when I went to start it and ended up replacing the timing belt.

 

busted a socket and then busted my breaker bar in half trying to get the crank pulley bolt off..

Final decision, Leaving the ****ing thing

 

are you serious? the only place for it to be is next to a belt, if it isn't already against a belt, it will be once you start it up or hit a bump. next thing you know the timing belt is stretched/snapped and you've got valves in your pistons. take it out!

 

How am i supposed to take it out when I cant get the crank pulley off... I have limited access to tools here(no air tools)... and i have already snapped my socket extension and finally my breaker bar..

 

I have various magnetic pickup tools which I use, some small for tight areas and some large for areas with more room. They are telescopic with magnets. There are different ones with different strength magnets and small or large tips. You want one with a very strong magnet to fish around.

If you're concern about costs, here's one from Harbor Freight that's not expensive, as an example:

http://www.harborfreight.com/15-lb-c...ool-95933.html

 

if you cant get it with a magnet, PB blaster the **** out of it. next take a decent size drift and a BFG, give a few solid whacks to the head of the bolt. next buy a good brand 1/2 inch breaker bar, and a 6 point socket to fit the bolt. jack the front of the car up as high as you can, put the breaker bar on it and then slip a bar over it, as long as you can. sometimes just force will break it loose, some times you need to bounce it around and try to shock it loose. ive also seen people put the breaker bar in the vertical position and use a come along that is tied the control arm etc.

 

I'd get it out.

 

it might not happen right away.... but logic tells me that if you dont get it out you will end up with thousands of dollars worth of damage...it will get caught up in the timing belt and either skip the belt or break it causing damage to valves and pistons and possibly damage to the timing gears...why do you think there is a cover over it???to protect the belt! you can do it....save yourself a way bigger headache GET IT OUT

 

Well if you don't pull the cover now, you will be pulling it and the cylinder head when the socket takes out the belts, sprockets, waterpump, part of the lower cover...

 

They sell those magnets at autozone on the counter for like 99 cents. Just try it for a cheap fix. Or an expensive one later.