1977 Mercruiser 188hp PANIC ALERT

Ted K

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 27, 2010
Messages
48
Help, I need input quick! On another post I told of my '77 Apollo that has been in storage for some time. While using some of the great info. I recieved here, I may have created a new problem. I changed the oil and moved on to the plugs. Removed them, sprayed wd-40 in cylinders and replaced with new plugs. All going well until.... whoops, where the hell did my wd-40 straw go??!!!!!! The dang thing popped off and I can't find it! I prayed it did not go down the hole but I can not find it anywhere. I even brought my laptop out and used my web cam to look under engine. It just is no where that I can see. I have taken a long skinny straw and probed the cylinder and cannot hear or feel anything in there. Since I am running out of options, my question is twofold. Does anyone have another idea on how to get a small plastic tube out of cylinder(if it is indeed in there) or will this small plastic thing pose a significant problem or just burn up and go away? Any help with ideas or encouragement will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
 

DennisM

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 6, 2010
Messages
129
Re: 1977 Mercruiser 188hp PANIC ALERT

Cant say for sure, but I would get a nice bright flashlight, like a mini mag lite, and look in the cyl's. if it is in there, I would use a small grabber to get it out, the small push on the end and four little fingers expand out the other end.

Wouldnt thing the small metal fingers would do any damage as long as you are gentle with probing for the tube to the cyl walls.

It would I would think melt and possibly clog any opening in there or stick to the top of the plug... try to get it out.
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,090
Re: 1977 Mercruiser 188hp PANIC ALERT

Ayuh,... I wouldn't worry about it,...
If you can get it started, It'll just pass through...
 

Doernuth

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 6, 2010
Messages
332
Re: 1977 Mercruiser 188hp PANIC ALERT

Turn the engine by hand and see if it comes back up the spark plug hole, or if you feel resistance that shouldn't be there, you may get lucky. melted plactic could play he** on the valves.
 

haulnazz15

Captain
Joined
Mar 9, 2009
Messages
3,720
Re: 1977 Mercruiser 188hp PANIC ALERT

Trust me, having done this on a 351w of similar vintage, t won't cause a problem. The thin plastic will blow out/melt within seconds and you'll never notice it. My father actually did this that exactly thing to the engine upon de-winterizing it and knew when cylinder he dropped the straw into. We tried to fish it out but the straw pretty much stuck to the cylinder wall with the wd-40 on it.

If you are worried about it, just run the engine for a few minutes then pull all of the plugs to make sure the straw didn't get caught on the electrode. Otherwise go have fun.
 

jtmarten

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
825
Re: 1977 Mercruiser 188hp PANIC ALERT

Fire it up and go. As said, it'll burn off in a few seconds.
 

Ted K

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 27, 2010
Messages
48
Re: 1977 Mercruiser 188hp PANIC ALERT

Thank you, the general consensus seems to be "fire it up" as is my local input here. I do know which hole and have probed for a day with a straw that I have attached sticky tape to with no hint of the missing straw. At this point I am going to finish getting it ready.
 
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