Dropped ratchet behind engine - Volvo 4.3 SX. Could it drop in by the driveshaft?

[670hoth]

Hello,

I was trying to remove my power steering cooler to look for a leak and dropped the ratchet behind the engine and cannot find it. I have looked high and low and it seems to have just dissappeared. I would like to know if there is enough room between the bellhousing and transom plate so that it is possible it could have slid down around the driveshaft and could be waiting there to cause all kinds of havoc if I try to run the boat without finding it. Secondly, if it did drop in there would I definitely be able to find it if I pull the drive from the outside?

I took the flame arrestor and distributor cap off and moved the blower hoses to get more visibility and also used lots of light, a mirror, and not so great inspection camera and cannot find it. Its not sitting on top of the motor mounts, I don't think it can be down sitting under the Y or splitter exhaust pipe and its not underneath in the bilge. I have had the engine out twice already and just had new motor mounts fiberglassed in, aligned the motor, drilled new holes and put in new lag bolts and sealed with adhesive/sealer. The last thing I want to do is even partially remove the motor again! Please help, this boat is killing me!

Its a 2004 Four Winns Freedom 180 F&S with Volvo 4.3 w/ SX-M drive. Thanks

 

[CV16]

That's the same drive I have. Really easy to remove. I hear people say that they are heavy, but I have taken mine off and on 4 times without help. And I'm a 48 year old with rods in my back. I'd pull it just to make sure.

 

[no704]

When you find it drill a hole in the handle and attach a string!

 

[Grub54891]

You won't find it by pulling the drive. Get in there with a cell phone camera, and take a lot of pics, you may find it outside the bell housing. if not you may have to pull the motor again. bummer....

 

[Gibsonman2005]

If you have a smartphone get a flashlight app and take a photo when you find it. Go down to the auto parts store and they should have a flexible grabber. I got one that's about 36" long and about 3/8" diameter and has a big button on top. When you press it a three pronged claw comes out on the business end and grabs lost/hard to reach items.

 

[bruceb58]

Put your smartphone in video mode and the flash on and hold it down there and sweep it around and view the video on your computer

 

[Fishhead-1]

tie a string on your smartphone first, sorry couldn't resist

 

[Pete_a]

How about a magnet? Ones for auto work with long telescopic handle and flexible

 

[rkilpa]

All the posts about attaching a string may have been a joke but it makes sense. Attach a string to another ratchet and re-enact the exact scenario when you dropped the first one. You should find the first one where the second one dropped....

 

[670hoth]

Well guys, I moves the steering back andf forth a bunch of times which I had already done many times but this times the ratchet dropped out into the bilge where I could reach it. Thanks everyone for all of the help and great ideas!

 

[Grub54891]

perfect! I'm glad the worse case did not happen this time. I've dropped things before myself, once only had to pull the belly pan to get a washer out....