V85 valve adjustment gone wrong…

[Beowulf]

So I was adjusting my valves today and as I was feeling for the piston coming up it snapped the plastic pen end I was using. Idiotic i know……

Deep breath….I have approximately a 1/4 inch of plastic in the right cylinder and no way to get it out. Should I disassemble the head to get it out? Will it do any harm? Thanks in advance for helping this idiot.

[Dirk_S]

This is why I use a straw—I once used a chopstick and snapped the tip off. I initially ran the bike for a few cycles, thinking the chopstick tip would shoot out the exhaust, but I got paranoid enough and just decided to pop the head off. Mind you—that was wood. Don’t know if plastic would be worse, but if it stuck around long enough and heated up? Eww.

If you want to avoid pulling the cylinder head off, perhaps you could fish it out through the exhaust port?

[Dave Swanson]

pull the plugs, and would be best to also remove the header on that side.  Then spin the starter.  If you get lucky it will pop out one of the 2 open holes.   

It might pop out the exhaust port easier because of the pressure release when the exhaust valve opens, so I would probably leave the plug in on that side.  No plug lead attached of course. 

[bmc5733946]

If you are going to use this method, one hand to turn the engine, one to keep the probe moving around to keep it from getting caught. Safety first!!!!!!!
I actually usually use a long thin screwdriver for this, believe it or not. Keeps me attentive!

Brian

[Rower30]

pull the plugs, and would be best to also remove the header on that side.  Then spin the starter.  If you get lucky it will pop out one of the 2 open holes.   

It might pop out the exhaust port easier because of the pressure release when the exhaust valve opens, so I would probably leave the plug in on that side.  No plug lead attached of course.

Don't forget to ground the plug lead, some ignition systems frown on an open plug lead. Better to be safe and assume yours is one. Use an old plug lying around and ground it to the bike.

[Beowulf]

No need to ground the plug. Turned over fine. No sign of the broken piece. I’m guessing it passed through the exhaust already. Seems to turn over fine. Gina complete the valve check and go from there. I held the pen in my hand to prevent this but it did. I tried doing this gingerly but here I am.

I’m glad it’s a small plastic piece but wish it hadn’t occurred. There’s no way it’s still in there now.

[Beowulf]

Any more thoughts I’ll hear them. Thanks

[Gliderjohn]

Don't feel bad. Have done it on the T-3. Did pull the head but that is quite quick and simple on a T-3.
GliderJohn

[Beowulf]

Don't feel bad. Have done it on the T-3. Did pull the head but that is quite quick and simple on a T-3.
GliderJohn

Appreciate it. Checked the valves. All were in spec and I didn’t end up needing to adjust them at all. I put it back together including the fuel tank I taken off to make sure the side covers cleared the engine guards.

Started it and ran for several minutes. No codes out noises or weird behavior. Going for a ride in a bit see and see what happens…. Feeling stupid but hopeful. I did several checks in the cylinder including blowing it out before turning it over with the starter.

Thanks for the tips. I let you know if I screwed up really bad.

[John A]

Take a straw and put some glue from a sticky trap on the end and fish it out.

[jrt]

pull the plugs, and would be best to also remove the header on that side.  Then spin the starter.  If you get lucky it will pop out one of the 2 open holes.   

It might pop out the exhaust port easier because of the pressure release when the exhaust valve opens, so I would probably leave the plug in on that side.  No plug lead attached of course.

How much squish is there in the head?  I'd be worried about smashing the pen between piston and head/valves, then having 50 small pieces to pull out, rather than one big piece. 

[Huzo]

I would have been most concerned that a piece would have lodged on the valve seat and put a bending force on the stem as it was closing.
Anyway, if it’s run as long as it now has post disaster, the bit/s must have shredded, melted or otherwise disintegrated.
Since you have compression on both sides, nothing can be awry…

[PJPR01]

I'd get a vacuum cleaner and place it as flat as possible on the spark plug hole (obviously with the plug out) and see if it sucks anything out....

[Beowulf]

I would have been most concerned that a piece would have lodged on the valve seat and put a bending force on the stem as it was closing.
Anyway, if it’s run as long as it now has post disaster, the bit/s must have shredded, melted or otherwise disintegrated.
Since you have compression on both sides, nothing can be awry…

Appreciate the tips. I attempted several methods to extricate the piece. I buttoned everything up and went for a 15 mile ride with no issues. I think that piece Is long gone. No unusual noises, lights or anything sinister.  Thank you everyone for the advice

[azccj]

When I did the same thing but with a pencil, I blew compressed air into the spark plug hole. The broken off pencil shot out of the spark plug hole after a minute or so.

[Willy59]

In order to inspect the cilinder & valves,you can use an "small"endoscope (Ali express +/- 20 USD)
Success willy59

[1wild1]

I turn the motor till the exhaust valve is open and adjust the intake valve, then open the intake and adjust the exhaust. First  time I tried the tdc method the screwdriver stuck on me, probable same way it broke the pen. Decided I'd do it the other way.

[John A]

No need to ground the plug. Turned over fine. No sign of the broken piece. I’m guessing it passed through the exhaust already. Seems to turn over fine. Gina complete the valve check and go from there. I held the pen in my hand to prevent this but it did. I tried doing this gingerly but here I am.

I’m glad it’s a small plastic piece but wish it hadn’t occurred. There’s no way it’s still in there now.

The reason to  the plug is because if there is no place for the electricity to go, it can damage the ecu. You got lucky.

[Huzo]

Ok.
The bike has run fine for an extended period, so there is no ongoing concern. The endoscope idea would have been great had you attempted to check for fragments pre ride, but looks like you have dodged disaster.
You’re not the first and certainly won’t be the last.