Plastic tubing in gearbox

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lcochrane

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Was pumping gear oil out lf gearbox via top filler with a small hand pump. On withdrawing the plastic tube a small piece about 5x3mm broke off.
Is this likely to be a problem or will it just be ground up by the gears.
The alternative would be to open up the gearbox, pretty drastic.
Opinions appreciated.
Thanks
 
I cannot comment on whether the piece does need to be removed, but have you tried to see it with a torch, preferably at nighttime to improve visibility? If you can see it, you might well be able to pick it up with one of those remote grippers (forgotten the proper name) or you could improvise.
 
Doesn't sound good, I'm afraid. I believe that it needs to come out. If it's a soft tube, it's most likely to be cut to pieces by the gears. If it's hard, it could put a lot of pressure on the shafts as it goes through the gears and in the very worse case, could crack the housings. Cut pieces in circulation could tear oil seals or could get into oil galleries and block them leading to starvation. On the other hand, it could drop to the bottom of the case and sit there benignly for the rest of its days. Don't envy your choices. Good luck!
 
When we had Kindred Spirit's engine overhauled they found all manner of foreign objects in the sump, including a short length of plastic tube and a rawlplug (!?). Weren't doing any harm.

I don't know if a gearbox would have as much clear space at the bottom for things to lurk in, though.

Pete
 
What about draining it and then using one of the inspection cameras with a built in screen and a grabber on the end of it to locate and remove? Cheaper than trashing the gearbox and you have a useful tool at the end of it!
 
How about hoovering it up with a wet vac with a piece of soft garden hose as the suction end. You would get more oil and other crud out as well.

Should work as the piece wont have had a chance of moving around much yet.
 
Happened to me once. What you need is a flexible claw pickup tool, choice on ebay for less than a fiver. One tip though, drain the gearbox, I spent ages 'fishing' but when I drained the oil it was visible and removed in seconds.
 
Assuming you have some of the same tube see if it floats in oil, if so fill the box right up and see if you can float it out, or at least into reach of the filler. Failing that if you know any fridge engineers ask to borrow their vacuum pump and a narrow fridge hose to suck it out, but drain the oil first.
 
Thanks for all the replies.
Since then I have spoken to a diesel mechanic. As the plastic is only firm and not hard he thinks it will get ground up without causing damage.
However I will try to float it out by filling the gearbox before I run the engine.
 
I agree. If the bearings and case can't handle a bit of plastic they are going to have problems with transmitting the torque of a diesel engine.
 
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