Dipstick foreign object removal

[MacShorty]

1973 Mercruiser 255 been trying to remove broken dipstick from port engine for months. Finally got a good visual angle and light and realized the object stuck is a friggin t.v. Rabbit ear antenna! I have jerked and pulled in this thing with vise grips to no avail. Any suggestions? If I cant get it out in at least hoping I can still suck the oil out for an oil change.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[flyman219]

The antenna most likely has a "cap" at the end. I'd say you're going to need some patience trying to get it aligned with the end of the oil dipstick tube. You might try making a loop in the end of a piece of heavy piano wire to move the end of the antenna from side to side to hit the sweet spot.

Mike

 

[Scott Danforth]

pull drive, pull motor, pull pan, remove object, reinstall motor, realign, reinstall drive - 2-3 hours of work

how much time have you spent in the last month trying to do it the "easy" way?

 

[MacShorty]

I was wrong, it actually is the original dipstick in there. Not that that is any better.

Guess this project can wait a while since I don't have the tools or resources to pull the engine by myself. Its a 43' houseboat so it won't be sitting in a driveway with a cherry picker. Gotta work up to bigger projects since I'm a boat newbie. . Thanks for the education and ideas!

 

[alldodge]

Something doesn't add up, or I'm way off (which does happen). The 255 is a Ford 351 used as an inboard (house boat type)
The dip stick is installed using a compression type fitting which is screwed into the bottom side of the oil pan.


What am I missing?

 

[Scott Danforth]

if that is the case, drain the oil, unbolt the dipstick, remove object, reattach dipstick, add oil, drink a beer - 1 hour worth of work.

 

[MRS]

if that is the case, drain the oil, unbolt the dipstick, remove object, reattach dipstick, add oil, drink a beer - 1 hour worth of work.

That is what I was thinking but I would have done two beers.:very_drunk: