Where do sockets go to hide

Did you hear it fall?
Was it a small 1/4" socket?
I once lost the bleeder bolt copper seal washer and found it behind the crankshaft pulley.

I cannot count the hours I spent searching for lost bolts, nuts, washers during the past 20 years. But I found all.


Best and good luck
Martin

 

Drop another one in that area, and see where it goes.

 

Same thing happened to me...it was indeed right under my nose...almost exactly straight down on a little ledge. Was hard to see and I couldnt roust it with a magnet either...I found it with my trusty "thingamagig" that has a little video camera with an extension...

 

No matter where it fell, it will find its way into the cam belts if you don't find it.. At least that's what I always tell myself

 

My foolproof method for them turning up is when I get home with a brand new one.

 

I lost the little copper washer the same way. I used a flexi borescope and found it on the chassis rail... and then on the pulley housing (yes, I did it twice) - '85 QV, so no belt covers, so it had to be found.

 

Lift car and shake
they usually fall out😉

 

Congrats. The tiny bits rarely fall to the floor. Normally they prefer resting in the most obscure areas.

Best
Martin

 

Tell the truth
You picked up the car and shook it, didn't you

 

That works 100% of the time for me.

 

I was using a spring loaded belt tensioner once. I took it out after tightening the water pump belt and it sprung apart. I never have found the one extension that went pinging across the garage floor. And I've had my garage completely emptied out once cleaning it up and still never found that blasted little chrome piece of pipe.

I've lost nuts, bolts, and washers in similar fashion. Try keeping track of the tiny little cotter pins that hold the carb linkage together. Those things are tiny but luckily are magnetic.

I'm pretty thouroughly convinced there are both ghosts and a black hole located somewhere in my garage. I'm sure of it!!

 

Six feet away, into the grass section of the front yard. Found it by a lawn mower.

 

It really is surprising where where sockets can end up.

My son bought a beater 528i last month for a very low price, with the intention of fixing it up himself. He took it to my local mechanic to have it looked over. The mechanic called me the next morning and said he'd found a few things that needed to be addressed. I asked for some general info on it, and he said "Maybe you should just come down here so I can show you...?"

Drove to the shop, and the car was on the lift. We walked under it and he pointed the flashlight.

First, I just stared for a moment. Next I said, "You're going to have to forgive my language."

He replied, "Oh, no... go right ahead."

"What the fuhhhhh------???????"

He said "Yep. That's what we said too."

Finally I got serious, and said "Ok, I know these BMW parts can get expensive. So... this really isn't good. I'm not even sure BMW makes that socket wrench anymore."

Yes, what you're looking at is the heater core deleted by cutting a hose and plugging it shut with a socket wrench.

I swear this story is true.
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Cool thing about the 308 is all the aluminum. If not high grade stainless you can fish around with a magnet pen. Like between the heads and between the engine and tranny around the alternator and motor mounts. Bet you will find some things there.

 

Gotta say it worked. Cheap wrench was probably just the right size.