Better to just pull the head. Unless you can clean it out and be absolutely sure of that. Need a good scope.

 

Well i have the hole reamed out slightly larger, have to wait till tommorow before i can attempt the extraction

 

I have (3) of the small magnets that are on a long soft bendable aluminum shaft. (3 all alike, I'm a tool freak, what can I say. LOL) They are VERY small, and VERY powerful. I can lift a 3/8 ratchet or small hammer easily with them. They've saved the day for me many times. These are NOT a normal magnet, much more powerful. If anything could lift it out of that hole, they could. They were easy to find and came in the package with the 1/8 in. aluminum shaft (about 2 feet long) wrapped like around your hand. They are only about 1 in. long and about 1/4 in. dia. They can't come off in the cyl. unless the shaft breaks off., and that has never happened to me in all the years I've used them.

 

You reamed it out with the tool that cuts the new hole for the TimeSert correct?? Hope so. Don't go any bigger than that.

 

Ya thats what i used

 

What are these magnets called, or what brand. Ill definetly look into getting these if u can find them. Thanks

 

sorry, if i can find them.

 

I don't know where you live but when I bought these magnets several years ago, you could find 'em in most auto parts stores (and may well still be able to). They are the most powerful magnet I've ever seen for the small size they are. Here is a link to show you what the magnet looks like. You should be able to find one without much trouble. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...8235_200328235

 

It appears that the magnet is called "neodymium".

 

That is correct. Says it will lift 2 lbs. and I believe it.

 

I Googled "Master Magnetics bendable magnetic pick-up". Don't know why Northern Tool has "extendable" in the listing because it's not extendable, as you think of extendable. A lot of places carry it, but mostly online. Didn't find any of the major auto parts stores that listed it, though most all of them carried it when I bought these several years ago. Ace hardware shows it in store, though at a large premium over most of the others. Prices all the way from. $3.29 to $11.99 (Ace hardw.) Average seemed to be around $6.00. I have a # of extendable magnets but ALWAYS prefer these over any of the others.

 

Sorry for the delay, had a busy weekend.

Well I was able to get it out, much to my own surprise. I used a strong flexible magnet just smaller than the plug hole, and a small inspection mirror to see. Took about two and half hours...it went like this.

Recieved my Timesert kit and used the reamer to enlarge the hole and clean it up. After trying all three types of magnets I had purchased ($40!!!!) the only one I felt comfortable using was the heavy flexible one. Laying on an old creeper cushion positioned across the front of the truck and using a small round inspection mirror to see I tried for about an hour to get it out with little progress. I was able to get the insert to start up the hole, but it kept getting hung up. Began discussing the options with the wife of whether to take it to someone or just pull the head and do it myself. Well I decided to give it another go. Rereamed the hole to see if I could get it cleaned up better. Was able to get the insert alighned with the hole, but once again it would hang up. So I started to turn the magnet attempting to see if the insert would thread out. Kept doing this and thought it looked like it was coming out, I pushed down on the magent and it didnt move!!! The insert was actually coming out...kept turning and turning....heart was pounding harder and harder with each thread that I saw come out of the hole. When it came completly out I almost rolled of the front of the truck I was so excited and shocked that I was actualy able to get it out .

I then proceeded to finish the timersert fix and the next morning finished putting everything back together and fired it up. Ran great.

So thanks to all of the suggestions and help guys.

 

Well I for one am sorry for being a pessimist. In a million years I woulda never thought that would have worked! Congrats...my hat's off to ya!

 

Great job! I had confidence you could do it. It really seemed like you knew what you were doing. I was a little worried the magnet might not be strong enough to turn the old insert to get it threaded back up into the hole, but I knew it would be close. When I did mine, I measured the reamer OD at 16.3 mm which is very close to the OD of the Helicoils.

For future reference, it's good to know this can be done. Thanks for posting back with the results.

 

That is a job well done!