[slovan]

It's weak but I was able to pick the entire dipstick up with a magnet.

 

[slovan]

Oh BTW, the dipstick from the rivets to the end is 7" long.

 

[jpa2002]

I'll be d*mned! Well, that is good news. Just be careful fishing stuff down in the oil pan, as ou may end up with more stuff in there and have to drop the pan anyway.

Jon

 

[Diesel Powered]

Call the previous owner? Please tell me this just happened and you've checked the oil more than this one time since you got the tractor. raying:

I doubt it would cause any issues laying in the pan (if it is in fact in there) unless you roll the tractor over (then the dipstick is the least of your worries). I'm guessing you'd probably sleep better at night if you knew for sure it wasn't in there, though.

Oil is cheap. You could drain it out and look up in the drain plug hole and see what you can find or fish out. When I say pencil magnet, I'm thinking 24-36" semi-flexible wand that's no bigger in diameter than a pencil and the last inch or two is magnetic (so there's no way you can lose anything else in there). One of the small telescopic kind could possibly work, too.

 

[jpa2002]

I would no less than put one of those small, strong (neodinium?) magnets on the oil pan, that way it gives you some insurance that it will stay on the bottom of the pan until you can get it out. Magnet on outside of oil pan.

Jon

 

[walterjay]

I personally wouldn't take a chance running with it in there. There is a lot of turbulence in a crankcase.

 

[UrbanTractor]

I'm trying to imagine how it could have broken inside the dipstick tube? Seems more likely to me it was broken when it was out of the tube, and put back in to just to keep oil from spraying out until a replacement was purchased. Or someone broke the dipstick to another tractor, and swapped with this one.

 

[Diesel Powered]

I'm trying to imagine how it could have broken inside the dipstick tube? Seems more likely to me it was broken when it was out of the tube, and put back in to just to keep oil from spraying out until a replacement was purchased. Or someone broke the dipstick to another tractor, and swapped with this one.

If it is in there, I'm guessing it's from somebody not pulling straight up on the stick. That stick would get brittle in a hurry from bending, then trying to bend it back (possibly causing a crack, then finishing it off from the engine vibrations).

OP- if you know any buddies with an inspection camera (plumber, electrician, mechanic, etc.), that might be another option to look in there.

 

[X485SENoob]

I don't have any way to contact the previous owner. I had the oil changed at the dealership before I brought it home about a month ago. I'm pretty sure he would have told me if the dipstick were broken when he changed it. And if it were broken and he tried to slide by and not tell me about it then, I don't think he'll own up to it now. I must be getting old. I honestly don't remember if I have checked the oil since I brought it home. I've racked my brain and I just don't recall. I did have to jump start it a couple of times last week before I replaced the battery. The alternator is right there by the dipstick. If I had shorted the terminals across the dipstick, could that have caused it to break and fall in?

The camera is a good idea, but I don't know anyone who has one. Someone mentioned that the dipstick might have gotten swapped out before I got it. I do know it originally had a 62" deck on it (from the original photos) and that when I got it it had a 54" deck on it. Also, someone had taken the brush guard off of it. And I had to ask to have another one put on it. So that seems plausible.

 

[sjlee]

Could you please post up a pic of your dipstick so we can get an idea of how much is broken off?

It does seem odd. I doubt if it would've broken just on its own while you were using the tractor... and I would hope that any decent service tech would've simply replaced it if he/she had broken it (or noticed that it was broken).

You never know... it's very possible that someone just swapped a broken dipstick. You might consider giving the dealer a call and show them the dipstick. Even though they may not have broken it, they may be able to give you some insight on it and possibly help you figure out if it is indeed stuck in the oil pan.

Good luck.

 

[chemteck29]

Hate to say it, but if it's me, I'd pull the pan! It probably is just that someone swapped out a good dipstick with your machine,...but that begs the question why didn't the service tech find it when he changed the oil? I know that those machines take "x" amount of oil,...but you've at least got to check to make sure it's full when doing an oil change.

 

[Marcintosh]

...or a pencil magnet right down the tube...

THERE you go. Just fish around for it a bit. I'm sure that on your trip to Sears you'll come across somethin'
OR

Try one of those three fingered button operated grabbers (scientific name) It's what they're meant for. Apologies for the poor images - in a rush and it's all I could find.

At any rate look for the Lisle Tool display - they've got some great occasional and specialty tools for just this sort of thing.

G'luck
M

 

[X485SENoob]

Upon the advice of someone I trust, I'm not going to drop the pan to try to remove it. I am going to do an oil change as soon as I get the new dipstick. With the oil out of it, I'll try to find a strong pencil magnet to try to grab it with. I might even try the flexible "grabber" thing after removing the dipstick tube. If I can't find it, I think I'll leave it as-is.

I really appreciate all of the help and encouragement. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the members of this forum are THE BEST!!!

:thanku::thanku::thanku::thanku::thanku:

 

[Kansas John Deere]

3 pages on this broken dipstick and NO PICS OF IT>>>>>>>>>>>> AMAZING

 

[MI GT]

3 pages on this broken dipstick and NO PICS OF IT>>>>>>>>>>>> AMAZING

Nothing left to take a pic of.

 

[X485SENoob]

3 pages on this broken dipstick and NO PICS OF IT>>>>>>>>>>>> AMAZING

Absolutely right. I've meant to take a pic several times and got sidetracked each time. I'll take one in the morning.

 

[Marcintosh]

Just had a quick thought- If indeed it's magnetic and you have to leave it in, you might want to glue a magnet to the outside of the oil pan to make sure it doesn't flop around under use. I think you'd want to use a "Rare Earth" magnet as they're really strong and last a very long time. OH! get a magnet from a removeable antenna (like the old CB antennas) glue that sucker on there and it might just increase your cranking amperage draw :thThumbsU
G'luck
M.

 

[Jere39]

I will be interested to follow your progress. For the life of me, I don't see how you could push a magnet down the tube, or even the tube hole after removing the tube and somehow snag the end of the broken off stick and pull it back through the hole. Rather, if the magnet actually catches the stick segment, I'd expect it would flop around and connect on the flat side of the stick. And, same with the grabber?

Good luck!

 

[X485SENoob]

I will be interested to follow your progress. For the life of me, I don't see how you could push a magnet down the tube, or even the tube hole after removing the tube and somehow snag the end of the broken off stick and pull it back through the hole. Rather, if the magnet actually catches the stick segment, I'd expect it would flop around and connect on the flat side of the stick. And, same with the grabber?

Good luck!

Jere, I'm afraid you're right. I think I'm just not going to worry about it. Here is the pic I promised...

Thanks again for all the advice!!!