Colt Case Ingersoll Garden Tractors

When pulling valves out to decarb. my p218 1/2 of the valve retainer lock fell down into the oil pan. I've been looking for a set with no luck. They seem to be discontinued. Would anyone have a set they would sell? Not looking forward in dropping oil pan.

This happened to me with a different engine. I was able to fish it out with a rare earth magnet taped on a 8 gage solid copper wire. But the piece of magnet was not large, and I taped it really well with strong construction red duck tape. Through the oil drain hole.

Put a heater under the oil pan . When warmed up drop the oil and hope it comes out with the rush of oil .If not take tube off and try what Eugen said . you really don't want a piece of steel floating around in the pan . Good luck . Hope it comes out with dropping the oil.

I also had this happen. One of those small telescoping magnets did it. Had to bend it a little to drop in to search for it. I wouldn't just assume it fell to the oil pan. It can get hung up on crank.

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TLD89 How's your progress with your engine problem going? I would like to offer you the parts no charge, but they are off a b series engine and have different part numbers for a p218. Would anyone know if they are compatible? Nothing more frustrating to me than trying to find parts for an onan engine. I think every one here would like to see your tractor running again. Hope you had good luck fishing for the part and are back on track. :cheers:Keith

Looks like it's Onan part number 110–3511 and probably not hard to find, but I'd say you definitely should get that out of the engine no matter what.

When trying to remove those little rascals from the valve area, someone told me to stuff a rag down the holes. I think it was boomer after I lost one into the oil pan. I took his advice and drained the oil and retrieved it with a telescopic magnetic. Harry

Thanks for the advice from everyone. I finely got it out here are some pics.

Now that ,that has been done . Your not the only one to have something like this happen . Either in the pan or lost on the floor . Me included on other engines .

How much carbon was on the valves / head and piston anyways? Reason I ask is that I beleave now a good running engine with the fuels and oils we have these days decarboning is not as necessary any more. Only as often as you would do a valve job or head gasket . I know what the manuals say , but that was then this is now . If the engine is new to you and do not know service record , I say do it . But if like me , I have a P220 in Frankie . It has been about 9 years since I go it . Did a valve service (clean and lap ) then . He is used almost every day. Some times for 6-8 hours in a day , other times for minutes at a time . So lots of hours yearly , year round . Too many to count . I have had a peek a few times with a bore scope and very minimum carbon build up . I did a compression test in the summer and was still over 100 lbs in each cylinder . Now I use reg. gas with Seafoam in it year round and diesel engine oil . 10/30 winter / 15/40 summer .

my 2 cents worth
your thought guys

nice catch Terry.
Tim