Oh, . . Feck

[IainP]

This isn't a Z, but the same applies.
I've always been super wary of things getting sucked/dropped into manifolds when working with throttles off. I have twice had to take friends cylinder heads off for exactly that reason. I always gaffa tape them, or stick a big obvious rag with a tie wrap on it.
This time I didn't, because I was working during lunchtimes in a muddy lane near work, stuffed a big paper towel in the manifold of a Smart car while I changed the starter motor. Cranked it over to check the new motor. And it started. Without the throttle body fitted, Which is some feat, it certainly wouldn't have with gaffa tape or said big rag.
Oh.
s***.

Yes. That's the paper towel firmly wrapped round the inlet valve on No.2 cyl.
And no, I couldn't remove all off it, there's some actually in the chamber itself. Hopefully it'll burn and not clog the turbine. Hopefully. We can't tow it to my mates as it doesn't have Tax/Mot and the sump is porous. And i'm stupid,.,.,. but not stupid enough to drop the engine out of a Smart car in a muddy lane

So.
If you have to work with a throttle body off, use gaffa tape, or a big (clean) rag with some sort of tag that prevents it being dragged into the manifold.

 

[t-tony]

This isn't a Z, but the same applies.
I've always been super wary of things getting sucked/dropped into manifolds when working with throttles off. I have twice had to take friends cylinder heads off for exactly that reason. I always gaffa tape them, or stick a big obvious rag with a tie wrap on it.
This time I didn't, because I was working during lunchtimes in a muddy lane near work, stuffed a big paper towel in the manifold of a Smart car while I changed the starter motor. Cranked it over to check the new motor. And it started. Without the throttle body fitted, Which is some feat, it certainly wouldn't have with gaffa tape or said big rag.
Oh.
s***.
View attachment 208519
Yes. That's the paper towel firmly wrapped round the inlet valve on No.2 cyl.
And no, I couldn't remove all off it, there's some actually in the chamber itself. Hopefully it'll burn and not clog the turbine. Hopefully. We can't tow it to my mates as it doesn't have Tax/Mot and the sump is porous. And i'm stupid,.,.,. but not stupid enough to drop the engine out of a Smart car in a muddy lane

So.
If you have to work with a throttle body off, use gaffa tape, or a big (clean) rag with some sort of tag that prevents it being dragged into the manifold.

Spray some Carb. Cleaner or brake cleaner onto the towel and light it. That will get rid of it.

Tony.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Who the hell needs eyebrows anyway?

 

[IainP]

Spray some Carb. Cleaner or brake cleaner onto the towel and light it. That will get rid of it.

Tony.

My first thought Tony, but, muddy lane miles from home and a time crunch, modified a pair of locking tweezers and got almost all of it.
The only solvent I had access to was far too volatile.

Who the hell needs eyebrows anyway?

That would have been the least of it I reckon, there’s a carpet above, my hand holding the manifold, the fuel lines 6 inches away and I can’t smell petrol or solvents after covid . Whooosh.
Hellish thing to work on, the Z is much easier.