Thought I'd change the water pump today.

There is a narrow rubber strip between the radiator and slam panel.

I have often left tools on there before but what I didn't realise is, the rubber strip was covering a gap and placed my pulley holder on it which is heavier than the usual screw drivers and narrower than the wrenches etc.

Oooops well more like fu(k1ng hell and a few more expletifs .

It fell flat on the bottom and there are no gaps at the bottom to retrieve it out.

I then spent 30 mins trying to hook it with a coat hanger to no avail . Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

All I wanted to do was change the pump but as usual things end up taking twice as long as it should because stuff like this happens ( yeah my stupid fault I guess)

Then I remembered after a lot of swearing that as like others have mentioned I have a tool at the bottom of my kit that I forgot about.

A long bendable magnetic pick up tool.In fact I have 2, Doh.
With that and the coat hanger I got it out thankfully as I wasnt looking forward to the idea of taking the radiator off to retrieve it.

Managed to change the tensioner and idlers & drain the coolant so just hope tomorrow will go a bit smoother when changing the pump.

Happy days, glad I'm not the only one who does these things ......

I'm guessing you have 2 magnetic pick up tools so when you drop one down the gap, you can fish it out with the other?! <br>
Just be careful you don't drop that one down there as well...

Dont worry , I wont be putting anything on there again.

I actually have a nice tool tray that sits on the engine nicely but has always sat in the garage, UNTIL NOW.

I have 2 magnetic pick up tools because I forgot I already had 1 in the first place, so now I have more to forget I have.LOL.

I'd have lifted the radiator but that's fairly easy on mine. When I changed it a few years ago I found that the bolt holes for the two bolts at the bottom didn't line up so rather than putting strain on the bottom plastic part of the rad and causing it to leak at the join, I didn't bother fitting them. I figured that with the hoses, gravity, the two rubber mounts at the bottom and the two clips at the top, it was never going to move anywhere. It hasn't in 5 odd years so I don't think it's going to unless I move it myself.

I Always know where my magnetic pen is. Learned my lesson when mounting the 4 tiny bolts of the ignition coils. One of them moved under the inlet manifold and on top of that large gasket.

Been there, seen that. Crows foot spanner on a short extension. I found the slightly bent jack extension handle was the only way I could manoeuvre it a) close enough and b) upright, allowing me to spear the extension with another longer one and retrieve the whole lot to safety.

It took nearly two hours to get the bloody thing back at which point, I said sod whatever the job was and, roundly cursing the P38 design team, went for a cold beer instead.

I promised myself then I'd keep an eye out for a magnetic pen but have I seen one for sale since...?

What you need George is one of these to assist in your search:<br>
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/31-Flexible-Flashlight-LED-Light-Torch-Telescopic-Magnetic-Extend-Pick-Up-Tool-/181956693256?hash=item2a5d76cd08:g:Ct0AAOSwAKxWaIU3#shpCntId

I have that one OB but the second one I have has better flexibility with a narrower tip.
Its listed as £10 but I only paid £1.74 Although its Rolson it helped me out yesterday considering how heavy the pulley holder is.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rolson-61783-Flexi-Pick-Tool/dp/B0053BH5FE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462343808&sr=8-1&keywords=rolson+61783+six+led+flexi+pickup+tool

Trouble is that neither will send to the Philippines. I'll have to have a look and see if RS Components do one. They have an office here and delivery is only a couple of days.

How about this one then George? I bet they post to Philippines :-) <br>
http://www.ebay.ph/itm/Home-Iscope-Aluminum-Telescopic-Magnetic-Flexible-Head-3-LED-Flash-Light-Tool-/381601010240?hash=item58d9315240:g:mVsAAOSw3xJVXBAC <br>
RS do loads: <br>
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/tools/positioners-retrieval-tools/pick-up-tools//?redirect-relevancy-data=636F3D3126696E3D4931384E4C446573635461786F6E6F6D794272616E645365617263685465726D266C753D656E266D6D3D6D617463687061727469616C6D617826706D3D5E5B5C707B4C7D2D5C707B5A737D5D2B2426706F3D353426736E3D592673723D52656469726563742673743D4B4559574F52445F4D554C54495F414C5048412673633D592677633D4E4F4E45267573743D6D61676E65746963207069636B207570267374613D6D61676E65746963207069636B20757026&r=f#applied-dimensions=4294316711,4294316757,4294316836,4294360006,4294368519,4294377481,4294872348&sra=oss

Got one!

I was looking for some double sided tape and wandered into the local 'American Bazaar' (think Pound Shop but not as expensive) and came out with the tape, an oilstone (been looking for ages) and a super duper magnetic pick-up tool for picking up dropped metallic stuff. I quantify that as living in the area I do, then walking around saying I've got a magnetic pick-up tool will either get me a crowd of interested young ladies, or a slap!

Glad to hear you found one George, just remember to keep it at the top of your tool box :)