Shift Coupler stuck in tunnel. Creative ways to get it out?

[mkhanshaw]

I am working on my friend's 1960. I was replacing his old coupler with an updated one. The coupler was stuck on the nosecone shaft of the transaxle. Using an adjustable wrench like a fork, and a hammer from the backside, I slowly tapped on it until it freed.

In doing so, it "kicked" down into the tunnel

I used a mirror and a small worklight to see it sitting about halfway between the access panel for the coupler and the shifter port on the tunnel (most likely right under the e-brake handle).

I have tried a 5ft long flexible shaft claw to no success. At one point even that tool got stuck between the tubes running in the tunnel.

I do not want to cut the tunnel, pull back the metal to retrieve and put back. If I did, i'd want to do it right and reweld the metal.

Anyone ever have an issue of this sort and what creative tools / methods did you use? I thought of just leaving it be but I am sure over time just having it in there will be a problem.

He might go over a bump and it somehow lodge itself in the path of the shift rod...or the vibration may wear through those 65 year old metal tubes...

What a nightmare.
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54 Oval

[56Cabrio]

Maybe go from the front and push it back? Might be kind of hard with the body on though.
Or maybe use some electrical fishing sticks with the hook attachment.
https://www.amazon.com/Fiberglass-Electrical-diffe...1&th=1

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1956 Rag Top owned since 1988
1956 Convertible owned since 2000
1963 Hard Top

RIP Dad 4/20/1951 - 2/4/2023

[mkhanshaw]

Not a bad idea at all but part of the issue is there is a plate at the very front in the framehead that looks like the older style set up to support the parking brake rods (like my old 54 that I removed and updated to a later model e brake set up).

I bought a 10 foot rod (3/16" diameter) with the intention of going from the front. There are so many things that block the straight line of sight from the front. Its like a canyon on the death star for a straight line lol.

I DO like the fishing hook idea. I may try to run with that somehow. What I like about this idea is I can assemble it one piece at a time IN the tunnel from the access port and keep extending it.

I wish I had a robotic articulated arm.
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54 Oval

[MrGoodtunes]

Maybe you could get it by using a magnetic extension tool, like one of these:

https://www.google.com/search?q=magnetic+extension+tool

[OldSchoolVW's]

[rcooled]

Jack the front of the car up as high as you can (the higher, the better) and support it so that it's safe to crawl underneath. Bang on the underside of the tunnel with a rubber mallet where you think the coupler is sitting. If it's not really stuck on something, you might get it to slid back to the opening and retrieve it from there.

If you can't get it to move, having the car tilted up may still make it easier to use a hooked wire or something similar to fish the coupler out.

Might be difficult to get a strong magnet to slide up the tunnel...it's gonna want to stick to whatever it touches first. Lots of steel in there...
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'63 Ragtop (current)
'65 Ghia coupe (totaled)
'67 Ghia convertible (current)
'69.5 Ghia convertible and
'62, '63, '65, '69 Bugs (all long gone)

[viiking]

I've had success with a simple loop inside a pipe to remove objects a long way away.

Get a piece of plastic electrical conduit, or metal if it is straight. It can just be a small pipe, doesn't matter.

Now fold the a piece of some string, rope or whatever in half and place into the conduit so that you end up with a loop at the end of the conduit and two ends of the string at the other end. Obviously cut the conduit to the length you need.

Push the conduit into the relevant hole and work it around and see if you can grab the coupler with the loop. Then simply pull the two ropes and the end of the loop will tighten around the object.

It might take a few goes, but it's simple and cheap.

Oh, by the way, it's great to catch a marauding snake and still be a long way away from it. Ask me how I know.
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1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[Schnitzelfuss]

I have retrieved small objects using my shop vac with added step-down diameter rubber tubing that will reach the object.
Another thought- if you have an inspection camera with a long bendable neck, many of the them include a stiff wire hook that attaches to the camera end. Mine has one. If you don’t own one consider buying one they are very handy for more than car work. I’ve used mine much more than I ever thought I would when I bought it.

[aquifer]

They make magnets for fishing electrical wires and cables inside walls. You tie the wire or cable to a steel thing, and there's a super strong rare earth magnet that you put in a rag and slide up the sheet rock, and it drags the wire with it inside the wall.

If you had a strong magnet like that it would probably latch onto the coupler and you could slide it on the bottom of the tunnel, back toward the access hole. Maybe? Just a thought.
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Project vehicles:
1967 Beetle #1. Bought in 2024, mostly original, October 1966 build date.
1967 Beetle #2. Bought in the mid 80's, restored myself in the late 90's, June 1967 build date.
1998 Jaguar XJR. Bought in 2015, rust free AZ car, refurbished myself. Driven in nice weather.

Parts needed:
Front & rear NOS or used OEM door panels for a '67 in the original Gazelle color (dark tan/light brown).

[Blue Baron]

Did you try removing the shifter and trying to access or push it through? At a minimum you should be able to shine some light inside to see better.
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We are striving for perfection, to make our cars run forever, if possible.

Heinz Nordhoff

[scottyrocks]

You can also use a fish tape (steel or fiberglass) from the back. Attach a hook or magnet to the end of it and it push it in.
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“If you care for a thing long enough, it takes on a life of its own, doesn't it? Mending old things, preserving them, looking after them – on some level there's no rational grounds for it.”
– D. Tartt, 'The Goldfinch'