Can I remove the mid unit/oil pain without removing the power head and engine holder.

[Projectpat]

Hey there guys, I made a pretty dumb mistake while checking Tappet valve clearance today, can you guess what it was? That is correct, I dropped a shim from the #4 exhaust valve, it came off the magnet and plinko-ed right down into the oil. I was hoping to get lucky with a magnet or an inspection camera but had no luck. Ive done valves several times on different motorcycles I’ve owned, so I thought I’d give it a shot because I bought my boat used and the engines have 1300hrs. After checking clearance, several tolerances were too tight so I made myself a shim tool on the mill to see what shims I needed to order. On the very last exhaust valve, disaster struck! Any help is greatly appreciated. The engine is a 2006 df150. Thanks.

[tsturm]

I would drain the oil & spend a few hrs. if nec. searching with my magnet before removing anything.

[Harper]

I'm in agreement with tsturm. Even if you fail to retrieve it, I think I'd even leave it there before tearing into the engine. It's not likely to hurt anything. There is a screen on the pickup, and anything that large and heavy is likely to just sit there in the bottom of the pan and not cause any trouble at all.