Technical Chevy blueflame balancer key-What are the chances?

Since the key is light and it doesn't take much to move it, you will likely be better off fishing with a weak magnet.
A strong magnet is just going to continually try to stick itself to everything but the key you are trying to fish out, even once you've got the key hooked on.I've fought that before, get it on the magnet but the extraction just knocks it back loose because the magnet is trying to stick to everything else in the path.

You might try a strip of magnetic vinyl , aka "refrigerator magnet".

Just another idea if you run into a fishing struggle.

 

If you wait for the earth to rotate it might just fall out

 

Yeah I wouldn’t leave it in there knowing it is in the timing cover myself, if it was in the pan, I would consider leaving it there, but I might drive myself nuts thinking about it and pull the pan….

 

just suck it up and take the damn timing cover off!

I can't believe all the procrastination here, you'll be kicking your ass when it lunches your timing set or winds up pinballing around the bottom end.

 

As the poster stated gaskets are not readily available down here for these engines. We don't have access to the 'big brown truck ' that the US does.

 

Neither do I, I'm in the UK.

Still no excuse to not do the job properly.

If you cant wait then make a gasket

 

Clydesdale brings up a good point. Is there a target date you need it on the road for?
Never thought to ask that before.

 

What is the engine in? In a pickup the pan come off easy in a car not so much. The front a rear gasket loop over the front and rear main are usually fine when removing the pan. The sides are very easy to make with some gasket material you can buy. A 1/4” hole punch and a razor blade. I just finished a rocker arm cover.
Remember if you take the pan and cover off to tap the front main to take bolts. Small head header bolts work best.

 

I order stuff from RockAuto and it turns up in NZ sometimes within a week. Although it doesn't go through Aussie Customs. You might want to give them a go.

 

Here's a possibility for you.. a mini electromagnet for kids
Have made many a magnetic screwdriver with a car battery and wire wrap.

 

@spanners , how many people do you know that run the same engine as you or are going to need parts that can be purchased from the same supplier that you use? Would it be worthwhile to order parts for several engines all together? May not do anything for the import duties but should reduce your shipping costs considerably.

 

I had the same issue last year when I had to grind down a Woodruff key to fit, then dropped it into the timing cover. Luckily I could see it, so used a magnet to grab it - but the magnet just knocked it down further.
Turns out the Woodruff key I used was stainless! As in non-magnetic. I made another one, and ignored the lost one which went who knows where.

 

Got the little bastard. Thanks for all the ideas, but the little magnet did the job. I managed to get it past the seal, and hooked it out with another bit of wire.

 

BRAVO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @36roadster
Good show indeed!
Patience and persistence, pays off big time, plus a little bit of creative tool making, helps as well!
Glad you got the half moon key out!
The HAMB Universe, can sleep well tonight, and not worry itself to death, over this great adventure, in automotive problem solving!

Your Cowgirl, car Hop, has your snack reward, ready for you!

 

Glad to hear you got it out. Now don't do it again!

 

That's great! I wouldn't buy a lottery ticket and make sure you stop at Stop signs. I think you've used up your luck for a while.