Tennis Ball In The Heatalator Tube !

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Dix

Dix

Minister of Fire
Hearth Supporter
May 27, 2008
6,716
Long Island, NY
So, I toss Murphs tennis ball, and it goes into the upper left tube of the heatalator system. I see it, I grab it, and it rolls back, and down into the fireplace heat tube.


OK, I'll get it from the bottom. Newp, kwool & insert in the way. It's stuck.


Maybe some tongs? (Good Lord, what kind of a potential Ash Can thread am I starting here?)


Or, how bad is the smell gonna be next winter as this thing disintegrates, and for how long??


Old pic, before reface, right after install, twas a proud moment ;-)

[Hearth.com] Tennis Ball In The Heatalator Tube !



>:-(
 
I wouldn't quit trying until I got the damn thing outta there, whatever it takes. The heatilator openings are s'posed to have some sort of screens/gratings installed, no? Good luck with it, Eileen. Rick
 
shop vac might help
 
Shop vac from above, working in concert with compressed air from below, if that's possible to rig up. (Not familiar with the interior configuration of that contraption). Rick
 
Ok, gotta ask, how did the tennis ball find its way down there? Were you bouncing it off the fireplace or did the kids do it?
 
You need to get the tennis ball deflate/crush a little bit when pulling it through the hole. If you can see it and feel it just reach back in there and make a slit in the ball with a utility knife. you can then stick your finger in it and try pulling it out or if that doesn't work grab a long pair of needle nose or vice grips and it should come out.
 
Yup, I was thinking what Estang was thinking. I remember my dad having one of those tools. Should be able to grip the ball fuzz with it and pull.
 
Another thought - plumbing snake fed in from the bottom should be able to push the ball out
 
I've heard of bad things happen when people make a big racket but this one may also have been caused by a racket?! Or should we ask what sort of a racket did this? Well, somebody had to say it. But this racket made so much of a racket it lost it's ball and...... Naw. Skip this one.
 
Backwoods Savage said:
I've heard of bad things happen when people make a big racket but this one may also have been caused by a racket?! Or should we ask what sort of a racket did this? Well, somebody had to say it. But this racket made so much of a racket it lost it's ball and...... Naw. Skip this one.
Click to expand...

Please don't serve us those kind of jokes.
 
But you have to admit it must have been a great serve!
 
Point made. I think this volley is set for no love.
 
Advantage Dennis!
 
go, go gadget arm! easy like sunday morning.
 
You have to ask yourself...

What would John McEnroe do?

Bet he would have had it out in nothing flat.
 
If Murphs is a golden retriever, just stand back and let him have at it. He'll get it out. Of course, you may have a pile of brick dust to clean up and a repair or two... If he's not, PM me your address and I'll ship mine down. I'd recommend you keep him, in case this ever happens again. :-)
 
Shop vac is a good idea, but I would also consider a patch of velcro stapled to the end of a string....the "hook" side. Clamp on some lead split-shot to make it do down easier. That will probably "net" you the desired outcome, if not, it is not my "fault."
 
Serve this (broken image removed) to the lot of you :lol:

After some crawling, flashlight, mirror, small shop vac, I've come to the conclusion that the damned ball rolled down the exchange tube and is now in the vicinity of the rear of the original fireplace, which as fas as I can tell is all interconnected around the fire box. I only have a small "stinger" shop vac here, so I'll bring a big one back from the shop.

Can't fit my arm in there, can't fit Murph in there ..although he knows it's in there, on the bottom, left side >:-(

Murph

[Hearth.com] Tennis Ball In The Heatalator Tube !
 
Well, serve him the right thing, with Love and you just might net that thing yet Eileen.
 
AW, he is such a sweetie! How can you live with yourself after carelessly and with blatant disregard for his tender feelings throwing his one play toy in the whole world away??? That look says it ALL, it oozes hurt and bewildered recrimination. That dog is good ;-) Have you rented the jackhammer yet? I'd suggest dynamite, but that might damage the ball...
 
estang said:
In the Auto Technition world they make a long snake looking thing with three jaws on the end and a thumb button that would retrieve it

http://shop.etoolscity.com/3in1-FlexShaft-Retriever-tool-Claw-LED/M/B000XVLH4Y.htm
Click to expand...

These things are quite handy to have around the house, I had one left under the hood of my car by an unknown mechanic quite possibly at a quick change oil shop?

I have used the thing many times for various "oh sh@t" moments when something goes where it shouldn't ....
 
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