Broken oil dipstick.

[Baetz]

The oil dipstick on my Cummins Onan generator has broken 2 or 3 inches from the bottom. This apparently is a known and not uncommon problem with these dipsticks. It is impossible to reinsert the dipstick, just won’t go. The broken off part could be in the tube that leads to the crank case or could be in the crank case, don’t know.
Anyone have any experience with this problem? The boat is an 2012 R29.

 

[Mastercraft]

I wonder what caused it to break.
My idea too remove the broken end:
- get a rubber or vinyl tube that fits in dipstick hole
- makes sure dip stick can fit easily and snug in rubber or vinyl tube
- cut end of rubber/vinyl tube off at 30 deg chamfer
- push rubber/ vinyl tube into dipstick hole
- push hard enough to put broken piece into rubber/vinyl tube
- keep trying until you either pick up the piece or realize no success

 

[Mastercraft]

Here is what Google says:
To remove the broken part of the oil dipstick, try using a small needle nose pliers to pull it out. If you can’t reach down far enough, some technicians have had luck by injecting compressed air into the oil filler area. But don’t overdo it on pressure. Inject just enough to get a forceful flow backwards through the oil dipstick tube. That should force the dipstick up far enough to grab it.
If that doesn’t work, remove the dipstick tube itself. It’s usually bolted to the cylinder head with a bracket. Disconnect the bracket and then wiggle the tube out of the engine block. Remove the oil dipstick, then re-install the tube.

 

[Mastercraft]

Maybe instead of a rubber/vinyl tube, try a solid rubber or semi-flexible plastic rod with a split end. The idea is to push the broken end into the split in rod.

 

[MV Toujours]

The oil dipstick on my Cummins Onan generator has broken 2 or 3 inches from the bottom. This apparently is a known and not uncommon problem with these dipsticks. It is impossible to reinsert the dipstick, just won’t go. The broken off part could be in the tube that leads to the crank case or could be in the crank case, don’t know.
Anyone have any experience with this problem? The boat is an 2012 R29.

I had mine fixed by the dealer under warranty.

The fix requires replacement with new tube/dipstick. Not a difficult task for but you need the parts.

Patrick