Hydraulic dipstick came apart, now what?

[SPIKE]

I just started up and rolled my Dixie Chopper out of the garage and shut it down to check it before actually using it, just like always. When I pulled the dipstick out of the hydraulic tank, I only got the top part. All of the rest of it had fallen down into the tank. I got a flexible grabber at an auto parts store, but with the pipes and other things inside the tank, I have been unable to retrieve anything except the rubber plug. Now, I am afraid of using it since I can't get any of those parts out. Any ideas? My thought is to take the tank off and pour its contents into a container and fish for all of the parts. If I had extra oil, I would have already done this. It may be a few days until I get to work on it agian. Work and other obligations get in the way of cutting the grass. My Dixie Chopper is for home use only. It is a 1999 XW2002 with 60" black deck. Thanks for any suggestions.

[DC Service]

Try fishing with a magnet.I di not think that the parts in your hyd.tank could get into your pumps(past the filters),or cause any damage to your unit.I would order another dipstick from your dealer.Good luck! ;)

[Fine Lines Lawn]

DC Service is correct. No damaging parts can get past the filtration. Go ahead and use your Dixie and your dealer can get you a new dip-stick.

[Five Star Lawn Care]

has happened to me a couple of times....like dc said get a magnet...i have an extentable one that looks like a screwdriver

[SPIKE]

Just to let you know, I used the Dixie Chopper over the weekend. It worked fine without all of the dipstick put together. The dealer is about an hour and a half away. Don't know when I wll get there just to get a dipstick.

Additionally, while mowing next to the pond, once again, I got stuck. I was going along next to the water when it just started sliding sideways toward the pond and stopped sliding with the left rear wheel right at the water. I pulled it out with the pickup. It is way to heavy for me to just get of and pull it out of the mud like I could do with my previous mower. The previous mower took about 7 to 9 hours to mow and now it takes me about 2 to 3 hours to mow.

Hope I am not to long in this post.

SPIKE