i got nice long pliers (they didnt have the bent ones but these should work) from wilko. i didn't know they did nice cheap bike bits, so thanks guys for that. I also got a nice magnet on a telescopic ariel thing, but its too big to fit between the spindle and the outer shaft to pluck this washer up, but there is still a bit of rubber stuck to it which i can get to with the pliers and nothing is moving when i tug on that. so its an afternoon watching human 500W generators doing daft things on bikes and i will go see my car fixing guys tomorrow and report back.