Help bonehead move!!!
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,855
Likes: 3
From: North Carolina
I've done that a couple times. I got lucky with a little magnet you can pick up at a parts store. Be sure it didn't fall all the way through to the floor, I realized that happened one of the last times after fishing around with the magnet with no luck. Like Rakthi said, try rocking the bike back and forth.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Son did that when he put on the shift linkage cover. .
Looked for an hr with a little shop mirror and several little shop mags and still couldn't find it.
Two days later he saw it over by his mower...
Looked for an hr with a little shop mirror and several little shop mags and still couldn't find it.
Two days later he saw it over by his mower...
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: PNW
Do you have a jack? If so, jack up the bike and look from underneath ...
Have you moved the bike forwards/backwards? Maybe the blasted thing falls out if it is just lying on the belt
Taking the primary cover off is not going to help you. To get to that area you will have to take off the inner primary cover ... bit more to that than just unscrewing ... you're talking alternator, compensator, primary chain, clutch basket ... And all this for a little screw that might not even be there?
Have you looked behind the starter too? Are you sure the little thing fell between the transmission and inner primary?
I'd look again on the floor. Turn off the lights and use a flashlight parallel and close to the floor, anything on there will throw a shadow ... easiest way to find little bits that fall on the floor and then hide in the most inconvenient spot.
Have you moved the bike forwards/backwards? Maybe the blasted thing falls out if it is just lying on the belt
Taking the primary cover off is not going to help you. To get to that area you will have to take off the inner primary cover ... bit more to that than just unscrewing ... you're talking alternator, compensator, primary chain, clutch basket ... And all this for a little screw that might not even be there?
Have you looked behind the starter too? Are you sure the little thing fell between the transmission and inner primary?
I'd look again on the floor. Turn off the lights and use a flashlight parallel and close to the floor, anything on there will throw a shadow ... easiest way to find little bits that fall on the floor and then hide in the most inconvenient spot.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 13,456
Likes: 10,452
From: Sunshine State
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,874
Likes: 576
From: Raleigh NC
I'm with Lundee; whenever I drop a screw or nut and can't find it I just use another one. If it fell out, you will eventually find it, if it didn't, it most likely will work its way out as you ride
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,618
Likes: 3
From: Tucson, AZ
Bingo! I lost one in the same place. As long as it doesn't interfere with the shifting, forget it.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,515
Likes: 1
From: malibu
Me too! Hahaha!!!
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 581
Likes: 7
From: Portland, OR
You mean like flip you off the bike? You know, that someday youre going die riding that bike right? Fact of life, odds, probability. Just kidding. But I am considering getting a tattoo that says Road Rash Warrior after hitting a deer last year at 60mph.
I too lost a small sheet metal screw in that same location several years back. Forget what I was doing, but it slipped out of my fingers. It happens. I figured if the bike still shifts (and it did), ride it. And if it fell down into the transmission sprocket, then the belt will flip it out sooner or later or the screw will just get munched. Go for it, but might want to wear your jacket :-).
I too lost a small sheet metal screw in that same location several years back. Forget what I was doing, but it slipped out of my fingers. It happens. I figured if the bike still shifts (and it did), ride it. And if it fell down into the transmission sprocket, then the belt will flip it out sooner or later or the screw will just get munched. Go for it, but might want to wear your jacket :-).
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