This ever happen to you?
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 147
Likes: 2
From: Marysville WA
What are the odds?
In working on a race car years ago when I was involved in local NASCAR racing I dropped a screwdriver and bounced aroundd several times before it went down the exhaust pipe that was disconnected from the engine. Of course it didn't just go down the exhaust it went down point first so the plastic handle was at the top and I couldn't use a magnetic retriever to get it out. Had to disassemble exhaust system to remove it. Two years later the identical thing happened. You couldn't intentionally drop a screwdriver and get it to go into the exhaust pipe but allowing it to happen accidentally resulted in it being virtually a sure thing.
There are rules about dropping things. They will always managed to end up in the most hard to find and/or hard to retrive locations. Sometimes they even manage to find their way into a black hole and are never seen again.
There are rules about dropping things. They will always managed to end up in the most hard to find and/or hard to retrive locations. Sometimes they even manage to find their way into a black hole and are never seen again.
Last edited by smokindownthehwy; Dec 8, 2014 at 01:17 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 7
From: D/FW Texas
this is the first time I've heard anyone (besides me) do this. Had to jack the car up and remove the entire exhaust just so I could shake it upside down and retrieve the tool.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,881
Likes: 32,990
From: King George, VA
In working on a race car years ago when I was involved in local NASCAR racing I dropped a screwdriver and bounced aroundd several times before it went down the exhaust pipe that was disconnected from the engine. Of course it didn't just go down the exhaust it went down point first so the plastic handle was at the top and I couldn't use a magnetic retriever to get it out. Had to disassemble exhaust system to remove it. Two years later the identical thing happened. You couldn't intentionally drop a screwdriver and get it to go into the exhaust pipe but allowing it to happen accidentally resulted in it being virtually a sure thing.
There are rules about dropping things. They will always managed to end up in the most hard to find and/or hard to retrive locations. Sometimes they even manage to find their way into a black hole and are never seen again.
There are rules about dropping things. They will always managed to end up in the most hard to find and/or hard to retrive locations. Sometimes they even manage to find their way into a black hole and are never seen again.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,624
Likes: 13
From: Fort Worth
Was adding the adjustment lever for the backrest and had the bolt and washer ready to install back on the midframe deflector. Somehow, the washer fell off and down it went in between the transmission, engine case and frame. I got my light and shined down there and I could just barley see it wedged in the spot. I got various pics and finally used a coat hanger to get it to move nad fall on to the floor. When I reached under the bike to grab it, I found two of them.
I guess the same thing had happened to the factory or dealer and they just grabbed another washer.
I guess the same thing had happened to the factory or dealer and they just grabbed another washer.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 259
Likes: 3
From: Missouri
Yup, wound up using a magnet to fish the second one out. Next time, I'll run a magnet over the front part of the bike first - I just never would have though of them both landing in the same hole.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 575
Likes: 4
From: SouthWestern Ontario
Why...yes! Yes indeed, this has happened to me, thank you for asking! I simply either find the damn thing or find another one in stock and move on. Never have I found it necessary to post about it on the World Wide Web because I never thought anybody else would give a rip about it. I will have to give this some thought the next time something minor and inconsequential occurs to me. Others may find it fascinating...wow! An epiphany! So stoked!
Here, allow me to waste some more of your valuable time and share another "minor and inconsequential" occurrence.
Years ago, I was a passenger in my friends Chevelle, driving through the tunnel between Canada and Detroit when all of a sudden we heard the familiar sound of a wrench hitting and bouncing off the pavement. With the outstanding acoustics of the tunnel, my buddy was able to determine it was a 9/16" combination wrench. There was no traffic so he backed up and retrieved it...yep a 9/16" combination wrench, lost and forgotten, long ago.
Thanks for sharing OP.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: virginia
I had a customer of mine drop his hearing aid somewhere in an engine compartment. He wound up taking the intake manifold off the car looking for it, spent an entire day and never found it. 2k down the drain
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
Congratulations you lucky **** you! When I drop screws, they automatically go out of sight and work their way to the furtherest, darkest damn corner of the garage. O that pisses me off so. Cheers!! 
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,377
Likes: 647
From: Santa Clarita
Here, allow me to waste some more of your valuable time and share another "minor and inconsequential" occurrence.
Years ago, I was a passenger in my friends Chevelle, driving through the tunnel between Canada and Detroit when all of a sudden we heard the familiar sound of a wrench hitting and bouncing off the pavement. With the outstanding acoustics of the tunnel, my buddy was able to determine it was a 9/16" combination wrench. There was no traffic so he backed up and retrieved it...yep a 9/16" combination wrench, lost and forgotten, long ago. Thanks for sharing OP.
Years ago, I was a passenger in my friends Chevelle, driving through the tunnel between Canada and Detroit when all of a sudden we heard the familiar sound of a wrench hitting and bouncing off the pavement. With the outstanding acoustics of the tunnel, my buddy was able to determine it was a 9/16" combination wrench. There was no traffic so he backed up and retrieved it...yep a 9/16" combination wrench, lost and forgotten, long ago.
Thanks for sharing OP.