Sorry ... feel like a dumbass.

Had my seat off and was removing the 2 rear side panels. I set the screws on a piece of paper that I had laying on the gas tank part below where the rider sits, that little rearward extension of the gas tank ... well I bumped the paper & the screws fell right down into the tight slot area between the rear of the tank and the rear tire mud guard under belly plastic piece. Lots of hoses and crap down in there.

Anybody know of a reasonable way to access that area, preferably without removing the gas tank?

2 screws are in there. I need 'em ... and don't want 'em doing damage, possibly rubbing the paint off the tank or wearing a whole in a rubber hose or some crap.

Live & learn. Damn.

Thanks for whatever you can offer ...

Can you get in there with a magnet? I have a pen type looking gadget that extends with a magnet in the end for exactly this type of thing. It came in a Bosch accessory set however I've seen them at auto shops as well.
You could also try magnetising a screwdriver and see if that will work.

Well, two things: One is I can't even see the last screw. I know it's in there because its plastic washer slipped off and landed on a plateau where I eventually reached and retrieved it. I have now retrieved that washer and one screw with its plastic washer, leaving just one screw ... which I can't see but must be down in there. Second thing is I don't think the metal these screws are made of is magnetic, but then I haven't tried that, yet, so I certainly will.

Thanks untamed

Guys ... untamed ... still need some help ... if anybody has any ideas ...

I now know the screw is laying waaay down in there, in the plastic 'bowl' just behind the shock's reservoir and just above the swing arm axle. I don't even know what that little pod shape is for, but I can tap on it from the bottom and hear the screw in there.

I bought a magnetic extension wand, but that darn thing won't fit down there. First, it's not a straight path; it's like a maze. And, second, the magnetic wand I bought has a light on the end of it, which while nice, makes the head probably bigger than it would otherwise be. Maybe tomorrow I'll get a different.

Oh, and it turns out the bolt is steel and can be grabbed by a magnet. It's now a matter of getting a magnet close enough to it, and then even if I can do that, then pulling it slowly, gently back out through the maze ... like the game Operation, which I was never very good at.

Any other ideas ... please let me know. Thanks again.

If you can hear it...it aint wedged against something.This is the kind of thing that after working on a bike(like these),a guy wonders..."Where the hell did THAT come from"as he notices it on the floor.Some months later that is.And he racks his brain and worries..."okay...what'd I miss on my parts install today?".Leave it.It'll end up on the floor eventuallyLOL.

Have you looked on the parts fiche for that plastic piece?Check out the diagram...see exactly what's around it.Probably a simple dirt deflector for the shock or something.That bolt most likey isn't going anywhere.

The bright side...at least you KNOW it's there.Instead of searching every nook and cranny on yer bikeLOL.

Is that the 'well' at the front of the rear fender?(fender assembly)35022...the line pointing at it.That thing just to the right of that line.I think that's where you're talking about.The bolt won't harm anything sitting in there.

Don't feel bad...I've 'lost' a few screws and such over the years...replaced em...no problem.Least ya know it won't catch yer throttle or something;)

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 8/28/2015 @ 9:37 PM *

Grn - Thanks ... I guess it won't do any harm, but I ain't givin' up yet!

Yeah, I think we're talking about the same place: It's in the little 'bowl' I highlighted in the pic below, assuming I highlighted it correctly.

Damn thing! Every time I tap on the bottom of that bowl I can hear that screw pop up and land ... taunting me!!!

* Last updated by: extrapolator on 8/29/2015 @ 1:33 AM *

Yep...that's the part area.I know what ya mean about..'leaving it in there'...It would bug the hell outta me also.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 8/29/2015 @ 7:22 AM *

HOT DAMN I GOT IT!!!! WOOOO! No big deal ... I GUESS ... but nevertheless I was jumpin' and high fivin' my lady all around the garage and makin' a fuss. She knew, too, cuz she tried to help last night, and knew it was killin' me! KILLIN' me. HAHA!

So ... I bought an el-cheapo telescoping magnetic pickup tool from Pep Boys ... diameter of the magnet is just slightly smaller than the first one I got that has an LED lite in the end of it ... so barely fit in there any better, so the space was so tight the telescope just kept closing up ... I couldn't push the magnet down in there. So I snapped the magnet end segment off, and slipped that over a piece of hard wire with a little kink in it, jammed it on there really good ... and finally, on the L side of the bike, I lucked into just the right bend in the wire, combined with sorta 'screwing' it down into the slot, rather than just pushing it straight down, which was never gonna work (I never could actually see the screw down in there, no line-of-sight) and finally I knew the magnet had reached the bottom of the bowl ... I had marked the wire for depth so I'd know. Then I rapidly popped my hand up against the bottom of the bowl again, like last night where I could hear that little SOB hopping around in there like a Mexican Jumping Bean ... until, HEY, wait a second! There's no more screw hopping noise. It's all quiet in there. Could it be? Could it BE?? So I slowly, gently, verrrrrry gently 'un-screwed' the wire from its tight slot, like handling a new born baby bird ... I guess ... and I'll be damned ... that lil' bastard of a screw was stuck to the end of it!

* Last updated by: extrapolator on 8/30/2015 @ 8:50 AM *

WoHoo!Victory!Way ta go;)

Well done, now keep a container handy and put screws in that next time so that you don't have to screw around in tight spaces.lol

Love to hear a happy ending.

Grn

Will do, untamed. In fact I normally do ... keep 'em in a cut off empty cat litter container. Weak moment this time. I guess I needed a harsh reminder.

Me too, toledo

* Last updated by: extrapolator on 8/30/2015 @ 9:42 PM *

Thanks for teh reminder and good job !! It is always better when we win, right ?? :)