"Lost" torx key...

[Blind Lemon Ade]

I was just fitting the Optimate connector to the battery on the F650GS, honest Guv!

Putting the "tank cover" back on, tightening the screw on the offside of the headstock, when my hand slipped, and *ping* the torx key disappeared.

It didn't hit the foor, just went "rattle" and was lost, seemingly forever, in the black forest of pipework under the tank...

I've taken the tank side panel off, and groped around in there, but I'm b*ggered if I can find the b*stard thing. Even feeling around with a magnetic retriever has failed to reveal it.

What next?

Ignore it, and wait until it drops out on the road? (The electric fan still turns, so it's not stuck in there.)

Dismantle the whole bl**dy bike until I find it?

Aaaargh!

Any suggestions?

 

[NAB]

Ignore it, and wait until it drops out on the road? (The electric fan still turns, so it's not stuck in there.)

Dismantle the whole bl**dy bike until I find it?

Aaaargh!

Any suggestions?

No real suggestions other than keep looking, not much help I know but I fitted Sat Nav to my 1200GSA and went for a test ride, on the way home I had a rear puncture, phone at home, tyre weld at home, repair kit at home, bummer, When I finally did get home I found that one of the bolts missing from the mount. There was nothing in the tyre and I can only assume the bolt had dropped out and found the rear tyre, bit of a coincidence I know but there you go

Good Luck

Nigel

 

[Blind Lemon Ade]

That's a cheering thought...

thanks anyway!

 

[freeloader]

It may not be stuck in the fan now, but the chances are that since you don't know where it is, then you don't know if it's going to stay there! It could just be waiting to fall into the fan...

...or the chain (OK, probably unlikely )...

I know it's a pain, but if it were me, I'd persevere until I found it. Safer that way, IMHO. Good luck, sounds like you need it.

 

[GrumpySimes]

I was fitting some heated grips to my old KTM and I lost the screwdriver bit in a similar fashion... Eventually found it nestled nicely in the wiring loom under the tank:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simon_woods/4197873426/" title="duke by simon_woods, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2565/4197873426_7a5b6644b7_o.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="duke" /></a>

Good luck

 

[Big Derek]

Hi for what its worth i would take off as many bits as easy to get in with a mirror have alook round, and use your magnet. I also take a good close up couple of digital photo's by sticking your camera in area's where you can't see with the flash, put it on pc and sometimes you see the nut or bolt you so thought you had checked for. You will not be the first or the last be i would have a night off and go at it again tomoz...... You will find it where you never thought it will be?

Have fun "Good Luck "

Big D

 

[Blind Lemon Ade]

Ta, peeps!

Yes, I thought I'd better give up for today, before I start trashing things in frustration

Black torx key in black engine with black pipework & cables... none more black!

At least I know how the bodywork fits, now

 

[Miz]

Just remember, turn off all the lights and use your mag lite to search...


It always works on CSI

 

[Blind Lemon Ade]

"Use the Force, Luke..."



What is this, "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" ?

 

[mystic]

I've taken the tank side panel off, and groped around in there, but I'm b*ggered if I can find the b*stard thing. Even feeling around with a magnetic retriever has failed to reveal it.

What next?

Ignore it, and wait until it drops out on the road? (The electric fan still turns, so it's not stuck in there.)

Dismantle the whole bl**dy bike until I find it?

Aaaargh!

Any suggestions?

Thought of turning the bike upside down? Enlist the help of a few fit males and give the sod a bloody good shaking ...... Its only around 180kg for heavens sake

 

[Blind Lemon Ade]

*gulp*

The Missus suggested laying it on its side in the drive, but I wimped out, what with me bad back an' all...

I did try bouncing it over a few bits of 2x2 (dead engine!) to bounce the fecker out, but no good...

 

[g.s.john]

Ta, peeps!

Yes, I thought I'd better give up for today, before I start trashing things in frustration

Black torx key in black engine with black pipework & cables... none more black!

At least I know how the bodywork fits, now

so it's black then?

 

[Blind Lemon Ade]

so it's black then?

...like looking for a Spinal Tap album cover, in a coal cellar, at midnight. While wearing a welder's mask.

 

[NAB]

What size was the torx key, maybe I have spare I could let you have

 

[Tim Cullis]

...like looking for a Spinal Tap album cover, in a coal cellar, at midnight. While wearing a welder's mask.

View attachment 140277

I have an entry like that in my autograph book when I was about five, but it was in non-PC days back in 1956 so it reads, "this is a picture of a nigger in a coal cellar on a dark night."

Never did understand why Robinsons got rid of those funny little guys with sticky-out hair.

 

[Bullwinkle]

You could also take an object of similar size, shape and colour, and drop it from the very same place and watch it carefully to see where it winds up.

I feel for you mate, happened to me countless times, and believe it or not I have actually used the method described above (not often with success, mind).

 

[brassmonkey001]

You could also take an object of similar size, shape and colour, and drop it from the very same place and watch it carefully to see where it winds up.

I feel for you mate, happened to me countless times, and believe it or not I have actually used the method described above (not often with success, mind).

I must admit I considered suggesting this, I've done the same myself.

 

[mechcanico lee]

Just take the bike to a scrap yard!!....wait read on...........where them have one of them super powerful electro magnets cranes to move the metal scrap around
just get the crane operator to hovver over the bike and wait for the "tink" .........gotcha...........o wait !! just make sure he doesnt pick the whole bike up "doh"

 

[the beer hunter]

I was on a ride once with my GS & I stopped to fit my camera to a fuel cap mounted mount.
I accidently dropped a nut into the gap in front of the fuel tank - where the alternator is!
I know that feeling of waiting for it to drop onto the floor but it didn't happen.
I knew I had a belt whirring round in that area & was very reluctant to start it up.
After spending ages looking for the nut I eventually gave up & pressed the starter.

Phew, no unusual sound.

I rode home & later on stripped the tank cover off - low & behold there was the nut sitting just centimeters away from the belt.

I used a telescopic magnet to fish the nut out.

Sold the cam mount!

 

[g.s.john]

...like looking for a Spinal Tap album cover, in a coal cellar, at midnight. While wearing a welder's mask.

View attachment 140277

there are many shades of black ask any paint sprayer you might get lucky