Dropped Washer into Cam Chain Well

[Adam R]

I can't imagine that the washer (for the cylinder block bolt) went down very far, since I can't see any openings at the bottom of the well.  Am I wrong?  

Rashad, what did you do to get yours out the second time (I reread your saga yet again)

Since its copper, its not magnetic, which will make things difficult.

[Toecutter]

Get one of those tube things with the three-prong claw at one end, and a plunger at the other to operate the claw.  They have them at sears.  It looks kind of like a tiny version of one of Dr. Octopus's arms.  Quite handy.

[Turbowaffle]

They also have rods with magnets on the end that are handy for stuff like that. Of course you could improvise something like that pretty easily.

[scratch]

ABC gum on the end of a stick?

[KevinC]

The grabber thing requires that you can see the washer, which is unlikely. It will have fallen into the bottom of the crankcase.

Pull the oil pan off the bottom of the engine. If you are lucky, it will be sitting there. If it isn't, you will have to try tilting the engine (is it still in the bike?) and fishing about. There are unfortunately a lot of places it can get hung up in there.

Or, if you are brave, you can just leave it. If it falls into the oil pan, it will just sit there and not hurt anything. There is a screen on the oil pick-up, so it can't go anywhere. There is only a very small chance it could jam something if it hasn't fallen all the way yet, and even then it would likely just bend and fall through.

[kmc_90GS500]

I had some small pebbles (1 to 2 mm) fall into my crankcase when I removed the cylinders.  Should I be concerned?

[john]

I like the mini magnet trick.  I have both the grabber thing and a magnet thing for just such emergencies.

I would stringly recommend you fish out that washer!

[Rashad]

Hmm, well mine was a cam shim, and it was magnetic, which made things a bit easier.

Man, its amazing how easily things fall in there. :x

Take your time, dont get frustrated, and get a flashlight. Try to find it. DONT move the cam chain if you can help it... that kept the washer above the chain for me the first time, and i simply used a peice of wire to fish it out.. try that. If you cant see it, REALLY TRY to look. look all over.. take off the oil pan and look all over from underneath.

If all else fails, drain all the oil.. and tilt the motor/bike, with a friend until you can either see or hear a sign of that thing.. then use your senses to get to it.

GOOD LUCK!

[Rashad]

Hmm, well mine was a cam shim, and it was magnetic, which made things a bit easier.

Man, its amazing how easily things fall in there. :x

Take your time, dont get frustrated, and get a flashlight. Try to find it. DONT move the cam chain if you can help it... that kept the washer above the chain for me the first time, and i simply used a peice of wire to fish it out.. try that. If you cant see it, REALLY TRY to look. look all over.. take off the oil pan and look all over from underneath.

If all else fails, drain all the oil.. and tilt the motor/bike, with a friend until you can either see or hear a sign of that thing.. then use your senses to get to it.

GOOD LUCK!