In my infinite clumsiness, I dropped the pectock mounting bolt and it fell into the rear shock linkage. I can't for the life of me fish it out, its between the lower shock mount and the bushing. How it got there so quickly, I'll never know.

Manual says I need to remove the rear wheel to remove the shock link rods and the shock itself. All I really want to do is unbolt the top of the shock, pivot it toward the rear of the bike, and pull this stupid effing bolt out.  Can I do that? I cant seem to loosen any of the bolts in the rear suspension anyway, so it might not matter much.

Yes, I am a dumbass.  At least I might have the carb floats figured out....

Go to autozone (or the ilk) and buy one of those magnets on a telescoping "wand". Use it to fish it out of the spring.  I believe you can push the bushing up the shock shaft if you need the room, but I might be thinking of another type shock.

Good luck.

I agree with James, if the bolt went in there in the first place it will come out. Ok its going to take some thought, ingenuity and fiddling about but it will come out. Telescoping magnets, fuse wire, bent coat hangers long nose pliers will all help.