Hi, I was doing a valve clearance adjustment.  Everything went well, got the shims out etc.  But then I dropped a small screwdriver into the engine cavity.    I know - I should have blocked it off with a rag but too late now.  I can hardly even see the head of the screwdriver, its too far to reach with any tools. 
Does anyone know the best way to retrieve it?
Thanks,
Wellingtom

if you can see it - "magnet on a flexible stick", auto stores sell them. Alternatively  the "claw on the end of a stick" alternative.

No I cant see it. I have a telescopic magnet but it's not strong enough. I think I have to remove the head and the cylinder block. What a huge hassle! Hardest thing will be getting the exhaust pipe off. I wonder if removing the oil pan would be easier. Any thoughts anyone?

If you can see the crank sprocket and dont see the screwdriver, you may be able to get the pan off and see if you can get it out from the bottom.
Taking off the head and cyls will be a huge huge hassle. And with your skill level, I'd really question the viability of it going back together.
Cool.
Buddha.

You can get neodymium magnets at the home store. Get a pack, super-glue a washer to one of them and tie it to a string, drop the string down in the cavity and with any luck it'll stick to the screwdriver and you can pull it out.

If that doesn't work, use the other magnets in the pack, make up some more tools. Use a piece of 18g or 20g solid copper wire glued to one of the magnets, then you can direct it a little more precisely to where you want it, still is flexible enough to let you drag the screwdriver out.

Do you have one of those spring loaded parts grabbers? Ace hardware sells a nice one with an LED light built into the tip and it grabs really hard. I would try all of these suggestions before removing the head.

I once made a pick-up tool by putting (forcing) a neodymium magnet into the end of a piece of clear fuel line. The magnet
required enough force to insert that I was confident it wouldn't fall out. So a small powerful disk magnet, sideways in the line
with just the edge of the magnet protruding. I used it to fish out a dropped tang (from a heli-coil repair), from of a cylinder.

The flexible line may be more helpful than the commercial pick-up tools in this case too, worth a try anyway.

My memory of the cam chain tunnel is a little iffy on the GS cos I've not been in there in a few yrs, but can you see the crank sprocket looking through the top ? I thought you can. If the screwdriver isn't visible - how do you expect to be able to retrieve it from the top ?

Cool.
Buddha.

If it went in from the top, then in theory it's possible to come back out through the top.

Problem with anything with a magnet is that it'll stick tight to the cam chain, sprockets, and any other steel thing in there along the way, which could make it tricky to get it into the spot where the screwdriver is.

Thanks for the excellent advice everyone.  Did I mention the screwdriver fell in blade first?  With a strong light I can just see the plastic head. A magnet won't work.  The stiff wire was a good idea.  I can jiggle the screwdriver head a little so I know it's not wedged in. But there's no way I can fish it out.
I've come to a decision as I need to get the bike out of the wife's yoga space.  I am going to remove the head. It's the only way I can get close. 
I may bugger it up.  The bike is not worth taking to the shop.  By the time I reassemble it and pay for transport.  Where I live that's the unhealthy side of a thousand bucks.  I will call it a hobby and have a crack at it.
First, I have to get the exhaust off.  The screws look pretty rusted on, I don't think they've been undone since 2007.  So, I'll be loading up with rust penetrant, hex key, a lot of patience and a few beers.  And maybe some heat.  Wish me luck.

have you tried to flip the bike upside down? maybe your friend gravity could un-do things..

Quote from: Meukowi on June 06, 2022, 12:19:07 PM
have you tried to flip the bike upside down? maybe your friend gravity could un-do things..

This is a brilliant idea. Just make sure the switches etc are protected, put it on the bars and rock it. BTW you can then also take off the pan and push the screwdriver out through the top with a chop stick or something. Also gives you a chance to clean the pan out.
Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: Meukowi on June 06, 2022, 12:19:07 PM
have you tried to flip the bike upside down? maybe your friend gravity could un-do things..

Haha :laugh:Not sure if you're having a lend of me or not.  This probably would have worked but the amount of effort required to prepare the bike seems harder than disassembling the engine.  The yoga hooks in the ceiling support my missus but she's not quite 140kg.  And I don't have an engine lift.
As it turned out, I removed the camshafts and pulled the chain over to one side and I could see the screwdriver.  I fashioned some hooks out of stiff fencing wire and managed to snag it- yeehaa!!
I will never fall into that trap again  .  Thanks for the excellent ideas everyone - much appreciated.  Now I'm just waiting on the replacement shims and I should be back on the road next week

Nice! This has been a great reminder to stuff a rag in the opening whenever I'm doing a valve adjust. I have gotten careless recently and could see this happening to me.

A few months ago I had to take the engine out of my XL600R to disassemble it and retrieve a zip tie I dropped in the engine. I don't want to do anything like that again.

Quote from: Wellington on June 13, 2022, 06:03:17 PM

Quote from: Meukowi on June 06, 2022, 12:19:07 PM
have you tried to flip the bike upside down? maybe your friend gravity could un-do things..

Haha :laugh:Not sure if you're having a lend of me or not.  This probably would have worked but the amount of effort required to prepare the bike seems harder than disassembling the engine.  The yoga hooks in the ceiling support my missus but she's not quite 140kg.  And I don't have an engine lift.
As it turned out, I removed the camshafts and pulled the chain over to one side and I could see the screwdriver.  I fashioned some hooks out of stiff fencing wire and managed to snag it- yeehaa!!
I will never fall into that trap again  .  Thanks for the excellent ideas everyone - much appreciated.  Now I'm just waiting on the replacement shims and I should be back on the road next week

I held back on saying, pull the engine, go upside down and shake. Glad it worked out.