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Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 9:26 am
by Mel46
I have been replacing the broken panels on my 2013 PCX, but in the process I have dropped several screws down into the bike, behind the newly installed panels. They all seem to end up at the bottom of the bike, inside. Does anyone know how to retrieve these lost screws? I thought about a magnet, but there are a lot of metal parts on the way down to the bottom of that 'pit of no return', so the magnet attaches itself to anything and everything on the way down to the bottom. I tried to hit the bottom to get the screws to jump, which they do, but where are they suppose to jump to?? I have dropped all sorts of nuts, bolts, and screws down there. So far, they have not fallen out where I can see them.

I thought of just buying some replacements, but online they are 2 for $1 plus shipping. I could go to the dealer, but they are 20 miles away. So the obvious solution would be to get those back that went into the pit of no return. But how???

Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 9:42 am
by iceman
Hmm, I thought there was a plastic 'dirt protection' panel on the bottom that could come off on it's own - perhaps that will not give access to the insides of the side panels though.

Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 12:00 pm
by gn2
Turn it upside down and shake it.

Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 12:16 pm
by GatorGreg
Mel46 wrote:Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?
Hmmm... I can think of several tasteless jokes to respond to this but I'll keep them to myself :D
Image

Would it be possible to use the magnet on the OUTSIDE of the fairing (with a soft cloth to protect the finish) and then slide the screws up the inside of the fairing to where you can grab them?

Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 2:24 pm
by Oyabun
Yup. I'd go the large neodymium magnet way too.

Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 3:31 pm
by you you
Personally I'd just ignore it and buy some more.

GN2s idea isn't too bad. Get some mates round and lift the front end

Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 4:58 pm
by j.d.b.
You could get a telescoping retrieval magnet with a metal "foreskin" ring on it to keep it from sticking to other things on the way through. I have a couple of those at work. Very handy.

Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 5:04 pm
by you you
j.d.b. wrote:You could get a telescoping retrieval magnet with a metal "foreskin" ring on it to keep it from sticking to other things on the way through. I have a couple of those at work. Very handy.

Foreskin rings?

Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 5:32 pm
by DAB
j.d.b. wrote:You could get a telescoping retrieval magnet with a metal "foreskin" ring on it
Have you got a photo, don't think I want to google anything with foreskin rings in the phrase.

Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 6:17 pm
by j.d.b.
DAB wrote:
j.d.b. wrote:You could get a telescoping retrieval magnet with a metal "foreskin" ring on it
Have you got a photo, don't think I want to google anything with foreskin rings in the phrase.
Use DuckDuckGo. They don't track your searches. Is that a Charlie Hebdo comic in your avatar? In any case, here ya go(for instance):
http://www.sears.com/titan-vehicle-insp ... ckType=G10

Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 6:26 pm
by Mel46
Interesting concepts. I will check with my neighbor to see if he either has a really heavy duty magnet, or one with the protective sleeve. All of my magnets are on the end od the stick or spring, without any sleeve. They attach themselves to anything metal on the way down to the bottom. As for the kick plate, I believe, from what I can see of the diagrams, that you have to take of several panels in order to get to the screws that hold it on. 5he screws all end up on that plate.

Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 7:47 pm
by gn2
Cut a hole in the undertray to fish them out through.

Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 12:06 am
by homie
mac6.jpg
mac6.jpg (8.61 KiB) Viewed 7889 times
50 bucks @ Costco
extract any small object with hook or magnet
check the dogs and gears in your tranny
stick it up your butt and look for polyps
it's too easy if you have the right tool

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Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 12:23 am
by homie
Mel send me your ship to, I'll put you on my Christmas shopping list for one of these camera's. Costco, where Shay Whitey shops!
Lets toast to a good run of no accidents... hope your wife will get back on
LETS RIDE BRO!

Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 12:44 am
by homie
oh what the hell, I'm out of Vodka
one more time... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kijpcUv-b8M

Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 1:12 am
by homie
and a tribute to Steph whom is flying the missing man formation... dam those bigger bikes


Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:18 pm
by Mel46
I liked that last YouTube but don't recognize the artist. Now QUEEN, that is a different story. I have listened to them since the first album they ever produced. They are my riding music. :-) .... as well as Led Zeppelin and a few others. Yes, I was around when Rock & Roll started, and the '60s were my time, though I was in the military then.

By the way everyone, last night I finished the repairs on my bike! Now I have to start on my wife's bike, though I have already cleaned it up and even have some of the new parts. If only my wife would heal as fast as I am repairing the bikes! :-)

Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:38 pm
by Mel46
Oh, I forgot. The missing screws that fell to the bottom of my bike...I took the replacement for each from her bike. Looks like it will be a while before I finish hers if I can't get them out. Well, I have time. She can't ride for at least 6 months....but I can. :-)

Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 8:00 pm
by gn2
Mel46 wrote:I liked that last YouTube but don't recognize the artist.
Come on, you must have heard of Rush surely?
Limelight is from the excellent album Moving Pictures which has the track Red Barchetta on it, a real petrol head song if there ever was:



And you can sing along too:

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/r/rush/red+b ... 19966.html

Enjoy! :D

Re: Does anyone know how to Retrieve lost screws?

Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2015 8:44 am
by Mel46
Rush? I have one of their albums! I can't believe that I didn't recognize them. Thanks, GN2.