Dropped Bolt in Gas Tank? Major or Minor Issue?

JBinSD · June 28th, 2013, 05:14 PM

I think I just dropped a bolt to the gas cap INTO the gas tank. I can't see it with a flashlight, and I don't have one of those magnet-thingies. . . .Should I be concerned, or just like when you eat dirt or your girlfriend's keys, do you just wait to sh*t it out again?

CC Cowboy · June 28th, 2013, 06:13 PM

Depends on what the bolt goes to. If it isn't a necessity you are fine. Just get a magnet when you can and get it out. If it is important, just turn the bike upside down an shake it until the bolt pops out.

beren · June 28th, 2013, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

. If it is important, just turn the bike upside down an shake it until the bolt pops out.

Be sure to drain the gas firt.

fishdip · June 28th, 2013, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBinSD

I think I just dropped a bolt to the gas cap INTO the gas tank. I can't see it with a flashlight, and I don't have one of those magnet-thingies. . . .Should I be concerned, or just like when you eat dirt or your girlfriend's keys, do you just wait to sh*t it out again?

Try using a lighter it may help you see in the tank better

CC Cowboy · June 29th, 2013, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beren

Be sure to drain the gas firt.

What's that? A hot girl who hangs at gas stations?

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishdip

Try using a lighter it may help you see in the tank better

You still have to turn the bike upside to see in the tank with a lighter.

JohnnyBravo · June 29th, 2013, 02:44 PM

Is it a big one or a little one? If its big you will be safe to wait till ya get a magnet thingy, if its small enough to get into the gas tube you won't blow it up, but you could screw yourself mid ride...

thisisbenji · June 29th, 2013, 02:48 PM

Turn the bike upside down? The gas tank on the 250s (and hopefully 300s) are INCREDIBLY easy to remove. Just pull the gas line and drain the gas into a container first and the flip the tank over. Shouldn't take more than 30-45 minutes.

Dark · June 29th, 2013, 11:47 PM

IIRC, the pump has a filter on it so it won't make it into the pump.

It could short or damage the level sender. It could start to rust.

As others have said, removing the tank is easy, siphon the fuel and turn the tank over.

Trailerboy531 · June 30th, 2013, 12:13 AM

Hahah people here will never understand CC Cowboy.

Joel - I'd just pull the tank off, remove the petcock and drain the gas and let the thing fall out. No use in having to worry about it.

ninja_thresh_hold · June 30th, 2013, 12:25 AM

cycle gear sells led flachlights with retractable magnets that will work to be able to see inside of the tank, and grab the bolt(assuming that it is some sort of iron/steel alloy type bolt. if not, just do like cc cowboy said and flip the (empty) gas tank upside down and shake away until it plops out.

Dark · July 1st, 2013, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trailerboy531

Hahah people here will never understand CC Cowboy.

Joel - I'd just pull the tank off, remove the petcock and drain the gas and let the thing fall out. No use in having to worry about it.

Unless he's referring to a bike not listed in his details then the 300 he has does not use a petcock. He would need to remove the fuel pump assembly if he's unable to fish it out through the cap.

Trailerboy531 · July 1st, 2013, 11:18 AM

Oh yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Eh. Still easy to do. GET THAT BOLT

Motofool · July 1st, 2013, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBinSD

I think I just dropped a bolt to the gas cap INTO the gas tank...........Should I be concerned, or just like when you eat dirt or your girlfriend's keys, do you just wait to sh*t it out again?

You should be concerned !!! ..............don't just wait to sh*t it out again !!!

...........does he know how to swim?

rojoracing53 · July 1st, 2013, 11:59 AM

Just dump some coca cola in there and let it sit for a couple days. That stuff can dissolve a bolt no problem.

xaple · July 1st, 2013, 12:07 PM

As long as the screw was clean shouldn't be a urgent issue, but you should get a magnet to get it out when you can.

alex.s · July 1st, 2013, 12:20 PM

if you leave it in there it will scratch away the inner coating and the tank will start rusting inside out

JBinSD · July 1st, 2013, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex.s

if you leave it in there it will scratch away the inner coating and the tank will start rusting inside out

OK, that would suck, mebbe it is worth the extra 45 mins to take the tank off again. . .

JosueDG · July 1st, 2013, 01:36 PM

This thread made me ROFL

I must have a dirty mind

Dark · July 2nd, 2013, 01:34 AM

Good luck with a magnet stick, it's going to be 'sticking' to the inner tank walls every time it gets close.

JBinSD · July 15th, 2013, 08:48 PM

Thought I posted a follow-up, but I took the tank off last weekend, and the fuel pump, and rattled it out. Took about a 1/2 hr, no worries. I was just being lazy, I guess. Thanx for the input.

June 28th, 2013, 05:14 PM	#1
JBinSD ninjette.org guru Name: Joel Location: Sandy Eggo north Join Date: Aug 2012 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300, '99 SV650 tracked Posts: 378	Dropped Bolt in Gas Tank? Major or Minor Issue? I think I just dropped a bolt to the gas cap INTO the gas tank. I can't see it with a flashlight, and I don't have one of those magnet-thingies. . . .Should I be concerned, or just like when you eat dirt or your girlfriend's keys, do you just wait to sh*t it out again?

June 28th, 2013, 06:13 PM	#2
CC Cowboy ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Whodat Location: Ware Is.,MA Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): I pass the wind! Posts: A lot. MOTM - Mar '13, Jun '14	Depends on what the bolt goes to. If it isn't a necessity you are fine. Just get a magnet when you can and get it out. If it is important, just turn the bike upside down an shake it until the bolt pops out. __________________________________________________ If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough! Last futzed with by CC Cowboy; July 1st, 2013 at 01:32 PM.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

June 29th, 2013, 02:44 PM	#6
JohnnyBravo Certifiable nontundrum Name: Harper Location: NC Milkshake stand Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 SE NINJA 300 Posts: Too much. MOTM - Sep '13, Sep '16	Is it a big one or a little one? If its big you will be safe to wait till ya get a magnet thingy, if its small enough to get into the gas tube you won't blow it up, but you could screw yourself mid ride... __________________________________________________

June 29th, 2013, 02:48 PM	#7
thisisbenji ninjette.org sage Name: Benji Location: Wadsworth, IL Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r (Sold), 2009 FZ6, 2015 Honda Grom Posts: 898	Turn the bike upside down? The gas tank on the 250s (and hopefully 300s) are INCREDIBLY easy to remove. Just pull the gas line and drain the gas into a container first and the flip the tank over. Shouldn't take more than 30-45 minutes. __________________________________________________ My Old Bike My New Bike
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

June 29th, 2013, 11:47 PM	#8
Dark Simple kind of man Name: Ryan Location: Stuttgart, Germany Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300 Posts: 133	IIRC, the pump has a filter on it so it won't make it into the pump. It could short or damage the level sender. It could start to rust. As others have said, removing the tank is easy, siphon the fuel and turn the tank over. __________________________________________________

June 30th, 2013, 12:13 AM	#9
Trailerboy531 Gear crash test dummy Name: Max Location: South Bay (So. Cal) Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 race bike, 2014 ZX-636r Posts: A lot.	Hahah people here will never understand CC Cowboy. Joel - I'd just pull the tank off, remove the petcock and drain the gas and let the thing fall out. No use in having to worry about it. __________________________________________________ CVMA #531

June 30th, 2013, 12:25 AM	#10
ninja_thresh_hold ninjette.org ********* Name: Eric Location: Athens, Alabama Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250r (忍者 250r; sold!) 2001 zx6r Posts: 347	cycle gear sells led flachlights with retractable magnets that will work to be able to see inside of the tank, and grab the bolt(assuming that it is some sort of iron/steel alloy type bolt. if not, just do like cc cowboy said and flip the (empty) gas tank upside down and shake away until it plops out. __________________________________________________

July 1st, 2013, 11:18 AM	#12
Trailerboy531 Gear crash test dummy Name: Max Location: South Bay (So. Cal) Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 race bike, 2014 ZX-636r Posts: A lot.	Oh yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh. Eh. Still easy to do. GET THAT BOLT __________________________________________________ CVMA #531

July 1st, 2013, 11:59 AM	#14
rojoracing53 Fast-Guy wannabe Name: Jason Location: Brentwood, Ca Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja250, 2011 RM-Z250, 2004 NSR50, Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jan '13	Just dump some coca cola in there and let it sit for a couple days. That stuff can dissolve a bolt no problem.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

July 1st, 2013, 12:07 PM	#15
xaple ninjette.org guru Name: Daniel "God" Location: South Florida Join Date: Aug 2012 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: 326	As long as the screw was clean shouldn't be a urgent issue, but you should get a magnet to get it out when you can.

July 1st, 2013, 12:20 PM	#16
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	if you leave it in there it will scratch away the inner coating and the tank will start rusting inside out __________________________________________________

July 1st, 2013, 01:36 PM	#18
JosueDG ninjette.org member Name: Josh Location: Lake Balboa Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Kawi Ninja 300 Posts: 109	This thread made me ROFL I must have a dirty mind

July 2nd, 2013, 01:34 AM	#19
Dark Simple kind of man Name: Ryan Location: Stuttgart, Germany Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300 Posts: 133	Good luck with a magnet stick, it's going to be 'sticking' to the inner tank walls every time it gets close. __________________________________________________

July 15th, 2013, 08:48 PM	#20
JBinSD ninjette.org guru Name: Joel Location: Sandy Eggo north Join Date: Aug 2012 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300, '99 SV650 tracked Posts: 378	Thought I posted a follow-up, but I took the tank off last weekend, and the fuel pump, and rattled it out. Took about a 1/2 hr, no worries. I was just being lazy, I guess. Thanx for the input.

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