DOAH -- Gas Cap screw in Tank! Am I Screwed (Literally)

[TitanMonsterS4R]

Ok, in all my excitement and haste this morning I fixed my new red/black gas cap but in the progress dropped one of the larger screws into the gas tank.  To make matters even better, they're aluminum, so it them out with a magnet is out since the screw doesn't have a strong magnetic force.  Tried fishing it out with a flexible claw and dumping the tank of gas an shaking the damn thing out.  NOTHING!

Does anyone have a cost effective solution to get the screw out? More importantly is there a filter in my tank ensuring the screw will not screw up my Monster and will spend its lifetime rattling around in there.

Thanks for the help.

[Meerkat]

  That'll teach you to mod your bike when you could've been hanging in Paw Paw with the cool kids!

Sorry can't help with the screws, I've got enough of my own on the loose.

[The Mad King Pepe']

You're screwed dude! Those screws are so small they can make it through the gas filter and eventually into the engine where they either get stuck between the valves or end up lodged into the piston!







Probably the easiest way to get the screw out is to empty the tank, take it off the bike, and remove the metal cover at the bottom where filter and sensor are mounted.

[tuanogus]

You're screwed dude! Those screws are so small they can make it through the gas filter and eventually into the engine where they either get stuck between the valves or end up lodged into the piston!

Aluminum screws in the gas tank eventually turn into unicorns in your muffler. Kinda like butterflies; but different.

[J5]

is your bike fuel injected ?

if so then you can take the pump out of the bottom, you will find the screw easy enough

good time to replace the filter while you are at it

[TitanMonsterS4R]

is your bike fuel injected ?

if so then you can take the pump out of the bottom, you will find the screw easy enough

good time to replace the filter while you are at it

Yes, it is fuel injected (08 Ducati Monster 695). Wonder if I can make a 6 hour ride with it in there. Really don't want to miss the trip I planned to Gettysburg.

Thanks for the advice about taking the pump out of the bottom> Guess I have an early morning project.   

[J5]

i wouldnt worry about it being in there, will be ok

[Slide Panda]

Nope... it's done. The spark of it's young life has been snuffed out... Smothered in shite... done.

I'll give you $1 for it... and that's generous.


To assuage your anxiety have a look at the parts schematic. I know my bike, an injected 900 has a pick up screen filter before the pump. You probably have something similar. It's a wire mesh encased bit of fiber (not sure what sort of fiber) that the pump draws the fuel through, protecting the pump from anything like, say, a dropped bolt. Having never gutted a 695 tank I can't say you've got one for, 100%, sure though.

[ducati culture]

Use a telespotic magnet and you should be fine ( maybe not!).  You can drain the tank to make it a little easier.  

[Artful]

Use a telespotic magnet and you should be fine.  You can drain the tank to make it a little easier. 

http://www.howmagnetswork.com/

It attracts ferrous objects like pieces of iron, steel, nickel and cobalt.

Aluminum /= Ferrous as the OP pointed out.

[The Mad King Pepe']

Use a telespotic magnet and you should be fine.  You can drain the tank to make it a little easier. 

as he said:

they're aluminum, so [fishing] them out with a magnet is out since the screw doesn't have a strong magnetic force.

Get more !

[ducati culture]

ok.. so  do  you have any fresh bubble gum? 

[TitanMonsterS4R]

took the gas tank off and removed the electronics to get the bolt from the bottom. In addition to finding the screw I found an elf.  Do I have to return him to the previous owner or can I keep him?

[Meerkat]

Fry him like  ! Keeps the fingers warm when you ride in the morning.

[zooom]

  In addition to finding the screw I found an elf.  Do I have to return him to the previous owner or can I keep him?

depends on what kind he is....