Missing washer, embarassed

So, I was bolting a Ram-mount to the tank bolts yesterday, and lost a washer down in the bike. It fell just south of the tank bolts, somewhere near the top of the air filter. I tried to get in there and find it, but couldn't see/grab it.

Should I be to worried about this? Do I need to pull off the fairing and find it before I ride it? This is an '09, non ABS.

 

If it were my bike, i would have to find it, to know it didn't go into the intake and because i'm legally OCD,,,

 

I know how much that sucks. First you think, "aaaaah, just a washer, nothing to worry about", then guilt sets in and you wonder if anything will get stuck, and where is it lodged, and then you just have to find it. I would want to find it, just to make sure that it doesn't get stuck somewhere it cause problems (not likely, but "Sods Law" would have it stuck in the throttle linkage or something). If you life the tank up again and prop it up, you might be able to see where it went.

When I was doing the voltmeter install on my 2000 on Thursday afternoon, I did the exact same thing. Ran the wiring down along the frame and had the tank propped up so I could attach some twist ties to hold the wires in place. I finished attaching the side fairing and lowered the tank, and when I went to install the first bolt, TINK TINK TINK, lost the washer. If you have a magnetic pick up probe you can extend it out and fish around for the washer. If the probe keeps collapsing you can wrap a bit of electrical tape around the joints so they don't collapse. The engine block is aluminum so the magnet should be able to pick up the washer and pull it out without getting stuck to everything else. I was just able to see the washer with a flashlight ,so after I removed the side fairing again (took a few minutes) the washer was easily nabbed by the magnetic pick up tool, after a few attempts. You may have to go at it from a few different places, to get the right angle to pull it out. If you don't have a telescopic pick up tool, a magnetic tip screwdriver might work, or you can magnetize a coat hangar by dragging it across a magnet a couple of times, or by leaving it stuck to a magnet for a little while.

Personally, I am like kennybobby, OCD would make me find it..............

 

Ehh, my steering stem powerlet kit arrives this week. I'll just stay off her and search for it when I have the fairing off. I am gonna go get one of those magnetic tools though, been meaning to for years. Thanks for getting me to be not-lazy!

 

The same thing happened to me twice. I may have some ocd issues as well because I looked and looked. I used the magnet and compressed air on a hose so I could blow around in the motor area. Never did find them. Nothing ever came of it so I wouldn't worry to much. Your air filter was on right? If it was there is no fear of it getting in the intake tract. Just make sure the throttle linkage is free and it will just dis-appear down the road somewhere. I'm guessing that's where mine went to.