Topic: BIG PROBLEM!

[blfellers]

so I was trying to switch out camshafts and one of the cam sprocket bolts fell down into the motor..pulled the oil pan to see if I could get access..no luck..went thru the top of the motor with a magnet still can't retrieve it..is it gonna hurt the motor to run it with that small bolt o in it?..any suggestions would be great on what to do

[kmb69]

You need to get the loose bolt out. Untold damage is possible if it bounces into the right (wrong) place.

[s7paul]

I think you really know the answer to the "should I run it question" - absolutely not!
Can you see it but not reach it, or can't you even see it?  I would imagine that you could retrieve it from underneath, if you can find it.

[Don R]

I can't say but one fell into my big block chevy and it got ugly inside. There may be more places for a bolt to hide in a 750 but if it catches rotating parts ouch..

  BTW I have a set of 8 J&E 4.61" pistons and Manley H beam rods for sale. 4 of them slightly dinged, one recently repaired oil pan too.

 I'd try again.

[blfellers]

I can't see the bolt and I used a camera to look down in the motor but no luck.. Any other ways to get into the bottom of the casing without tearing the halves apart?

[rb550four]

500 or 550 take the oil pan off and go in from the bottom. Ifyour lucky it'll be in the pan already. If not , look under the rod and crankshaft areas, there's a few places it could be hiding there, or around the timing chain ( did you hear it hit the bottom or is it caught up in the chain?) Check inside the primary chain too.
 Was it the second bolt? Why not back the chain and sprocket off the cam and give it a good search with the cam removed?.
  There is no reason to try to run the engine until this has been cleared up.

[blfellers]

The oil pan is off the cam is out along with the tensioner as well..I have tried to go in at every angle I can see..I didn't hear it hit the bottom because there was oil in it now the motor had been drained pan pulled off along with the filters still can't see anything even with the camera and I can get a magnet down there but can't retrieve anything at all

[rb550four]

Is the engine in frame? Or can you tip it to hear where it may be?

[blfellers]

The motor is in the frame and I don't want to pull it out because it's a fully built cafe I don't want to scratch anything

[madmtnmotors]

The motor is in the frame and I don't want to pull it out because it's a fully built cafe I don't want to scratch anything

Wrap that loose bolt up between primary drive chain and its crank or tranny sprocket under power and the scratches on the inside of the motor may very well make themselves visible through the window created on the outside of the motor...

[Don R]

 Sorry, that stinks.

[grcamna2]

You may have to install the covers and remove the engine and then roll it around on the lawn until you find it..,I know,Not what you wanted to do   

[mrbreeze]

Maybe blow compressed air but just short blasts. You don't want to send it further out of reach.

[blfellers]

The compressed air idea..that is a good idea I haven't tried that..but ya it does stink thank you guys for all the advice! I'll have to keep everyone informed on what I do and how this all goes

[Rocky2010]

may have gone down between the cam guide plate has to be there somewhere

[ekpent]

Some dire predictions. No advice on that but always stuff rags etc during critical procedures just in case. Kind of ties in with those oil pan threads.

[Hasenkopf]

get someone to help you and pick the bike up, flip upside down and shake.  see if it comes out!

[2wheels]

Shaking is the answer.
Maybe put the bike in the back of a pickup and drive around, the bumpier the road the better.
Oil pan off and a towel or something on the bottom of the engine.
You may want to pore some kerosene (or something that is not harmfull) in the engine to get the oil out.  Oil is sticky.

[DH]

JMHO I'd remove the motor, turn it upside down and SLOWLY turn the
crank back and forth, no more than 90 degrees each direction, and shake
as much as is possible. You'd need an assistant. If it didn't come out that way, I'd go the long route, open it up and find the bolt. Any chance it went somewhere outside the motor? On the floor? Never hurts to look eh?

[AbbyRider]

I may be more of a risk taker than some, but if it were me I'd kick it over a few times. That way you're not really running tr motor, you're getting some shaking action, and if it's caught up somewhere around cam chain it might let it bounce down.
Also, I've never taken out the oil plugs towards the front of the motor but maybe one of those out would give you enough access to get magnet in.

[strynboen]

 

[mcswny]

Amazing.

[setdog]

I found a very slim bolt retrieving magnet from advance auto parts.  Its about 1/4 wide and fits
Down in the lower case easily. 

I used it to find a piston clip.  I wasn't able to find it at first and searched
The entire garage floor, so I kept fishing for it in the motor.

Eventually I heard that little click and voila pulled it right out.

I suggest you keep fishing for it.   

[DaveBarbier]

What bike is this? See if you can go to Home Depot and rent one of these. Or buy it and return it.

http://m.homedepot.com/b/Tools-Hardware-Power-Tools-Inspection-Cameras/N-5yc1vZc2gm

If it's a 550 I bet it's on the right between the two middle bearing perches. That seems like it can catch bolts, nuts, etc. maybe this picture will help with you visualizing where to guide the magnet.



---
1978 Honda CB550K

[bjbuchanan]

Time for you to grab beers and go fishing.

It would be some serious luck for the piece to migrate to a place that does no harm. Get it while you can