I'm an IDIOT! As the saying goes, NOTHING good happens after midnight, and proof again that this theory still stands. I shouldn't have been working on my bike at night, especially late night, but I did, and I paid the price... I took the fuel door off the gas tank, and when I went to put it back on, I dropped the MOTHER FU**ING allen key in the gas tank. The question I have for you all is how long do I have until this becomes a problem?

I don't plan on riding until it get it out, but how?

I'm guessing I'm going to have to siphon the gas out, but how the hell am I going to get the stupid key out? shake it up side down until it pops out? there must be a better way!

Again, it's late, and my brain isn't where it should be, so tomorrow morning, I might have a plan, but right now, I'm all for some good advice.

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2007 DL-650
1996 H-D Road King

Can you see the allen key in the tank?
If yes, then use some long tool with a magnet in its end and pull that key out.
I would quickly build a tool from some bar and a magnetic screw driver, attach them together with some tape.

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Stromputer - A V-Strom Computer and display - Now taking orders for V3 PCB
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2013 Northeast V-Strom Rally!
2011 DL650 ABS ( "White Pearl")
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Stromtrooper Wiki!

Maybe you can siphon a bunch of gas out too in order to see the allen keybetter beforemgoing at it with a magnet.

Widget Supply Magnetic Pick-Up Tool, 15 pound Telescoping

Go to your local auto parts store, get one, come home and go fishin'.

I have a small powerful magnet that was used somehow in the air conditioning biz--I have no idea what for, but it is on a very bendable metal stalk--I could remove that key in a second with my magnet. You could look around at an a/c shop and see if they have one you could have, or maybe buy.

The ones with the telescoping stalk are not easily bent, or if you do bend them they won't telescope any more.

The key won't hurt anything in the tank for awhile, but I wouldn't want it in there for more than a few days. It would just trouble me, that's all.

begs the question - why do u need to take the fuel door/cap off to start with? genuine question, not being a smart ass.

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Finally a bike like Strom i could have as a concubine and my wife doesnt object!

Maybe he was installing a tank bag locking ring?

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'12 DL650 Glee in White

Never argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.

Well, to ease your mind, I can't imagine it will hurt anything. It's not like it will get sucked up into the fuel pump and it shouldn't rust since it will be covered in gas.

You could remove the tank and fuel pump to give yourself a decent size opening to work with. But I agree with the others about just trying to grab it with a tool. One of those claws:

may work better than a magnetic one since the magnetic may also cause the allen key to stick to the tank. At least, I'm assuming the tank is ferrous steel and could be magnetized.

I think a strong magnet will make things more difficult, as the magnet will stick to the tank metal too hard.

I would get a weak magnet, attach it to a bendy piece of wire and go from there.

Or... drain the tank, turn it upside down, then shake-shake-shake.

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- Voltar

Build your own V-Strom GPI and save, save, save!

Probabaly will save you time and frustration just to take the tank off and pull the fuel pump. Not a hard job and could be done in less than an hour, start to finish.

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79 GS1000S
97 TL1000S
2002 Concours
2005 DRZ400
2005 KDX220R
2007 DLK
2009 KLR650