Crap! Advice needed asap!

Hi All, accidentally dropped a small plastic tie wrap into the petrol tank whilst trying to gauge the depth in preparation for a trackday tomorrow. I know… I know… stupid of me.

there’s no way (I know) to fish it out.

would it cause any issues? It’s too small and long to cause any fuel blockage but would the plastic breakdown overtime being in petrol? And would that cause any issues?

 

Have you got another cable tie same as the one you dropped in? If so cut an inch or so off and put it in a small glass jar with petrol in it. Check it in the morning and if it’s breaking down you're going to have to drain the tank and remove the one you dropped. If it’s fine do the track day and recover as soon as you can afterwards.

 

good shout. I’ll give that a try and see what happens

 

As said. Do the trackday then clean out the tank. It's a good idea to clean the tank out every few years.

 

Get one of these.......can't be that hard to fish out!

 

Nothing that size can get sucked into the fuel system, I wouldn’t worry about it at all.

 

Winter job.

 

Plastic is quite resilient to fuel so I would have thought it'd be fine short term.
As above, get it out when your bikes back in the garage.

 

thanks all. tried the claw but it didnt work. in the end i've removed fuel tank and pulled the sender out to get to tie wrap.

now i'm struggling to get tank back on. slid out easily enough - disconnecting pipes and plugs was a b1tch!

any hints tips for getting the tank back on?

 

Drop it in place put the 2 lower rear bolts in loosely.
Pull the front up and use a bungee, from front of tank to rear seat lock mechanism to hold in the service position.
Should give you room to get most of it on, might have to do the last bits as you lower the tank.

 

have you tried using plastic magnet to fish is out?
I would just live with it. If is decomposes (which I doubt) only Esso super could do it.
Even if it gradually disolves, the change would be so insignificant as not to be noticeable.

PS just kidding in the first line

 

Thanks Bonjo. Got it out now by removing the tank and fuel sender and then sticking my hand in to pull it out.

Did my back in on a track day so struggling to get the tank back on now. May leave it a week or so and then give it another try.

 

Actually - another related question. To get the tank of i totally drained the tank of fuel. There may be some left in the pipe that goes down to the engne itself.

In terms of putting fuel back in the tank that is currently separated from the bike what should i do?

Put a bit of fuel in when its fully reassmebled or put some fuel in whilst its off the bike so that there is some fuel in the sender and pick up?

 

Put the tank on first. It will purge itself with no problems.

 

Just a final update on this. With a bit of patience and another pair of hands i go the tank back on and fully connected. Put a couple of litres of petrol in before turning the ignition. The pump made a sucking sound for about a second and then fired into life!

Been out on a long test ride and all ok! Thanks for your help forum - really appreciate it