Don't do this !

[Rob the Dog]

Hi, don't take the tank off, work on ya machine, and accidently drop a bolt down between the gear lever and the front of the belt sprocket, it will wedge its self between the bottom of the belt and the inner primary floor ! its bad enough if its mild steel, but if its stainless no attempts with magnets on bits of string fed over the belt will help, it took ages with two of us, useing a torch, tiny cable ties, string and a coat hanger. To avoid all ; this So simple, to put a large cloth from one side of the engine to the other on the gearbox.
And so obvious.

[Walenut]

If you ever get stuck again you can get something called a:

Three-pronged parts retriever
A slim, specialised flexible hand tool actuated through a plunger that enables reaching and removing via a three-pronged probe small parts from tight confines. (sorry about the description couldn't find a photo, although if anyone really wants to see one I can take a photo of mine but I think you get the gist)

There about 2' long and you should be able to get one from most car spare places.

Did a similar thing once.

[Alan B]

Got mine from a local market. saved my bacon time and again both in the garage and at work.
Alan B

[Rob the Dog]

Thanx, its now at the top of the essential thingies list.

If you're looking for a good magnetised grabber then Snap-On (and probably other companies) do a collapsable one that's like a radio aerial but with a magnet in the top. Collapsed size is about the same as a tyre pressure guage.