Am in the process of replacing the fixed sideplates on my 2005 Dyna FXDLI with removeables. Finished installing the docking kit and relocating the turn signals, was reconnecting battery and dropped the battery bolt in the guts of the bike somewhere. Spent an hour looking for it with no luck. Anyone else done this? What did you do? Read elsewhere about jacking the bike up (don't have stands or jack) and rolling the rear while in gear to see if it dislodges. Will try to pickup a magnet and grabber tomorrow. Does anyone know the those battery bolts are attracted to magnets? I read they are not. Grrrrr!!!!!

Some are stainless, mine are steel so I have picked em up with one of those extendable magnets, also try a long bit of wire or a screwdriver with a bit of tape wrapped around the end of it, give it a bit of a poke ya never know ur luck.

Or train a mouse......you could hire him out to the rest of us!! Good luck.

long thin screw driver or something like a rod, wrap coated wire around it like a coil one end to positive one end to negative and you have a magnet.
suggest you do it on the car battery and use a reasonable gauge wire.
or
get another bolt and forget about the one you dropped

look under the starter motor & blow it out with & air hose

Trying tipping the bike from side to side (jerk it/lift it quick to possibly dislodge the bolt), while sitting on it, as far as you can as long as you have the strength to get the bike up again. See if you hear it roll. If that don't work walk away, have a breather, then come back. Start by looking all around the bike, then look on the bike itself.

 

I've dropped 1000's of bolts and nuts, thinking I'd never find them again, and I always have.  Those fucking circlips are another matter 

Drop another bolt from the same spot and watch where it goes. 

Have a break, relax and then look again. Did you HEAR it drop? Was is a metallic sound, dul dink or other? Thoroughly check the floor first the the area under the battery, wiring loom etc. Use a bright torch.
It may help to pull the battery out again.
These things have a habit of defying Mr Newto and his ideas about gravity! All else fails.............. just get a new one

Found it!

Got one of these:

http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/Stanley-Pick-Up-Tool-Flexible-Magnetic.aspx?pid=12545#Cross

Went poking in holes wherever I saw them (nyuk nyuk) and voila.

Thanks for all the tips people.

Its when you end up finding two bolts that yah have to worry!....been there done that.

 I usually turn the bike upsidedown shake it & the bolt usually drops out on my head!!!