PD36, While getting unstuck this weekend, my carb float got stuck and started spitting gas. Took everything off, air filter, cover and small(rectangular) cover that is secured with 10 mm nuts and those two long bolts so that I could look inside the carb. Fixed the issue, but made the mistake of only hand tighting the two nuts and two bolts until I could get to a better place on the lake to work on it. Went about a 1/2 mile to work on it and noticed one of the nuts for that carb cover laying in the air filter cover. The second nut was gone. So I tightened the two bolts and one remaining nut and went about scouting.

Went about 5 miles and no motor issues at all.

My question is with the lost nut. Those two nuts that hold the carb cover plate on are the top nuts for that cover plate. Is there any chance for that nut to make its way into the Carb? I have a feeling it just fell in the water when I took the air filter cover off because that is where the other nut was found. That nut would literally have to jump upwards to get behind the cover plate to even have the chance to fall in the carb.

Bottom line is we went another 5 miles and never sensed anything was wrong or heard anything rattling around.

Do I need to be concerned? Really don't want to take the carb apart, do I need to?

Thanks,