why does Harley want me to buy new rotor bolts if and when I take them off??

 

You'll get mixed reviews on this. Many don't. I personally do. Admittedly it's OCD and piece of mind for me.

Smarter forum members will discuss metallurgy and my harley dealer says it's their best practice due to bolt stress levels post torquing.

Again, short money and higher mountains for me to climb than debate this one.

Good luck.

Tin

 

They're one time use, Torque em twice and they can and do fail/shear off. Not good

 

They are famous for breaking....

 

famous for breaking??? wtf??? I have never heard of replacing them.

 

I'm a cheap *** but rotor bolts and pulley bolts get replaced every time I remove them.

 

This should help you decide.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...bob-yikes.html

 

I had mine shear off. I replaced them with Grade 8 hardened steel kryptonite viagra triple hammered bolts from ACE hardware.

 

I've heard of pulley bolts shearing off, particularly when used with a chrome cover, but I've never heard of a rotor bolt failing. I have re-used them in the past, maybe I've just been lucky.

 

On my chopper, the pretty chrome 5/16" bolts on my sprocket had loosened up, when I tried to retorque, they broke. They had stretched and weakened so I reamed the mounting holes out to 3/8" and installed grade 8 unf. I was preparing to run in the local 1/8 mi track Harley drags and the last thing I wanted was a sheered off sprocket.

I guess I'm lucky, I've never had a rear wheel "lockup" in 45 years of riding Harleys (pan,knuck,shovel and Evo}, or any bike of any brand from Aeromacchi to Zundapp.
I suppose it's possible if a chain broke and jammed into the trans sprocket, but a broken belt wouldn't do it. Never heard of it happening though.