Chrome Bolts??
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Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 468
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From: Clayton N.C.
Chrome Bolts??
What are you guys using in your triple trees for the pinch bolts? I got my trees &lowers powder coated & was going to use chrome bolts instead of the stock bolts but the parts guy said the stock bolts are self tapping grade 8 & I wouldn't be able to get one in chrome. Would have gotten them coated if I would have known this. Anyone with any suggestions?
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Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 468
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From: Clayton N.C.
RE: Chrome Bolts??
Powder Coater (finaltouchpowdercoating.com) is about an hour drive for me so I was just going to see if I could use something else or maybe just take & paint them gloss black myself. I've pretty much replaced all other bolts with Diamond Engineering Groove series Stainless Steel bolts.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 897
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From:
RE: Chrome Bolts??
I Used a Highspeed dremel with the polishing compound that came with it. Polished them up and clear coated them with the little Auto clearcoat touch up.
I am not saying to do this but I did and it turned out OK.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 145
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From:
RE: Chrome Bolts??
I have SS Hex Head in mine - believe thay are just 3/8" 16 TPI.
I spin them in a cordless drill with 320 then 600 grit wet / dry, then Mother's or Semi-Chrome on a clean rag. Polish up great. I preffer SS over Chrome. Rsn: chrome bolts don't always get chrome inside the hex head and SS can be polished inside - plus chrome will rust.
If I'm painting them, I spin them with 400 wet dry and paint with Testors flat or Gloss enamal model paint. Then after installed I touch up (where / if)the wrench marks. Not sure if Powdercoat holds up to tightening / loosening to well, over time so you may have to touch-up any way. If I'm spraying Single Stage Black I'll use the left over to paint bolt heads - with a brush tho.
Contrary to popular belief you CAN polish mild steel bolts. HD uses pretty good quality stock bolts. Polish same as above, just re-hit with Mothers to keep a protective coating on them. I do it all the time if I can't find a specialty bolt. If the bike is in a garage - no problems. Outside it takes a little more effort to keep them shinny - like SS.
Good luck dd
I spin them in a cordless drill with 320 then 600 grit wet / dry, then Mother's or Semi-Chrome on a clean rag. Polish up great. I preffer SS over Chrome. Rsn: chrome bolts don't always get chrome inside the hex head and SS can be polished inside - plus chrome will rust.
If I'm painting them, I spin them with 400 wet dry and paint with Testors flat or Gloss enamal model paint. Then after installed I touch up (where / if)the wrench marks. Not sure if Powdercoat holds up to tightening / loosening to well, over time so you may have to touch-up any way. If I'm spraying Single Stage Black I'll use the left over to paint bolt heads - with a brush tho.
Contrary to popular belief you CAN polish mild steel bolts. HD uses pretty good quality stock bolts. Polish same as above, just re-hit with Mothers to keep a protective coating on them. I do it all the time if I can't find a specialty bolt. If the bike is in a garage - no problems. Outside it takes a little more effort to keep them shinny - like SS.
Good luck dd
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Tourer
Joined: May 2007
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From: Clayton N.C.
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RE: Chrome Bolts??
+1 polish them... i pullled mine out one by one and put a buffing wheel on a old grinder... just sat there with a bit of rubbing compoung, polish, then sealed it with wax when i was done... put it back in and got the next one out... but i had alot to do... here is a pic of my buddy helping me out with some polishing... you can get the old bench grinder from either harbor freigh real cheap... i got this one from dads basement... it was his dads.... but it is perfect the motor is so warn it will stop turning before you burn the material you are buffing... PERFECT!!! you can polish any metal to almost chrome man... against the black... it just pops! nothing looks better thank black and chrome
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 4
From: south of Boston
RE: Chrome Bolts??
i know guys that have simply replaced them with chrome 3/8 X 16 X 1-1/2 inch allen head bolts without any issues....they threw some loctite on the end, and rode all season
also, if you replace them with torx heads (which they are)....the chrome ones are grade 8
...as far as self tapping goes....yes, they are, but only at the end where the final torque is given.... the trees are threaded from the factory ...also, look at any aftermarket "pinch" bolt for earlier years and you'll see they aren't self-tapped nor are they probably grade 8....most likely, grade 5
just my experience and thoughts
....incidentally, i replaced mine with grade 8 chrome torx heads
also, if you replace them with torx heads (which they are)....the chrome ones are grade 8
...as far as self tapping goes....yes, they are, but only at the end where the final torque is given.... the trees are threaded from the factory ...also, look at any aftermarket "pinch" bolt for earlier years and you'll see they aren't self-tapped nor are they probably grade 8....most likely, grade 5
just my experience and thoughts
....incidentally, i replaced mine with grade 8 chrome torx heads
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 4
From: south of Boston
RE: Chrome Bolts??
also, once you remove that pinch bolt the "self-tapping" concept behind them no longer serves a real purpose ....the tap has been made and the threads have been created
by the way, your 'bob looks badass, jrk!
by the way, your 'bob looks badass, jrk!