Brake rotor bolts
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 463
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
Well the SM also tells you to to do quite a few absolutely unnecessary things when doing various work on your bike. There are also things it should tell you that it doesn't. You have to use your head/common sense when working on your bike.
This ain't rocket science & it isn't very techie stuff otherwise you surely wouldn't be taking your bike to the dealerships & letting their monkey's work on your bike.
You should be more worried about stripping out the threads in your aluminum wheel hub than worried you're "overstretching" or gonna break a steel bolt which is also most likely a grade 8.
This ain't rocket science & it isn't very techie stuff otherwise you surely wouldn't be taking your bike to the dealerships & letting their monkey's work on your bike.
You should be more worried about stripping out the threads in your aluminum wheel hub than worried you're "overstretching" or gonna break a steel bolt which is also most likely a grade 8.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,984
Likes: 8
you and guy before you can do as you wish. but it is still not smart, sorry.
Well the SM also tells you to to do quite a few absolutely unnecessary things when doing various work on your bike. There are also things it should tell you that it doesn't. You have to use your head/common sense when working on your bike.
This ain't rocket science & it isn't very techie stuff otherwise you surely wouldn't be taking your bike to the dealerships & letting their monkey's work on your bike.
You should be more worried about stripping out the threads in your aluminum wheel hub than worried you're "overstretching" or gonna break a steel bolt which is also most likely a grade 8.
This ain't rocket science & it isn't very techie stuff otherwise you surely wouldn't be taking your bike to the dealerships & letting their monkey's work on your bike.
You should be more worried about stripping out the threads in your aluminum wheel hub than worried you're "overstretching" or gonna break a steel bolt which is also most likely a grade 8.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 34
From: West Palm Beach, Florida
I replaced my pulley bolts and rear rotor bolts. I kept the stock front rotor bolts. The front rotor bolts aren't torque'd down to bad, but the rear rotor and pulley are pretty tough. I believe it was 30-45 lbs. for rear rotor bolts, and 65-75 lbs for the pulley bolts. I'd replaced those. The front was 16-24, and they looked perfect, so no need to replace those.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 463
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
No prob. I have already put my money where my mouth is. 100,000 mi.maintenance was replacing my belt & rear pulley among other things. I used the same chrome pulley bolts that were installed around 17k miles on the new pulley, red loctite & correct torque. If I ever have any problems I will re-post to this thread.
BTW tlb you said you were neither an engineer nor a mechanic & that you've pulled lots of hardened bolts that were stretched. How much had they stretched, as in what were the before & after measurements, & what measuring device did you use?
I had a friend whose pulley bolts, one of them, did back out on a ride because they were not loctited. We loctited them & tightened them as much as possible at a gas station & he's never had a problem since. Believe me, when that one bolt started backing out he knew it. Pulleys don't just come flying off.
As I said before, "Some of you guys think WAAAY too much & end up WAAAY over engineering you motorcycles in your own mind. " If it makes you feel better than good on you.
BTW tlb you said you were neither an engineer nor a mechanic & that you've pulled lots of hardened bolts that were stretched. How much had they stretched, as in what were the before & after measurements, & what measuring device did you use?
I had a friend whose pulley bolts, one of them, did back out on a ride because they were not loctited. We loctited them & tightened them as much as possible at a gas station & he's never had a problem since. Believe me, when that one bolt started backing out he knew it. Pulleys don't just come flying off.
As I said before, "Some of you guys think WAAAY too much & end up WAAAY over engineering you motorcycles in your own mind. " If it makes you feel better than good on you.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Bolt replacement????
Come on guys these are not torque to yield fasteners, they are standard grade 8 fasteners with pre-installed dry loc-tite on the threads.. Anyone ever think its a way for HD to cover their a$$e$ in the case of a reused
fastener backing out because of a less than qualified dealer tech installing the parts??? Some folks on here are funny about the things they profess to know about... BTW a fastener is only permanently stretched if overtorqued or turned to its yield point... This is done by manufacturers for a number of reasons which I dont have time to explain but I believe reuse of these pulley and rotor bolts is fine based on inspection and reapplication of loc-tite.... Also I would suspect the aluminum hub threads would stretch and deform first before bolt failure??????.......................tim
fastener backing out because of a less than qualified dealer tech installing the parts??? Some folks on here are funny about the things they profess to know about... BTW a fastener is only permanently stretched if overtorqued or turned to its yield point... This is done by manufacturers for a number of reasons which I dont have time to explain but I believe reuse of these pulley and rotor bolts is fine based on inspection and reapplication of loc-tite.... Also I would suspect the aluminum hub threads would stretch and deform first before bolt failure??????.......................tim
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,899
Likes: 8
From: Aurora, IL
Its not always about cost. Sometimes a drive to the dealership is not part of the plan.
Also as stated before, I often wonder what percentage of that recommendation is for profit and what part is for safety.
Also as stated before, I often wonder what percentage of that recommendation is for profit and what part is for safety.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,984
Likes: 8
I would always make safety part of my plan. I was hoping this debate was over. However, if you want to be a statistic, to save a few bucks, then go for it.
I just do not understand why someone would risk the cost of a new rotor, the rear wheel, swingarm and possible death, to save less than 10 bucks.
But hey, here's your sign.
I just do not understand why someone would risk the cost of a new rotor, the rear wheel, swingarm and possible death, to save less than 10 bucks.
But hey, here's your sign.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,440
Likes: 148
From: Northwest
Ya know, I'm thinking: how many times am I going to have the pulley or rotors off? In my mind there is enough question surrounding the pulley bolt issue, that I would just replace the grade 8 bolts that come stock in the bike, whether I'm working on the pulley or the rotors.
Ace hardware carries a full set of bolts. I will not use chromed bolts, but I will put chromed caps on the bolts.
All of these thoughts brought to you by:
A. 40 years of working on my own vehicles.
B. A healthy does of common sense (thank you dad).
C. Free will.
D. Living in a free country.
Yup, it does make me feel better. As previously posted, it is risk-avoidance. If I can perform a service that reduces a controllable risk, I'm going to do it. There is enough inherent risk in getting on the bike in public anyway, and I do that as much as possible.
I want to worry about things I can't control.... not things I can control.
who ever reads this may do as they wish
Ace hardware carries a full set of bolts. I will not use chromed bolts, but I will put chromed caps on the bolts.
All of these thoughts brought to you by:
A. 40 years of working on my own vehicles.
B. A healthy does of common sense (thank you dad).
C. Free will.
D. Living in a free country.
As I said before, "Some of you guys think WAAAY too much & end up WAAAY over engineering you motorcycles in your own mind. " If it makes you feel better than good on you.
I want to worry about things I can't control.... not things I can control.
who ever reads this may do as they wish