I'd like to paint the factory aluminum wheels on my 07 883 project, but this means removing the rotors and pulley..What's my chances of doing so without peeling the threads out of the rims? I removed one bolt and noticed they had yellow threadlock on them. Steel bolt in an aluminum rim for 10 yrs? Makes me nervous. What say you? Thanks y'all.

 

Impact driver is the best way along with a little heat if needed.

 

I removed the rotor bolts from my 30 year old sporty without messing up any threads

 

Hit 'em with a little heat if you're worried, but you got one out. Why wouldn't the rest likely come out just as easily?

 

Say what you will, more than once I've had the first four come right out and the 5th one stick.

 

breaker bar or larger ratchet with slow, consistent pressure. do not reuse the bolts. get fresh ones and use blue locktite. have fun

"Secure with screws and tighten to 30-45
ft-lbs (40.7-61.1 Nm)."

 

The newer bike model bolts have compound on the threads already.
Don't know about the older models.

So it's recommended not to reuse the bolts, why?
Do they stretch and fatigue over time?

Maybe apples to oranges here but look at cars/trucks.
Lug nuts and wheel studs last the life of the vehicle in most cases which would be kinda the same thing I would think.

 

my 2002 sporty had compound on the threads already. never really thought of 2002 as 'older' but I guess it is.

and yes, the bolts are stretch to yield, so you don't want to reuse them. they aren't expensive, and you aren't r/r all the time, so why not be safe and go with new?

 

Ya I just bought some...$1.58 each.

 

yeah, it's there (compund)... " W/LOCKPATCH". service manual demands satisfaction. guess 2007/8 there was no W/LOCKPATCH.

they do stretch etc.. same for rear pulley bolts. reuse at your own risk.