My wife wanted some chrome on her new Sporty so I figured I'd add some new grips and chrome switch covers. Harley switched from using tiny phillips screws inside those covers to using tiny torx. The nice thing about the old phillips screws was thatmy screwdriver's are magnetic. Needless to say my torx heads are not and I did not have a magnet handy to charge them. Do you have any idea how small your hands have to be to seat one of those little torx in those little covers with all those little wires. I am really getting tired of HD using cheaper and cheaper fasteners on everything I buy from them. It is not like they are not making money on the stuff we all buy from them. Maybe my next bike will have to be a custom from someone that sells you a bike with all the chrome already on it. Oh, and I'm getting tired of leathers that were made in Chinaand parrts fromMexico. Had to vent. Thanks for reading.

Mark

 

Try keeping something like this in you tool box.
http://www.hartvilletool.com/product...filiate_id=344

 

if you have a battery around just wrap a piece of thick copper wire around it and hook it to the battery it will magnetize it temporary. IE just make them into a electric magnet. once you have charged it for a few it will stay charged for a few days. assuming the torx keys a re steel.

 

I'm with you Mark...torx bits SUCK! Broke two of the #25 size ones removing my stock derby/point/trans covers...and NO I didn't "manhandle" the ratchet...I used the normal force necessary to loosen the bolts and the bits broke...and NO I didn't buy the "dollar store" brand torx bits...they were brand name units. I'll take allen head bolts over those POS torx any day!

 

That's a good idea Rodent!
One could also buy a magnetic bit driver.

 

Dont buy anything yet. If you want to magnatize it, just get an old speaker with a big magnet on the back. Take your Torx, screwdriver, wrench, socket, etc, etc, (as long as the tools are steel) and just touch it to the side of the magnet and run it back and forth a few times. It will magnatize it. And it lasts a long time.

 

I'll take torx over screws or allen heads any day

 

Just changed out my front brake pads today and feel the same way about those damn 12 point 1/4" bolts that hold the pads in place.

 

AGreed!

The key is make sure you have the right head.

I use a magnifging glass to check first.

 

As a former auto tech I can say, when torx first came out I was pissed I had to buy another new tool. But after using them for many years I can say that I would not go back. You can torque on them much harder before they start to strip.

UD