Speedometer / tachometer bolt stuck? Help!

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Jan 20, 2019 | 07:24 PM

#11

tryus

Road Captain

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 514

Likes: 17

From: SW Mississippi

You can take a dremel and cutoff wheel, first cut the top of the acorn nut off, just cut the dome off. Then you can cut a slot across the top of both the bolt and the nut, just like if you were going to split it in half, but not too deep, you are just making a screwdriver slot. Those sparks from the dremel will damage your paint and chrome so cover it up! Spray some penetrating oil in there and let soak. Get the proper sized screwdriver in there to hold the bolt, but not interfere with the nut, and MAYBE you'll be able to hold the bolt and turn the nut, and back it off that way. It shouldn't be tight, but it may be rusted or galled. If that doesn't work you haven't lost anything, but then you'll have to get a nut splitter (google it) and bust the nut off. You could go ahead and keep deepening the slot with the dremel until the nut falls off, but be very careful to do it without cutting into your dash. You can get a new carriage bolt at any hardware store, put anti seize on the end of it and don't overtighten, you won't have any more trouble with it.

Jan 20, 2019 | 07:32 PM

#12

tryus

Road Captain

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 514

Likes: 17

From: SW Mississippi

You will definitely want to replace that bolt even if you use the nut splitter, the bolt threads being anti-siezed and in very good shape is the key to being able to remove the nut in the future, you'll see when you get it off. Also, on second thought, a hacksaw would work, probably even better, for cutting that screwdriver slot...

Jan 20, 2019 | 07:37 PM

#13

Lok Hang Yung

Thread Starter

3rd Gear

Joined: Jan 2019

Posts: 7

Likes: 0

From: NY

Thanks, do I need to take off my tank in order to get the entire carriage bolt out?

Taking off the tank is the part where I'm not comfortable.

Jan 20, 2019 | 07:42 PM

#14

tryus

Road Captain

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 514

Likes: 17

From: SW Mississippi

Nah, just lift the dash up, it's right there. Shouldn't even have to unplug anything if you don't want to.

Jan 20, 2019 | 07:47 PM

#15

Lok Hang Yung

Thread Starter

3rd Gear

Joined: Jan 2019

Posts: 7

Likes: 0

From: NY

Sounds good. I will try it once I get the necessary tool.

Thanks for everyone's help!

Jan 20, 2019 | 09:03 PM

#16

RANGER73

Club Member

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 15,428

Likes: 7,122

From: Beyond Fucital

The Dremel idea is good, with the screwdriver slot. Then you can reuse the bolt. Just loc-tite the holding nutt.
There's no need to ever remove the bolt anyway. Then just get a new cap nut.

Last edited by RANGER73; Jan 20, 2019 at 09:05 PM.

Jan 21, 2019 | 07:47 AM

#17

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 6,081

Likes: 1,127

From:

CAUTION on use of penetrating oils...some may damage paint.
There is a possibility that a thread locker was used on bolt/nut.
Some heat applied to nut with a soldering gun might help to melt threadlocker.
If you are going to cut, tape card board over tank and seat....a flying small piece of hot metal can damage seat, speedometer face and anything in the area.

Jan 21, 2019 | 03:06 PM

#18

Crossbone Canuck

Cruiser

Joined: Mar 2016

Posts: 136

Likes: 62

From: Alberta, Canada

When I did the apes on my 09 crossbones I had the same problem with the chrome nut that holds the dash down. I ended up using a Dremel to cut the nut off but I did not split it vertically. I was worried about getting close to the dash so I cut about 3/4 of the nut off on the horizontal including the bolt. With most of the nut gone I was able to get a wrench on the 1/4 inch that was left and I was able to unthread it. The replacement bolt and a nut is fairly cheap compared to destroying the flange on the tank the bolt sits in.