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Chrome Engine Bolts or Covers??

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Old Jul 1, 2009 | 04:14 PM
  #11  
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+1 on Diamond. I dont have the engine kit but have used their stuff other places on the bike. I too would like to do the engine kit one day. Im not a fan of putting "covers" on anything on the bike. To me covering something is kindo of like doing it half ***, if that. No offense to anyone that has done it but thats just me.
 
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Old Jul 1, 2009 | 05:33 PM
  #12  
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Have put HD chrome bolts on my engine/covers. Inside of hex will rust pretty quickly if not constantly cared for after getting wet. A few drops of clear nail polish helps. I will soon go with SS.
 
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Old Jul 1, 2009 | 06:15 PM
  #13  
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I replaced essentially every ugly looking motor case bolt that I could along with the strut bolts with polished SS.

Then at the end I cheaped out on the chitty HD press on head bolt kit...

I think I have lost 2 so far and just need to go a different route.

Next time I'm in Daytona beach or Sturgis I'll just walk up and down the street collecting the piles of those cheap POS bolt top covers as the streets must be lined with em!!!
 
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Old Jul 1, 2009 | 06:22 PM
  #14  
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I say stay away from those caps. They look good at first, but if you ever have to get something off they are a pain in the *** to remove. Mechanics will hate working on your bike and they usually get damaged when taking them off. The bolts are gonna last much longer.
I am speaking from experience as I have had those chrome caps on two previous bikes.
Just happens to be that today I bought all the chrome screws at the dealer for the cam covers, tranny upper cover and the side clutch cable cover. I also bought the front fender bolts and spent around $ 90.00 . Another good thing is you can buy them as you go and it doesn't affect your wallet as bad.

I will do the primary side next...

I'll try to get some pics up tonight.
 
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Old Jul 2, 2009 | 01:17 AM
  #15  
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Diamond is one of the best but its by no means the only place to get SS hardware for your ride.
Here's a couple more I found when I started looking around.

http://www.alloyboltz.com/catalog/index.php

http://www.southcoaststainless.com/index.htm

http://www.boltdepot.com/Default.aspx

And here's a link to a guy who shows you how to make your own polished SS bolts.

http://www.angelfire.com/band2/chops101/sshardware.htm

And here's a couple of places to get chrome hardware if that's your preferred look.

http://www.boltdepot.com/Chrome-nuts-and-bolts.aspx

http://www.chromebolt.com/

Have fun playing.
 
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Old Sep 21, 2011 | 11:40 AM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by Chazmanian
I replaced essentially every ugly looking motor case bolt that I could along with the strut bolts with polished SS.

Then at the end I cheaped out on the chitty HD press on head bolt kit...

I think I have lost 2 so far and just need to go a different route.

Next time I'm in Daytona beach or Sturgis I'll just walk up and down the street collecting the piles of those cheap POS bolt top covers as the streets must be lined with em!!!
Do the polished stainless bolts look almost chrome? I didn't even know they made stainless. That's probably the route I'll go. I like your idea of hitting the bike rallys for freebies too. I got a kick out of that one. Take care.
 
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Old Sep 21, 2011 | 12:13 PM
  #17  
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McMaster Carr is your friend
 
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Old Sep 21, 2011 | 12:18 PM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by bellarosa
Do the polished stainless bolts look almost chrome? I didn't even know they made stainless. That's probably the route I'll go. I like your idea of hitting the bike rallys for freebies too. I got a kick out of that one. Take care.
Polished stainless looks great and they will look that way for a long long time. I just changed the ones on my new 12 streetglide with a complete kit that I bought off ebay for about a hundred bucks. Best money I've spent.
 
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Old Sep 21, 2011 | 12:52 PM
  #19  
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I agree with Austinharley........get the stainless steel polished and you don't have to worry. I've seen them on fleebay for about half the price as hottoppers or hd chrome bolt kits. I made mine, took off the bolts, chucked them up in a drill press and filed off the flutes then used my wife's red rouge and buffer (without her permission- caught some s**t for it) and polished them like mirrors. Next time I'll just buy.........she's mean about her tools.
 
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