Weld-tite
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 980
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From: Leesburg, Florida
Weld-tite
I'm replacing what HD calls Engine Mounts with chrome (Yeah, I know, more damn useless chrome.). These are the "mounts" on the front of the '04-'06 engine with the little links between the engine and frame. I guess the purpose is to limit the side-to-side motion of the engine, even though it still dances around a lot.
HD used 45 torx bolts, the only place they used that size. The bottom one is connected to the engine case, close enough to the cylinder that you can't get a torx socket between the bolt and the fins. And even if you could, all the bolts are locked in there so bloody solid that it stretches the limits of what a torx can handle. I've resorted to vice grips, which so far I've managed to twist the thing half way out. It's so darn tight that I'm afraid I'm going to twist the bolt off, but I'll persist and hope it doesn't (I'm taking a break). No way to heat up that spot without burning the coating on the engine.
I wonder though, what the heck is Harley using for "Loctite"? Whatever it is, it's not red
nor blue, and the stuff is more like "Weldtite". Never seen anything like it!
And of course the temperatures went up to 56 degrees today, so here I am in the middle of doing
this instead of riding. Aaaaarg! [sm=bangbang.gif]
HD used 45 torx bolts, the only place they used that size. The bottom one is connected to the engine case, close enough to the cylinder that you can't get a torx socket between the bolt and the fins. And even if you could, all the bolts are locked in there so bloody solid that it stretches the limits of what a torx can handle. I've resorted to vice grips, which so far I've managed to twist the thing half way out. It's so darn tight that I'm afraid I'm going to twist the bolt off, but I'll persist and hope it doesn't (I'm taking a break). No way to heat up that spot without burning the coating on the engine.
I wonder though, what the heck is Harley using for "Loctite"? Whatever it is, it's not red
nor blue, and the stuff is more like "Weldtite". Never seen anything like it!
And of course the temperatures went up to 56 degrees today, so here I am in the middle of doing
this instead of riding. Aaaaarg! [sm=bangbang.gif]
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 264
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RE: Weld-tite
Try some good penetrating fluid.I went to a marine supply store and got this stuff called KROL.It loosen's up frozen nut's and bolt's allmost like a torch.I figure these marine guy's know what loosen's up frozen hardware the best considering how corroded boat hardware become's.
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 980
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From: Leesburg, Florida
RE: Weld-tite
Thanks for the suggestion, RICHE. In fact I did try that, but absolutely nothing would seem to penetrate that bolt. FOrtunately the bolt was one (the only one) that I could get the vice grips on and it finally came out.
Whatever HD used on this bolt was black, and I'll make sure the threads in the case are clean so I don't jam the new bolts. The bolt in the bottom bracket, however, had to be drilled out from the opposite side. Trying to free it up twisted the good torx bit and finally stripped the slots in the bolt. I get the impression HD never wanted those bolts removed for any reason.
The kit didn't include the chrome links (pricey little devils), so I buffed the paint off the originals and powder coated them with "almost chrome." Came out pretty decent. So tomorrow's project will be to bolt all this together -- while the decent riding weather goes by. No more winter projects; no more winter... please.
Whatever HD used on this bolt was black, and I'll make sure the threads in the case are clean so I don't jam the new bolts. The bolt in the bottom bracket, however, had to be drilled out from the opposite side. Trying to free it up twisted the good torx bit and finally stripped the slots in the bolt. I get the impression HD never wanted those bolts removed for any reason.
The kit didn't include the chrome links (pricey little devils), so I buffed the paint off the originals and powder coated them with "almost chrome." Came out pretty decent. So tomorrow's project will be to bolt all this together -- while the decent riding weather goes by. No more winter projects; no more winter... please.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 45
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RE: Weld-tite
I just swapped the mounts on mine for the chrome set too. They gave me some trouble too, tho not as bad as you. I used a pair of water pump pliers (channel locks) to get that lower bolt out. It was tight but once it was moving I took my time and got it out. Good idea on the powder coat. I would like to do something with those dog bones, but am not going through that again!
P.S. I have that chrome addiction too, might have to join Chromaholics Anonymous
Dave
P.S. I have that chrome addiction too, might have to join Chromaholics Anonymous
Dave
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