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Help with bolt in primary

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Old Jul 4, 2017 | 12:13 PM
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Default Help with bolt in primary

I'm in the middle of an oil change & 5K service.

I'm having a tough time removing the primary cover.

I'm using a T27 but check out the pic of the bolt. Is the bolt stripped?

How can I remove it? Should I go and buy a breaker bar?




Top bolt holding in the primary cover.
 
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Old Jul 4, 2017 | 12:22 PM
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Originally Posted by kryingame
I'm in the middle of an oil change & 5K service.

I'm having a tough time removing the primary cover.

I'm using a T27 but check out the pic of the bolt. Is the bolt stripped?

How can I remove it? Should I go and buy a breaker bar?




Top bolt holding in the primary cover.
Yes it appears to be stripped. Drill the head off, then once the cover is off you can pull the shank out by hand.
 
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Old Jul 4, 2017 | 12:23 PM
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Originally Posted by kryingame
I'm in the middle of an oil change & 5K service.

I'm having a tough time removing the primary cover.

I'm using a T27 but check out the pic of the bolt. Is the bolt stripped?

How can I remove it? Should I go and buy a breaker bar?




Top bolt holding in the primary cover.
Definitely stripped. Try using a hex key that fits in tightly, or resort to the normal complement of stripped bolt removal tools (doesn't look like you can get a dremel in there to cut a slot on that bolt head).

I've had success in the past using a different key of the same size (maybe sharper edges?), or even one size up if I can get it to squeeze in.

Good luck
 
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Old Jul 4, 2017 | 12:37 PM
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Replace those with allen heads or something else ..
 
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Old Jul 4, 2017 | 01:41 PM
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Use a drift punch and hammer to loosen it. The 27 might afterwards or tap in a hex socket like the other post said. Drilling the head off is last resort.
 
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Old Jul 4, 2017 | 01:56 PM
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okay guys, a buddy came over and helped. We had a tough time getting 3 bolts out. He used a chisel to make a grove to spin them out.

A follow up question, are these bolts Harley specific? The service manual tells what spec to torque them in. My concern is using another brand of bolts and not being able to torque them in properly.

Thanks again all.
 
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Old Jul 4, 2017 | 02:12 PM
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They are not Harley specific.

I don't know why so many people that own Harleys have problems with stripped primary cover bolts. There is absolutely no reason to torque them that tight. Makes me wonder if the installer or tech that last worked on it just do this for a giggle.
 
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Old Jul 4, 2017 | 02:23 PM
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One problem is those screws are made from dead soft material. I've had to replace a few.
 
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Old Jul 4, 2017 | 02:37 PM
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The bolts need antisieze! Stainless or steel bolts into aluminim will melt together without it.
 
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Old Jul 4, 2017 | 03:19 PM
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use a dab of anti-seize and when tightening them back down, do not gorilla grip it. it is not high pressure oil behind there, snug is plenty fine. (tighten in a star pattern like you would a spare tire)
 
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