Derby cover bolts from hell
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 889
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, New York
Derby cover bolts from hell
Why are they set so fricken tight? I go to do my 1000 mile on my new Ultra and it turned into a nightmare. They were so tight thatthey totally stipped where I couldn't even tap in the next size wrench. One head just broke off from trying to turn it. That turned out to be the easy one. I knew I was in some deep **** when my easy out snapped off inside one of the bolts. Now that is way too tight. Ended up drilling all the heads off and had to mutilate the derby cover around the bolt that had the easy out stuck in it. Worked until 2 am with dull drill blades but I was not gonna stop. I was way too pissed. When out this morning and bought my new cover. Time to ride.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee, WI
RE: Derby cover bolts from hell
Mine were tight but not that tight thankfully. Sounds like a lot of fun.... Not. Glad you worked it out.
I do remember saying to my self why are these in there so freakin tight! I stripped one out in the processes. Same goes for the drain plugs though. I muscled them off and they were on so tight the orings were mutilated. I do my own maint now.
I do remember saying to my self why are these in there so freakin tight! I stripped one out in the processes. Same goes for the drain plugs though. I muscled them off and they were on so tight the orings were mutilated. I do my own maint now.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,378
Likes: 1
From: Boise, Idaho
RE: Derby cover bolts from hell
when you go back together, go down to Ace hardware and buy the chrome allen head bolt with washers. they make it a breeze to change the oil in the future. might run a tap through the holes before you start. some recommend going with stainless bolts, but they are pretty brittle and have been know to bugger up the threads. plus, if you break off a stainless bolt, you are really screwed, since they are pretty much impossible to drill through. the chrome ones I use on all of my bikes work like a dream, and it is a painless operation to remove the derby cover now.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10,602
Likes: 721
From: Bellevue, NE
RE: Derby cover bolts from hell
Mine were tight from the factory too. I managed to only snap one head off though!
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
From: Washington
RE: Derby cover bolts from hell
ORIGINAL: gman
when you go back together, go down to Ace hardware and buy the chrome allen head bolt with washers. they make it a breeze to change the oil in the future. might run a tap through the holes before you start. some recommend going with stainless bolts, but they are pretty brittle and have been know to bugger up the threads. plus, if you break off a stainless bolt, you are really screwed, since they are pretty much impossible to drill through. the chrome ones I use on all of my bikes work like a dream, and it is a painless operation to remove the derby cover now.
when you go back together, go down to Ace hardware and buy the chrome allen head bolt with washers. they make it a breeze to change the oil in the future. might run a tap through the holes before you start. some recommend going with stainless bolts, but they are pretty brittle and have been know to bugger up the threads. plus, if you break off a stainless bolt, you are really screwed, since they are pretty much impossible to drill through. the chrome ones I use on all of my bikes work like a dream, and it is a painless operation to remove the derby cover now.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 486
Likes: 0
From: Amarillo, Texas
RE: Derby cover bolts from hell
I had the same experience. Not exactly what I was expecting to run into but I kept at itand did the notch on the top and used a screw driver and a hammer to break it loose.