Bad Information on Torx Screws
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,803
Likes: 11
From: El Paso, Texas
There was a thread a while back about stripped derby-cover screws.
Someone posted a very believable thread that Harley used Torx-Plus derby-cover screws and that you needed a T-27 Torx-Plus instead of a regular T-27 Torx bit tool to keep from stripping them out.
I have used a regular T-27 in the past and never had a problem but I went ahead and bought a T-27 Torx-Plus socket bit thinking this was the right tool for the job.
Well, bottom line is save your money it does not fit on my 08 SG derby cover or any other Torx screw on my bike. The screws take a regular T-27.
There may be some other bike in the Harley Line up that takes a Torx-Plus tool but it is definitely not my 08 SG
Below is part of the thread that I read before I went and purchased the Torx-Plus bit: I copied and pasted it for you to read...
THIS IS BAD INFO!!
__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________
Gents, I'll say this again and hope you listen
HARLEY use TORX PLUS fasteners to assemble their bikes.
Torx Plus is DIFFERENT that regular torx. The torx plus driver bits fit very tightly into the torx fastener and are less likely to strip...They fiot so tightly that there is ZERO angle tween bit and fastener.
You have a choice...you either determine which torx plus bits you need and buy only those, or you change out all torx fasteners to stainless steel allen head.
There are only 6-7 different sized torx plus fasteners used on Harleys, plus there are several allen sizes, so common sense dictates you swap to all allen not just to keep your tour pac tool set compact, but also because you will want to go stainless vice the corrosion prone stock fasteners.
Stop complaining about T27 torx bits being hard to find....There are MANY etailers offering T27 drive bits in TORX PLUS for 3-4 bucks.....But please remember to buy only torx plus....torx plus is different!
Someone posted a very believable thread that Harley used Torx-Plus derby-cover screws and that you needed a T-27 Torx-Plus instead of a regular T-27 Torx bit tool to keep from stripping them out.
I have used a regular T-27 in the past and never had a problem but I went ahead and bought a T-27 Torx-Plus socket bit thinking this was the right tool for the job.
Well, bottom line is save your money it does not fit on my 08 SG derby cover or any other Torx screw on my bike. The screws take a regular T-27.
There may be some other bike in the Harley Line up that takes a Torx-Plus tool but it is definitely not my 08 SG
Below is part of the thread that I read before I went and purchased the Torx-Plus bit: I copied and pasted it for you to read...
THIS IS BAD INFO!!
__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________
Gents, I'll say this again and hope you listen
HARLEY use TORX PLUS fasteners to assemble their bikes.
Torx Plus is DIFFERENT that regular torx. The torx plus driver bits fit very tightly into the torx fastener and are less likely to strip...They fiot so tightly that there is ZERO angle tween bit and fastener.
You have a choice...you either determine which torx plus bits you need and buy only those, or you change out all torx fasteners to stainless steel allen head.
There are only 6-7 different sized torx plus fasteners used on Harleys, plus there are several allen sizes, so common sense dictates you swap to all allen not just to keep your tour pac tool set compact, but also because you will want to go stainless vice the corrosion prone stock fasteners.
Stop complaining about T27 torx bits being hard to find....There are MANY etailers offering T27 drive bits in TORX PLUS for 3-4 bucks.....But please remember to buy only torx plus....torx plus is different!
Last edited by Dionicio; May 24, 2010 at 07:45 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,341
Likes: 9
From: Woodinville, WA
Also - I'm not quite sure where that idea comes from. There actually are Torx Plus fasteners.
Rumor (Wikipedia) has it that:
Torx variant, Torx Plus, introduced about 1990 when the original Torx patent was expiring, is designed to allow greater torque, and to minimize wear. Currently, Torx Plus heads and drivers are patented, slowing adoption in the marketplace, but are licensed to a number of tool manufacturers [1] including Camcar [2] and Facom [3]. The specifications for these licenses are held by Textron. Standard Torx drivers can be used to drive Torx Plus screws, but not to full torque because of the loose fit. Torx Plus drivers will not fit standard Torx screws. They are shortened to "Torx TS".
Last edited by davessworks; May 24, 2010 at 09:28 PM.
I bought the Torx Plus set only to find that I didn't need Torx Plus for my 2010 Fat Bob! Luckily I found the set for sale at NAPA Auto Parts for only $30 and maybe I'll replace some screws or find something else to use that Torx Plus bits on. I don't think you can ever have too many tools. Never know when you'll need that tool that you thought was a waste.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 20
From: Salem, Or
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 36
From: ST. Louis
I remember that thread. I never made it to the store to look for the Torx Plus.
I never had any trouble before, so I wasn't in a hurry.
I finally did something right.......or is that didn't do something right. lol
I never had any trouble before, so I wasn't in a hurry.
I finally did something right.......or is that didn't do something right. lol