Stuck Derby Cover Screws
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 930
Likes: 4
From: Jacksonville, FL
I have found from advice I read on this great forum to break the seal when the bike is completely cold. If its cold, they seem to come right out. On my new bike, I went to the garage and broke them loose when it was completely cold and put anti seize on the threads and put them back in. With that on there, it makes taking them in and out very easy. Sorry this wont help you out now, but hopefully in the future when you get it fixed.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: South Texas
John,
this may be more common than you think, especially with the chrome parts. When I installed the chrome primary cover on my bike, there was alot of oxidation/residue in the threads. I had to run a thread chaser through brand new threads on the outer primary several times to clean it all out. I would'nt think that a harley factory tech would go throught all of this. I would assume that they stick the screw on an air gun and install the derby cover. This practice probably doesn't help when removing the derby cover for the first time. Sorry for you woes, but it's just a cost of doing business I guess. Make sure that before you reinstall the screws, that you run a thread chaser down the holes. You may be surprised what you get out of them. In my opinion, a thread cleaner set is an essential part of any tool kit, especially when working on harleys.
hope that helped a little.
harry
this may be more common than you think, especially with the chrome parts. When I installed the chrome primary cover on my bike, there was alot of oxidation/residue in the threads. I had to run a thread chaser through brand new threads on the outer primary several times to clean it all out. I would'nt think that a harley factory tech would go throught all of this. I would assume that they stick the screw on an air gun and install the derby cover. This practice probably doesn't help when removing the derby cover for the first time. Sorry for you woes, but it's just a cost of doing business I guess. Make sure that before you reinstall the screws, that you run a thread chaser down the holes. You may be surprised what you get out of them. In my opinion, a thread cleaner set is an essential part of any tool kit, especially when working on harleys.
hope that helped a little.
harry
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,380
Likes: 14
From: Atlanta
As usual, members of the forum got me out of the woods! Ronp42 and others hit it on the head: I drilled off the screw caps, dropped the cover into my hand, and then the threads backed out with just my fingertips. About 10 minutes work and it was done. So I will go with chrome allen head screws now, with a light coat of oil on the threads and fastened via torque wrench. Don't want to go through that again!
Thanks guys!
Thanks guys!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 102
From: Central Illinois
I think the person who suggested the threads are too tight may be on the money. When Harley chrome plates the covers they also plate the threads making them smaller diameter. So the screws go in tighter and basically lock up. Also, try using a 1/4" drive ratchet with the #27 socket to tighten them, not a 3/8 drive. Unless you go the torque wrench route, which I personally don't do. The 1/4" drive ratchet is too small to overtighten unless you act like an ape, but will still get it tight enough and won't be a problem to remove them. This is just a cover, its not holding any gears or mechanical pressure.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 329
Likes: 0
From: Inland Northwest
Uhhhh, learned the hard way myself after "overtightening" the derby cover screws. As a previous poster mentioned, no need to get too crazy when tightening derby cover screws because there's nothing pressurized in there, I just snug them up good.
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 619
Likes: 0
From: Northeast U.S.
I have found from advice I read on this great forum to break the seal when the bike is completely cold. If its cold, they seem to come right out. On my new bike, I went to the garage and broke them loose when it was completely cold and put anti seize on the threads and put them back in. With that on there, it makes taking them in and out very easy. Sorry this wont help you out now, but hopefully in the future when you get it fixed.
Last edited by valvestem; Sep 1, 2010 at 09:28 AM.
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