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Since having 5 bolts snap on me a few days ago, ans not trusting HD to sell non chinese made bolts, am I going overkill on this? Dearler says bolts snapping is more common than people think. These are 20% stronger than grade 8 steel, so I suspect I'd be better off. but is it just a waste of an extra $25 dollars? Thoughts?
The only ones I've had break are ones I reused and which then came loose. We are supposed to replace every time we remove them. As that is usually a pretty rare thing, it's what I have always done since my 'incident'! When we buy H-D custom pulley or rotor they come with a fresh set of screws, which tells us what we need to know!
As for the Chinese thang, you probably wrote your query using one!
"The only ones I've had break are ones I reused and which then came loose" ... Yep, as Mr. Brown has stated ... I've never heard of a problem with these bolts other than being re-used
Zinc coated carbon steel is less likely to gall in aluminum than stainless.
10 pcs with 170,00 psi tensile strength are $10 from McMaster-Carr
always reused them with no issues
reading the above makes me glad that I have the above units on the shelf
now that you fellows have scared me , Ill swap in the new ones!
Edit: have the s.s. Bolts in stock also
cant have too much hardware on hand
Last edited by eighteight; Apr 19, 2020 at 05:15 PM.
In the end. I can't tell you what I dont know.. bought from dealer (used) in Nov. All 5 bolts snap in April...that what I know happened...everything else is speculation.
I can't get over the constant chortle from folks telling me not to reuse bolts....when I've said from the beginning I have never taken the pulley off. So anyone else want to chime in an be Mr. Obvious again go ahead and tell me not to reuse bolts...
So not much in the way of advice other than dont reuse bolts....mmmmmkay
Not to be stirring the pot ... The obvious conclusion to be reached by our reply was that the OEM bolts have always done their job ... You asked about "replacement" to fix a problem that hasn't been a problem other than when someone has serviced the pulley ( or rotor which can give the same problem ) ... Again, not trying to be a smart a$$ ... Good luck with your repair :>)
No pot to stir...just wanted to focus on the question of, do folks trust OEM bolts or even the cheaper ones I see being discussed from a bolt-depot type place....when I'm actually leaning going the other direction and paying more for bolts that are rated higher and used in racing. I suppose when it happens to someone, it becomes a trusting issue to them and regaining the trust...thats why this time I'm mounting the pulley, with my bolts, and my locktite, and my torque wrench,
Like I said...It's not about reusing anything its about has anyone seen breakages on single ue bolts from over torquing, etc that would add to the dealers comments that this is a fairly common thing.....that worries me if its true.
... I can't tell you what I dont know.. bought from dealer (used) in Nov.All 5 bolts snap in April...that what I know happened...everything else is speculation
I assume what you bought in Nov was the bike?
So just an observation ... after seeing/reading that your wheels have been powder coated ... what is telling to me is that you bought a bike that someone had removed/replaced the Pulley to powder coat the wheels and then 6 months later (at least ... whenever the PC was done earlier) the bolts break/shear whatever. So something probably happened during that R&R event ... Bad Thread prep (cleaning), bolt issue, etc
If you don't want to use New OE Bolts and instead of those expensive Diamonds, but want that "Warm and Fuzzy" feeling...
Here's some ARP Bolts for half the price. They are 2.750 long which 1/8" longer than your Bolt published specs of 2.625 which would give enough room to put some hardened "Thick" washers under the Heads.
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Diamond race proof 12 point rear pulley bolts
