240 tire kit fail

[50dro]

haha thanks Sandro. Sliders are off my old bike that was hit so they are kinda sentimental

Can't blame you there!

I think the bolts are aluminum cause they are pretty soft.

Doubt they are aluminum...More likely Stainless but IMHO they should be Grade 5 or 8 steel bolts as was mentioned earlier. You can get the bolts at just about any hardware store but they won't likely have an acceptable corrosion resistant coating on them so you'll want to paint or coat them. If the company that made the system has upgraded to better bolts they made have strong bolts with an acceptable coating specially made as we do. Make them send a new set!

 

[Disturbed1]

Cush Drive (Rubber Dampener inside Wheel / Rim which transmits sprocket power to the wheel.) is not needed on our bikes because of the belt drive on an all original XBs. This is because the belt actually stretches and acts like the rubber dampener. Once you modify the bike, and install a chain drive, you lose that feature of the belt. That is probably part of the reason why the bolts have loosened up and broken. The other is the spacer, definitely a lot of torque transmitted between the wheel and the sprocket. The spacer will act as a fulcrum with the bolt (wobbling it in the wheel) and cause the threads to expand in the aluminum. I don't know if a harder grade bolt will solve this issue with a big tire, no cush drive, and lots of torque. If you're easy on the throttle, you may lessen the chances of having this happen again.

I have taken sheared bolts out of an aluminum wheel before with the bolts being lock-tighted. (Red or Blue) This part you may not like to hear... Given the small size of the bolts, when using a bolt extractor, I had to use an oxy-acetylene torch and heat the bolt hole and surrounding surface. This will break the bond of the lock-tight, and expand the aluminum around the bolt. Allowing you to use a small bolt extractor. If you don't heat it up (been there) the extractor will snap. Now you have a harden piece of tooling lodged in the wheel, which will be a real headache drilling through. Also, if the bolt is stainless, when drilling for the bolt extractor, use a new drill bit, slow drill speed, and lots of drill specific oil / tapping fluid. Otherwise you will burn up the drill. When finished, you would have to paint or get the wheel powder coated.

 

[konarider94]

wow I would not use stainless bolts in that application, especially button head.

 

[Loki]

So lesson here is to not trust the bolts GSD sells with THEIR kits and to buy stronger bolts. Glad youre safe and little damage happened. Thats some janky shit from gsd..

 

[EricZ]

316 Stainless bolts are lots stronger than the more common 18-8 (304 Stainless) and are available through McMaster Carr. Every XB has a cush drive. It is integrated into the clutch basket rather than the rear wheel. These modern drive belts don't "stretch". If they did the tooth engagement would suck and belt tension would have to be adjustable.

I have put over twice the torque of a stock XB through my chain drive and never had issues. Using the correct hardware and ensuring proper thread engagement and torque specs are important.

 

[onelogue]

Thank you again for everyones in put

EricZ, thank you for clarifying the crush drive on our bikes. Glad its built in cause im so close to modifying the swing arm to fit the belt back. But that still wont fixthe bolts.

I just bought a reverse bit kit, torch, drill bits and a tap to start a drill in center.
Going to start on this in a couple days. Ill post back up with pictures (as always)

 

[twoguns]

think i am going to go get me some new bolts....

 

[thrstrmech]

center punch the bolt before you start to drill, will avoid it from dancing

 

[thumpin1203]

RJ! whaaasssssuuupp? this must have just happened! you didn't mention anything in your "ride reminder on the 14th" text to me the other day.. best luck with the repair! what about drilling & tapping to the next size up with high grade stainless? I have a can of Buell graphite grey, let me know if you would like some to brush on the swingarm edge rash.. a quick dress with a file and a couple of coats should fix ya' up..

I also have graphite powder(coat) that is a near exact match- tiger-drylac 049/80190 P7 glimmer that I recently did 2 swingarms in.. it actually has just a bit of sheen to it which helps the durability greatly.. (just an FYI for you or anyone else!)

Thump

 

[ali]

Hey Thump you want to sell the grips that are sitting on your work bench?

 

[squidbuellie]

I have seen this happen 100 times on Harleys.... When guys buy cheap chrome bolts or when they would reuse the bolts and torque it down like a son of a gun with a inpack.
Use a easy out drill the hole then throw some heat on it then back it out...then buy grade 8s bolts from homedepo

Page..... Your screwed you ground up the bearing lip, your rear rim is now a paper weight or a boat anchor

 

[onelogue]

Thumpin1203, thanks buddy. I might have to take you up on the paint offer. If you come Saturday you should bring the paint to help me out Hope you can make it. Bike should be fixed by then.

Well I got the 3 bots removed by torching them, drill and extract. All is good but now im missing the first few threads in those holes probably from me tightening them up. Any ideas to fix the missing threads. Helicoil has been mentioned and i have yet to try it. Is it the most affective/durable method?

And im going to find 6 new grade 8 bolts like many of you mentioned.

 

[thrstrmech]

timeserts...way better than heli coil

 

[thumpin1203]

Hey RJ.. I'll get you that paint.. most likely sat.

...awww, buggered threads!

IMHO timeserts are your "kittycat", or next fractional oversize w/good hardware.. looks to me those fasteners had been working in the threads for a while by the apparent taper .. time to beef it up, no second chances here!

@ali.. I wish I had ten sets to sell! but sadly don't.. I put the grips on my lightning already & really like em'..
keep looking, they pop up from time to time!

 

[supertt1200]

i know this is a little bit off topic, but why have a 240 rear on it?

 

[onelogue]

Thank you thrstrmech & thumpin1203 for the help. Those inserts will be perfect for me. Hopefully i can find a local distributor so i can get the bike ready for the NW B.O.A.R ride this weekend.

Tad, bikes look clean as always. You going to ride the Lightning or Uly? I know you can ride both hundreds of miles....

 

[onelogue]

i know this is a little bit off topic, but why have a 240 rear on it?

Because I like the look. If you know me personally I dont care about going super fast on 2 wheels. The 240 gave me a reason to love my Buell again. There are flaws I admit but in the end i wont ever own a bike with a tire smaller than a 240. If i rode track... different story.

 

[juGGernaut]

His bike definitely is unique. When I ride with him, he definitely turns heads. On our buell meet ups, everyone's hovering over his bike more then others

 

[onelogue]

^^^ [cool] Thanks Kurt! [up]

 

[GAXB9R]

ill give you 16 dollars for the grips