Real life input on fastener replacement?

[snrusnak]

I know a lot of people say not to use stainless fasteners in certain applications, but some of these are killing me. I've replaced axle pinch bolts, brake caliper mounting hardware, triple tree pinch bolts, and some other similar things multiple times due to corrosion. I feel like stainless would be ok for these applications...thoughts? The rate of hardware and bearing replacement on my buell is making it hard to keep up with. I also just replaced front and rear brake rotor hardware about 1.5 years ago and they're corroding pretty badly as well... I'm not THAT anal about looks anymore (used to be), but I would like it to stay in good condition.

Anyone replace these types of components with stainless? Or is the guy who replaced his brake caliper mounting hardware with stainless dead on the side of a road somewhere???

 

[ToneTheMoan]

I may be wrong but i heard that stainless and aluminium dont mix to well with engine case screws at least but i think if you copper grease them its ok that was the advice years back and may have changed now? get them zinc plated or what i have is a chemical blacking kit you can use at home and that stops corrosion. Caswell Inc in Lyons NY do them! https://youtu.be/iuwxcf9R5Q8

 

[RossLH]

Stainless steel and aluminum create a galvanic couple. This will cause corrosion problems far worse than what you are currently experiencing.

 

[Cooter]

Not just that, but they call stainless "butter bolts" for a reason. They are about a Grade 2 hardness, vs. the Grade 5 or higher you are replacing in those locations. They will also have a problem galling when you try to remove them. Get some good Lake Erie zinc plated hardware, and avoid the home depot crap you should be ok for much longer than a few years, even on a boat!

 

[snrusnak]

Ok thanks for that info. But the hardware I am using is OEM. I tried oem (I believe it's zinc plated)...? Then after the second set of that corroding rapidly I went with cheaper zinc plated from various sources (HD, ACE, online, etc) and they also corrode just as fast. I don't understand how my 05 buell with less than 15k miles has had multiple sets of hardware due to corrossion but my suzuki that had 30k some miles and was 9 years older never had similar issues.

 

[ToneTheMoan]

Another way is to buy a paint pen or a paint lacquer touch up (clear coat) and just run that over the bolt heads when needed while you find a solution? the black oxide does work though so take them all to your local plater if you dont want to DIY

 

[user_deleted]

this might sound hokey shawn but have had good luck with it thru the years and along the lines of what tony mentioned above. rustoleum makes a spray bomb paint called chrome silver. easily identifiable by the chrome cap on the spray can. when i'm detailing one of my buells i spray some of the paint into an old spray bomb cap or something similar, let it puddle up in the bottom of same, and with a small tipped hobby paint brush go around and touch up the heads of all the silver fasteners. works nicely and has great staying power. i also do it for the black headed torx and hex fasteners using semi-gloss black rustoleum.

 

[ToneTheMoan]

Thats a real good idea John i like that! also i found this (more expensive) stuff on www.theruststore.com it looks like you could use it on lots of things its called rust converter, you just paint it on and it does the rest!

 

[EricZ]

Stainless is fine for most all fasteners on the XB. I have replaced most of mine with 18-8 stainless and a few of the more critical ones with 316 fasteners, and many have been on the bike for over 10 years. If you are worried about galvanic corrosion.....don't be. You won't have any issue with it. If you still are worried, use some anti-seize on the threads.

 

[sewerman]

I have taken my stock bolts and put them in my drill press and polish them with mothers and #0000 steel wool. Then I cleaned them and sprayed them with clear. Some I replaced with chrome plated bolts cause I AM anal. I also use a small hobby brush and put gloss black enamel in the allen bolt heads. I think that looks good and contrasts nicely with polished items. Again I am very anal but my Bolt looks outstanding.

 

[Cooter]

snrusnak, where do you live? Is the corrosion problem from salty air or salty roads? I am surprised the OEM hardware is an issue so quickly, I haven't seen the problem with mine even living near the ocean.

I agree with what you guys say about painting slightly corroded bolt heads for a better aesthetic. Rustoleum is better than regular Krylon. If it's just the heads getting ugly, that's what I would do. Even a clear coat, anything to stop it from oxidizing. Something like POR-15 is a good idea and it comes in silver and black. It would totally solve the problem (that stuff is amazing!) but the finish is not pretty.

I don't think dissimilar metals will be a problem where your using them either. Typically thats only a 'big' problem when dealing with electrical currents and there shouldn't be any electrical flow through your forks!

IMO, you would be fine with 18-8 stainless for small brackets and body parts up to 1/4" but something like a caliper bolt or axle pinch bolt needs OEM hardness hardware (anti-seize the threads and paint the head). Stainless doesn't like flexing or heat cycles either, you'll be able to remove it...until you can't

FYI Minimum yield strength: Grade 5 is 92K psi vs. 18.8 stainless 20K - 65K psi "typical"
https://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-information/materials-and-grades/bolt-grade-chart.aspx