Stainless bolt kits

[snrusnak]

Hey all I noticed after putting my bike back together (I had cleaned up all the hardware) the hardware is already rusting, just 2 weeks later. I thought it was all stainless but I guess not. Does anyone make a stainless bolt kit? Currently I'm primarily interested in triple tree bolts, fork pinch bolts, brake caliper bolts, control bolts(switches on handlebars), clutch and brake lever bolts. All the front end stuff basically.

Thanks.

 

[vtech007]

Look around for a fastener shop in your area (there are several not far from here). They are specialists and if they don't have the fastener you need in stainless they should be able to order it. Yeah, you'll want to bring them your samples so they can get an exact match on the styles and sizes. A safety caution about the brake caliper bolts, though - they may be made of a special metal that helps them hold their torque, preventing loosening.

 

[lvlark]

http://www.twinmotorcycles.nl/websh...=Buell_XB_UNC_Socket_Cap_Screws_Full_Bike_KIT

 

[snrusnak]

Look around for a fastener shop in your area (there are several not far from here).  They are specialists and if they don't have the fastener you need in stainless they should be able to order it.  Yeah, you'll want to bring them your samples so they can get an exact match on the styles and sizes.  A safety caution about the brake caliper bolts, though - they may be made of a special metal that helps them hold their torque, preventing loosening.

See I don't want to have to take my bike apart to go match up bolts though.....I was hoping there was a "kit" that someone sold. I thought I've seen them before.

 

[snrusnak]

Thanks for the link Mark, how much is that in US dollars?

That kit seems like it has many of the pieces I need. Maybe I will at least try to get the really "special" pieces from a local store, like the brake and clutch lever bolts. Then get a "kit" for everything else.

 

[lvlark]

it's 118,33 USD.
and here is a kit for the engine only
http://www.twinmotorcycles.nl/websh...Buell_XB_Stainless_Fastener_Kit_-_Engine_Only
and it's 59,16 USD.

 

[snrusnak]

Thanks for the info. Maybe the local store is better after all, at that price lol.

 

[lvlark]

try searching ebay.. i bourght a kit for the complete bike for around 50 usd a year ago..

 

[snrusnak]

ok thanks again.

 

[OldGeezer]

Hey snrusnak,

Stainless fasteners are really nice in some ways, but standard stainless fasteners aren't as strong as steel ones. Also stainless is a softer metal and the threads will deform far more easily if you overtorque them. The torque values given in the manual may not apply to the stainless fasteners you choose. The torque values are based on applying a certain tension to the fastener, said tension being based on the yield and tensile strength of the bolt material or material it is threaded into and because stainless fasteners are typically not quite as strong as grade 5 fasteners, if you torque them to the same value as a grade 5 or especially a grade 8 fastener they will deform and strip or jam. If you are threading them into aluminium then you're OK because the torque value will be based on the strength of the aluminium. But if you're threading them into a steel insert,or nut, you might have a problem.

So having said all that, I wouldn't use stainless to replace the fasteners that hold your brake components but I would use them (and have on my bike) to replace steel fasteners holding plastic body work or to replace the fasteners holding the primary cover etc. I wouldn't use stainless to replace the bolts holding the case halves together and definitely not to replace head bolts or engine mount bolts.

Also make sure the threads of the bolt and those in the hole it goes in are clean and use anti-seize. Any grit or dirt on the threads can cause the threads to seize or jam. I learned this lesson when I had to hack saw 48 1-1/2 dia. stainless bolts on a jobsite because windblown grit got into the threads… it was an explosive environment so no power tools were allowed or anything that could make a spark.

 

[Stevenc150]

Also stainless is a softer metal and the threads will deform far more easily if you overtorque them....So having said all that, I wouldn't use stainless to replace the fasteners that hold your brake components but I would use them (and have on my bike) to replace steel fasteners holding plastic body work or to replace the fasteners holding the primary cover etc. I wouldn't use stainless to replace the bolts holding the case halves together and definitely not to replace head bolts or engine mount bolts.

Well Said [up]

 

[snrusnak]

I do understand this about stainless. The more stainless it is, the softer it is. Like you said though, it should be ok threading into aluminum which is also soft. I think everything I want to change is threaded into aluminum or plastic. Even the brake caliper bolts thread to aluminum forks. I don't see an issue with this.

 

[OldGeezer]

Thank you Stevenc150.

Hey snrusnak, I wasn't trying to preach to the choir, just trying to keep you safe You're right, you are probably OK even with the brake caliper bolts, but I wouldn't take the chance myself. I'd be tempted to get some nice plated steel bolts instead for that specific use. If you know the bolt size, thread and length you can try Fastenal or other fastener sellers online. You might be amazed at the variety of specialty fasteners available online.

 

[snrusnak]

Thanks for the help. I'll see what I come up with... I'm just VERY frustrated that the hard work I went into cleaning up all my hardware (that I thought was stainless) is rusting 2 weeks later. Without even getting wet...

 

[OldGeezer]

I know what you mean, the first thing I did when I bought my bike was replace a whole bunch of rusty fasteners with stainless ones. I bought mine from Fastenal, but there are other companies that are equally well stocked and similarly priced. At least I hadn't spent a lot of effort cleaning the old fasteners up fist, I can imagine how annoyed you must be!

 

[snrusnak]

yeah I can honestly say that took more time than anything else. I thought it'd save time trying to match up bolts but I guess I have to do it anyway lol. I think there's a Fastenal around here, also a Daytona Nut and Bolt...

 

[OldGeezer]

Good luck, I've been following your build and it sounds and looks like you've done a great job on it

 

[snrusnak]

Thanks! I probably ought to start a build thread, since I just have all my progress spread over several threads....maybe I'll compile it when I get some free time. It's slow going but I'm doing it right and enjoying it

 

[OldGeezer]

It would be interesting to see all your work in one thread! No point in having toys if you don't have fun and play with them

Before you started the winter project you were having some trouble with your A/F ratio leaning out on you over time, did you ever figure out what the problem was or is that still on your to-do list?

 

[snrusnak]

Before you started the winter project you were having some trouble with your A/F ratio leaning out on you over time, did you ever figure out what the problem was or is that still on your to-do list?

I haven't done anything about this. I was going to go ahead and replace the intake seals as the next project, but I may not do anything now as the bike has been running better than ever since I started riding it again a few weeks ago. If it starts giving me issues again then I'm going to do the intake seals. I recently found out from another member you don't even have to rotate the engine to do the seals, so it's not nearly as daunting to me anymore, probably just a couple hour job on a saturday. I think I'll compile my progress into one thread over the weekend...