So I've been gradually replacing many of the bolts on my 695 with stainless ones. I've started with mainly M6 caphead stuff, so the belt covers, tank hinge mount, bolts holding the master cylinders to the bars, bolts holding the fuel cap on etc. Generally stuff that isn't highly torqued, as I'm aware that stainless bolts aren't as strong as high tensile steel (though are stronger than tinanium and aluminium).
So I'm thinking where do I draw the line? I'm eyeing the triple pinch bolts (M8 x 25 for the upper triple and M8 x 30 for the lower), the caliper mounts (M10 x 30), etc. My thought is that unless it's specifically marked 8.8/9.8/10.9 etc., I can go for it.
What are people's thoughts? I'm not trying to save a couple of grams, but just trying to reduce corrosion etc.
I've got SS bolts in my triples, IIRC.
Haven't changed the caliper bolts.
Folks here have changed bolts to SS and I recall next to no problems.
My bike hasn't spent much time near the beach, and it's stored indoors.
So, the non-SS bolts are holding up reasonably well.
From the customer bikes I see, that's the biggest issues.
I've also changed out the bolts in the triples. They aren't really torqued hard so I don't think there'd be a problem
Thanks for the suggestions. I've done the triple bolts, but will leave the caliper bolts be.
One that's hilarious is the bolt holding the horn on - it's an 8.8 rated M8 x 12 bolt, and a real flanged hex head, at that, held in with red loctite. Don't want that horn coming off now, do we?
Some more date. The chart at http://www.fastenal.com/content/feds/pdf/Torque%20of%20Metric%20Stainless%20Steel.pdf (http://www.fastenal.com/content/feds/pdf/Torque%20of%20Metric%20Stainless%20Steel.pdf) states maximum torque for M10 stainless bolts is 42 Nm. The corresponding figure for an M10 8.8 high tensile bolt is 50 Nm (from http://www.cncexpo.com/MetricBoltTorqueNm.aspx (http://www.cncexpo.com/MetricBoltTorqueNm.aspx)).
The recommended caliper bolt torque (from the FAQ) for the caliper bolts is 43 Nm. This is higher than the max suggested for M10 stainless bolts, so I'll stick with the high tensile bolts for my caliper mounts.
Hay Suz nice work
did that my self last year , big improvement on the crusty originals
I hope you are giving them a good lick of grease before winding them back in [thumbsup].
I switched to a mixture of Stainless and Titanium bolts on my S2R 800, Titanium for anything Vital
such as SSS hub pinch bolts or Brake parts, and Stainless for just about everything else, I never had
any problems with bolts stripping or working loose, and I replaced just about all of them.
The joys of commuting in Tropical Australia, Rain, heat and humidity! for 9 months of the year.
I now have 3 bags of corroded and rusty bolts in my tool box in the Garage (Kept them in case any
of the Stainless ones gave me any grief) I am going to throw them out one day!
i've used stainless bolts for my calipers.
there are different degrees of stainless, with varying shear strengths.
my caliper bolts are 316 stainless, i did the research a while back and the shear strength on 316 is well beyond that of the stock bolts. There are teh sexy too, mirror finish with a nice tapered head, like on a Ti bolt.
probolt-usa.com
Is there anywhere that has a list of bolt sizes? I'd like to start replacing mine with stainless, but dont know the sizes.
Quote from: CairnsDuc on June 09, 2010, 10:56:45 AMany
of the Stainless ones gave me any grief) I am going to throw them out one day!
NOOOOOOO! lemme give you my address ;D
Quote from: Mike Qube on June 10, 2010, 02:23:45 AM
Is there anywhere that has a list of bolt sizes? I'd like to start replacing mine with stainless, but dont know the sizes.
not really. you should be able to source a bolt measuring tool pretty easily. pro-bolt has a nice one.
i just pull the bolt, measure it up, put i back in, and order the new one.
Quote from: Mike Qube on June 10, 2010, 02:23:45 AM
Is there anywhere that has a list of bolt sizes? I'd like to start replacing mine with stainless, but dont know the sizes.
Let's see (while it's fresh in my head).
Belt covers: 2 x M6x16, the rest M6x20.
Clutch cover (wet clutch): Mix M6x20 and M6x25, plus 4 x M6x80.
Left-side cover: Mix M6x25 and M6x30.
Covers on top and sides of heads: M6x20.
Sprocket cover: M6x16.
Clutch slave: M6x16.
Rear brake master: M6x20.
Speedo sensor: M6x16.
Front Fender mounts: M6x16.
U frame to bottom triple: M6x20.
Bottom triple clamp bolts: M8x30.
Top triple clamp bolts: M8x25.
Brake and clutch master cylinder mount bolts: M6x25.
Throttle assembly: M6x20.
Handlebar mounts: M8x30.
The way I did it was just to have a bag a bag each of M6x16, M6x20, M6x25, and M6x30 stainless caphead bolts, pull a fastener, pick a replacement from one of the bags, dab a bit of grease on, and screw it in. Those four sizes will do 90% of the fasteners. You'll also need a handful of M8x25 and M8X30s, and a pesky four M6x80s.
I've done it all except for the four M6x80 bolts on the clutch cover. This isn't such a common size, so it looks like I'll have to order a bag.
http://www.boltdepot.com/product.aspx?cc=25&cs=81&cm=19&cd=1317 (http://www.boltdepot.com/product.aspx?cc=25&cs=81&cm=19&cd=1317)
The bolts are cheap, shipping isn't unless you have a decent order.
You can buy stainless bolt kits here:
http://www.monsterparts.com/c/Accessories/Accessories.html (http://www.monsterparts.com/c/Accessories/Accessories.html)
Quote from: howie on June 10, 2010, 07:35:43 PM
You can buy stainless bolt kits here:
http://www.monsterparts.com/c/Accessories/Accessories.html (http://www.monsterparts.com/c/Accessories/Accessories.html)
Picked up that bolt kit. It is all 304 stainless steel. I like it.