Rant about bolts

[Porsche Monkey]

I knew I was gonna catch grief over that. I don't think there are fasteners external to the engine that require red. Exhaust studs maybe? But certainly not regular maintenance items. And yes anything can be removed with the right tools. Hence the reason for this thread. 

[ducpainter]

I knew I was gonna catch grief over that. I don't think there are fasteners external to the engine that require red. Exhaust studs maybe? But certainly not regular maintenance items. And yes anything can be removed with the right tools. Hence the reason for this thread. 

To be honest my tech, the vet, uses red on rotor bolts.

He also heats them and uses an impact driver to remove them...it's not his first fall off the turnip wagon ya know.

[Porsche Monkey]

That's interesting. I shy away from using the red stuff on aluminum. Different strokes for different folks. 

[He Man]

Aluminum on the wheels? or aluminum bolt? Those bolts are mild steel.

I use red on them as well. Do you guys have a special way of heating the bolt. I've used both MAPP and Propane. Perfer propane pens better because it keeps the flame tiny and on the bolt, and not toward the rubber dust cover on the bike.

[ducpainter]

I use a heat gun on painted/anodized surfaces.

Usually creates less smoke.

[Speeddog]

My approach on rotor bolts is to give a few solid taps in the center of the bolt with a hammer and punch.
Then allen driver and breaker bar.
Been working good lately.

[Monsterlover]

I use this on just about everything.



Very few fasteners say no to this tool.

FWIW I took rotors off DP's old track bike with this and the bolts just zinged right out.

[jerryz]

many Ducati fasteners are made of cheese so I replace with better quality as required.

[Monsterlover]

I had to comment on the use of red loctite.

While putting my track bike back together I used red loctite on the rotor bolts.  I put a drop on the tip of the bolt and installed it.  For fun I backed one back out and the entirety of the threads were coated in red loctite.

I thought that in the situation where you don't want that to happen, but you only have red loctite on hand (like me) you can put a drop up near the head of the bolt.

That way only a portion of the threads get the loctite on them.

It works.

[ScottRNelson]

We're talking about something you hold in your hand and hit with a hammer. Not a pneumatic tool.

I have one of those that I picked up from Sears a few years ago.  I've probably only used it three times, but it's one of those must-have tools if you're going to work on bikes that have been around for a few years.  I normally use the tool for Phillips screws, but it works well for Allen-head screws too.

I put a jet kit in my XR650 carburetor a few weeks back and there were eight screws that were already worn by a previous owner.  Rather than risk stripping them further, I used the hammer and gave each screw just one hit.  Every one of them was loosened enough to get out that way.

I think the tool costs less than $20.