Nuts and bolts

[euro518]

Hello all. I have a general question about removing and replacing nuts and bolts. In my quest to clean up my R26 I've purchased another set of nuts and bolts for the bike. The original ones were [unfortunately] ruined by an over zealous owner who took a wire brush to each and every one (or nearly so) and thus removed all the plating. This resulted over time in surface rust. Now for my question - can one reasonably remove, one at a time, and replace with new or are there some that should be left alone? The ones that hold the transmission and engine together and front engine cover are high on my list of 'should I'. As always, your opinions are welcome.

-Kevin
Saskatoon, Canada

[euro518]

[mekgyver]

Hi Kevin,
i think there is no prob to replace the screws, if you steps one after another at any place.
You're right in respekt for the the front cover, the sealing ist oilsucking paper, i see no prob.
One general working prob can be in turning the screws :
don't turn with too much torque a screw in an alu-thread,
please find out however, the max torque, easily with a friend who is a sucessfull long-time-screwer.
Taste and feel, exactly measure it, if you have a proper equipment,
but in that case, i surely don't have to write this lines. 

hoping to give good news,
best regards to you in canada, mek  

[guyfang]

Good morning Kevin,

There is a wonderful chart called the Torque Listing. For every size and type bolt, there is a listed "recomended" toque. Unless something different is listed in the work shop manual, this list is good, as a general rule. You should be able to find one in the internet, but if not, let me know and I will copy one from an Army manual, and send it to you. A torque wrench is something to consider buying. Or find a friend with one. You can get one in the internet at a decent price. Read the smart book on how to use it and you cant go wrong! As Mekgyver also said, be careful when screwing any fastener, (nut, bolt) into aluminum. Its easy to over torqe. Then putting in a thread repair kit is another hassle you dont want to learn about! I have found that using lock-tight, a thread sealent, (glue), is also a good idea. Its cheap, and it works. A few drops on the threads and tightn them up. Drys fast and you dont have to worry about it comming lose again. There is good info on how to use lock-tight in the internet. Get smart about it and you will be good to go. Removing bolts one at a time should be good. On an engine cover for instence, do not tighten them all the way up one at a time. Get them all snug, then torqe them all at once. So they are all to the right torqe, and there is a torqe patteren. But then you can read all about that in the internet. No reason to go into it here.

Take care, and keep the shiney side up!

Guy

[euro518]

Thanks. I do have the torque table and also a torque wrench. I'll probably end up borrowing a finer torque wrench though since mine is a generic wrench probably meant for larger bolts such as wheel lug nuts. I doubt whether they are very accurate with smaller nuts, particularly those on the front engine cover.

-Kevin

P.S. The northern gods are not being very kind this year. Another cold snap as the jet stream drops even further south. Tomorrow night it will fall to - 30 C again, 20 degrees below normal for this time of year.

[Kurt in S.A.]

Personally, I think a torque wrench for every occasion is a bit of overkill.  Certainly there are some nuts/bolts that require it, but for the most part, things just need to be snug.  A lot of the nuts/bults make use of waverly washers...these act to keep the nut/bolt from loosening.  I often tighten something and monitor the tightness of the joint over time...if it continues to remain tight, then enough was enough.

Just my two hundreths of a €....

Kurt

[guyfang]

Kevin,

Didn't mean to lecture, its a hold over from too long in the army. But now we know you have a torque wrench and how to use it. And Kurt is right, most fasteners don't need to be torqed. Frame bolts, mounting bolts, stuff like that. But for most things, good and tight, is good enough. Thats why I use loc-tight. You never need to worry about a fastener coming lose again. Or lock washers.

Later!
Guy

[euro518]

No offense taken Guy. I will use the loctite. Thanks again.

-Kevin