Oil cap bolt is stripped, what now?

[1_v8_merc]

I went to change the oil today, and there are 3 nuts that hold on the Oil Filter Cap, they came off fine.

However i went to put the cap back on and tighten the 3 bolts and ONE of them just hit a flat spot, it just wont get any tighter.

Do they make tap kits this small so i can re-thread the bolt or what?
(the nut requires a 10mm currently)


Is there any way to insert a new bolt?
Or if it safe to just re-thread the current bolt.

BTW: One of the Other bolts looks like it's getting flat in the middle too! The top bolt looks perfectly fine though.....


Anybody have any ideas?

 

[hampshirehog]

You can unscrew the studs and replace with new. The best way to get the old studs out is to use the 2 nut trick and maybe a bit of heat.

 

[tkent02]

I went to change the oil today, and there are 3 nuts that hold on the Oil Filter Cap, they came off fine.

However i went to put the cap back on and tighten the 3 bolts and ONE of them just hit a flat spot, it just wont get any tighter.

Do they make tap kits this small so i can re-thread the bolt or what?
(the nut requires a 10mm currently)


Is there any way to insert a new bolt?
Or if it safe to just re-thread the current bolt.

BTW: One of the Other bolts looks like it's getting flat in the middle too! The top bolt looks perfectly fine though.....


Anybody have any ideas?

These should be studs coming out from the case, they are easy to replace.
Suzuki carries them or any decent hardware store, Fastenall, etc.
Get new nuts too so you don't ruin the new studs, and don't crank them down too tight.
Finger tight putting the studs in, then the nuts go just a few inch pounds of torque, it's not much.

 

[1_v8_merc]

Okay guys, thanks, yep they take new bolts/studs, didnt notice that at first.

Part of the problem was the Nut was very flat and no thread on half of it.
I went out and bought new nuts and added some washers on there too.

It holds tight!

Anybody happen to know the torque specs for these bolts?
(you said just a few inch pounds right?)

I tried checking a few online manual websites, but no dice so far.


Thanks guys.

 

[posplayr]

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

 

[Speedo]

I also like to use a drop or so of blue loc-tite exactly because you do not want to over torque and risk stripping the nut or stud (as you now know and as I too know since it happened to me as well).

Blue LocTite is absolutley your friend if you own a motorcycle. Use it on almost everything - if you take it apart, locktite it when u put back together (use ur head tho...like NOT battery or anything and by all means BLUE and NOT RED (permanent thread locker) for almost everything).

 

[salty_monk]

You don't need loctite on these... the cover is sprung mounted (spring between cover & filter). This serves the same purpose as lock washers by keeping constant tension on the threads so they can't loosen off.

Dan

 

[Speedo]

true and good point (although blu locktite would certainly not hurt anything). Two things come to mind now that saltymonk has chimed in: 1)make sure you have a sound ring gasket (looks like a crazy big curvy O ring) and 2)make sure you have that gasket correctly laying in grooves for it in the cover. Or things will leak.

I stand (sit?) corrected as far as locktite on oil filt cover, but besides that, i stand by my comment. blu loctite is your friend.

 

[salty_monk]

:lol: it won't hurt & yes - blue loctite is your friend for most things apart from clutch basket nuts & sprocket nuts, then red is better...

Dan

 

[Agemax]

:lol: it won't hurt & yes - blue loctite is your friend for most things apart from clutch basket nuts & sprocket nuts, then red is better...

Dan

loctite is not required for these two nuts if the lock washers are used correctly

 

[salty_monk]

Suzuki didn't require it... but they always loosen off even right from new so I heard. The ones I've done with both red loctite & the lock washer seem to have been fine.

I guess like blue loctite on your oil filter cover bolts it's personal choice....

Dan

 

[SqDancerLynn1]

I like to use my 1/4" sockets for stuff like that. The oil filter cover requires a flat washer under the acorn nut. Quite often it is missing, then the nut is overtightened

 

[drejal]

sorry to just come barging in here, first official post.

I've got a 1979 GS 550L,and have found most of my answers in the forum here without having to post, **BUT** I just did the same thing as described in this thread, overtightened the acorn nut on the filter cover. Would someone mind explaining exactly what it is that I can buy to replace the stud?

I get that the stud is replaceable, but is there a specific name that I should ask for at the hardware store? I've never had to do this before so I want to get it right the first time. (also, a specific size might be helpful)

Also, am I correct in assuming that the "two nut trick" described earlier in the thread is to thread two nuts onto the stud so that the outer acts as a lock nut so that the inner can be turned, thus unscrewing the stud?

Thanks in advance

dre

 

[bwringer]

sorry to just come barging in here, first official post.

I've got a 1979 GS 550L,and have found most of my answers in the forum here without having to post, **BUT** I just did the same thing as described in this thread, overtightened the acorn nut on the filter cover. Would someone mind explaining exactly what it is that I can buy to replace the stud?

I get that the stud is replaceable, but is there a specific name that I should ask for at the hardware store? I've never had to do this before so I want to get it right the first time. (also, a specific size might be helpful)

Also, am I correct in assuming that the "two nut trick" described earlier in the thread is to thread two nuts onto the stud so that the outer acts as a lock nut so that the inner can be turned, thus unscrewing the stud?

Thanks in advance

dre

You need a 6mm stud (6mm is the thread diameter, 1mm is the thread pitch) and it needs to be at least 32mm long.

 

[Larry D]

sorry to just come barging in here, first official post.

I've got a 1979 GS 550L,and have found most of my answers in the forum here without having to post, **BUT** I just did the same thing as described in this thread, overtightened the acorn nut on the filter cover. Would someone mind explaining exactly what it is that I can buy to replace the stud?

I get that the stud is replaceable, but is there a specific name that I should ask for at the hardware store? I've never had to do this before so I want to get it right the first time. (also, a specific size might be helpful)

Also, am I correct in assuming that the "two nut trick" described earlier in the thread is to thread two nuts onto the stud so that the outer acts as a lock nut so that the inner can be turned, thus unscrewing the stud?

Thanks in advance

dre

Welcome !!

Honestly.......I'd just order them from partshark or one of the other parts places. Figure out some other little do-dads you need to make it worth the shipping. Maybe new acorn nuts and a few oil cover o-rings. To me, I'd rather order them, have them delivered to my door and not have to run all over the place trying to locate them.......but, that's just me. And yes...that's the trick for removing the studs.

 

[drejal]

Excellent!

Just placed the order. Thanks for all the help!

 

[2BRacing]

You don't need loctite on these... the cover is sprung mounted (spring between cover & filter). This serves the same purpose as lock washers by keeping constant tension on the threads so they can't loosen off.

I have also been caught out by these little studs / acorn nuts. I change the oil when hot, and did not use proper hand protection when tightening the nuts. The spring between cover and filter results in you having to use quite a bit of force when tightening the nuts - and this leads to stripped threads on the studs.

After replacing all 3 studs (even though only one had stripped) I now use gloves, and always press the cover firmly against the force of the spring, so that it is flush against the filter housing. Now the 3 acorn nuts can easily be turned in all the way using your other hand, and then just tightened snugly.

There is now no need to exert any large force on these relatively small fasteners.

 

[Steve314159]

On a related note, I was in Advance Auto Parts buying something for my car and the guy said, "Anything else?" And I half jokingly said an oil filter for my 1980 GS550 and darned if they didn't have one. $4.50 including the funny shaped gasket. You might try them next time you change your oil.

 

[drejal]

SO....

After dealing with the stripped stud, ordering 3 new studs/washers/nuts to fix the problem....

I'm sure I have the cover on tight enough, I'm afraid to really crank down on the nuts, because that just causes the problem i just fixed, but there is an ever-so-slight oil leak coming from the oil filter cover.

Has anyone had this problem? In the morning, I'll come out and look under the bike to find about a teaspoon of oil has dripped underneath. I've ridden a couple times, and noticed as soon as i stop, there is a drop of oil on the ground. (so I'm sure it's dripping as it runs) Does it just sound like the O-ring is shot? (I have had the cover off a few times due to the stripped nut problem)

Just wondering if the process of removing/replacing the cover a few times is known to kill the o-ring, or if anyone has encountered any other leaking issues like this?