A
apopleptic
Guest
OK, to start with, I ordered the SS screw set from Z1 and ended up having I think 5 bolts left over that weren't required.
This replaced most of the bolts on the engine with shiny new SS hex head fasteners.
So I then went on to locate all the ones that hadn't been replaced, including the cam chain tensioner bolts, one of which broke. and the handlebar bolds and the caliper slide bolts. and the electrical panel screws and the airbox screws. all the carb screws. basically, my goal is to not have a single Phillips head screw or plain bolt on the bike when finished.
Pete was helpful enough to remind me (call me out on) that SS isn't really any grade of hardness and that I maybe shouldn't replace anything heavy duty with SS. example stated was the cam chain tensioner. More on my mind though is the caliper. I usually brake with the rear more than the front and don't do much of that really, however I find the thought of shearing off the bolts and losing the front brake or handlebar for that matter(or engine) rather terrifying.
So I started researching. alot of the bolts are stamped with '7' on their heads. this makes me think that 12.9 grade bolts should be more than sufficient for replacing the load bearing bolts. I recently stumbled upon what seems to be a relatively cheap source of 12.9 grade chrome hex head fasteners which seem like they would be perfect for the caliper bracket and the engine mount bolts. but what about the bolts that hold the handlebars on? or the controls?
or the sissy bar? the shifter?
the question is, which bolts do you think really need the harder bolts and which is SS sufficient for? Should I be looking for 8.8 or 10.9 instead? nothing for sale anywhere seems to be stamped with a 7, especially when you are doing the hex heads
PS my favorite ones so far were the screws for the master cylinder reservoir. Want to know why? because I would have been riding my bike this whole time if I hadn't messed with the screws in it and had that spark the entire rebuild of the bike during riding season.
This replaced most of the bolts on the engine with shiny new SS hex head fasteners.
So I then went on to locate all the ones that hadn't been replaced, including the cam chain tensioner bolts, one of which broke. and the handlebar bolds and the caliper slide bolts. and the electrical panel screws and the airbox screws. all the carb screws. basically, my goal is to not have a single Phillips head screw or plain bolt on the bike when finished.
Pete was helpful enough to remind me (call me out on) that SS isn't really any grade of hardness and that I maybe shouldn't replace anything heavy duty with SS. example stated was the cam chain tensioner. More on my mind though is the caliper. I usually brake with the rear more than the front and don't do much of that really, however I find the thought of shearing off the bolts and losing the front brake or handlebar for that matter(or engine) rather terrifying.
So I started researching. alot of the bolts are stamped with '7' on their heads. this makes me think that 12.9 grade bolts should be more than sufficient for replacing the load bearing bolts. I recently stumbled upon what seems to be a relatively cheap source of 12.9 grade chrome hex head fasteners which seem like they would be perfect for the caliper bracket and the engine mount bolts. but what about the bolts that hold the handlebars on? or the controls?
or the sissy bar? the shifter?
the question is, which bolts do you think really need the harder bolts and which is SS sufficient for? Should I be looking for 8.8 or 10.9 instead? nothing for sale anywhere seems to be stamped with a 7, especially when you are doing the hex heads
PS my favorite ones so far were the screws for the master cylinder reservoir. Want to know why? because I would have been riding my bike this whole time if I hadn't messed with the screws in it and had that spark the entire rebuild of the bike during riding season.
