What do you guys think about switching to allen head bolts?

[etpetnel]

I like the allen heads myself, but understand that some people want to remain original. Years of struggling with philips screws is the reason I prefer the allen type.
The only negative I can think of when using them is that you could overtighten them more easily than philips.

 

[Macmatic]

I got a kit for a GS450 from Z1 and I wasn't that happy with it. It wasn't BAD mind you but for a few bucks more I could have gotten a much more complete kit from the French guy on ebay.
The most notable thing was the lack of two recessed head screws for the clutch rod adjuster cover on the sprocket cover. The ebay kit shows them but the Z1 kit does not have them. The ebay guy also shows very explicitly what fasteners come in each kit.

Next time I'll try one of the ebay kits and see how that turns out.

/\/\ac

 

[motocycle shawn]

bolts

bolts

just did my hole motor love it!
i have the ebay kit.. now i love it but i feel i was shorted washer with this kit.
for the out side head bolts i'm working with a place here in town for build a better kit. one with hearer bolts and ones
for the shifter clutch arm and any thing else i can think of. i can polish them my self on my high speed polisher

love it build it ride it!

 

[tas850g]

That was one of the first changes i did when i got my bike. Now i'm putting SS allen head's just about everywhere i can. Even one the tank badges. As mentioned, make sure you put a little anti-seize on them.

 

[GabrielGoes]

That was one of the first changes i did when i got my bike. Now i'm putting SS allen head's just about everywhere i can. Even one the tank badges. As mentioned, make sure you put a little anti-seize on them.

wd40 count as anti-seize?

 

[Yogi 1]

No WD-40 is only a water dispersant and penitrant it will dry up after a short while you need to get some copper based anti-seize paste available at any auto parts store.Yogi

 

[sschering]

I put them every where I could on my Yamaha..
I even got some little 3mm SS button heads for the turn signal lenses.

 

[seano]

Who's the "French guy on Ebay"?

 

[Mike]

I've been replacing them as I go. Carb now has all allen bolts and the intake boots are next.

 

[850 Combat]

I like to replace the ones near the handlebars as well, switch pods, mirror mounts, etc. I changed out the triple clamp top and bottom triple clamp pinch bolts too. The only place I could find with the 10mm SS acorn nuts was dmp enterprises inc. http://dmpfasteners.com/ I still like to pick up the occasional replacement SS fastener at Ace, True Value, or my local Farmers Co-Op store, they are way expensive that way. The Ace in Tillamook now sells polished stainless.

For 20 bucks, I think the Z1 kit is great. The more complete kit is like 30 bucks as I recall, and some of the additional bolts I already had changed anyway (intake boot and exhaust).

 

[Monty]

Am I the only one that can't find the kit on Z1?

Edit: Nevermind. Found it. I didn't see the link at the top.

 

[detorn]

Edit: Nevermind. Found it. :

link? cause I'm still not seeing anything but single bolts

 

[1_v8_merc]

I think 90% of the problem with stripped Phillips case & cover bolts is using the wrong tool for the job.. That or just plain worn out drivers..

First off the Japanese Phillips (JIS) is not the same as a US spec Phillips screw.
Using a US spec driver on a JIS screw is a great way to strip out the heads..
The US drivers will not fully seat in the JIS head..

The JIS slot was designed to not cam out like the US Phillips so with the right driver they grip extremely well.. So well it's possible to snap the heads off the smaller screws.

People usually look at me like I'm nuts when I bring this up.. It's one of those things you'll just have to try for yourself.

The Chinese appear to be following the JIS standard.. The drivers work great on all the kids toys. They have become the most used screw drivers in the house.. I need to get a 2nd set because my wife keeps borrowing them.

The next point is size..

The 6mm bolts (case, covers, carb holders) take a #3 driver..
the smaller ones like the gauge cluster and headlight bolts take a #2
#1 is good for the turn signal cover screws.

Search for JIS on McMasterCarr.. They have a nice set of #1-#4 JIS drivers for $15

Even with the right drivers I went ahead and replaced any bolt I can with stainless socket head bolts. ( Allen drive) as they are just easier to work with.

X2!!!

I use Phillips or Flathead for everything.

The key is to have a good solid set of screwdrivers
(use US drivers with US replacement bolts)

The other key is to convert to straight stainless steel....no zinc!
(The stock screws are %50 steel and %50 zinc, or so....which means they strip EASILY and deform easily! )


I went to Lowes, bought stainless steel bolts for my Carbs, and my Craftsman screwdrivers fit PERFECT......NEVER had a single problem.


Allen/Hex screws scare the **** out of me.....I replace them any chance I get!


Atleast if I somehow strip a Phillips or Flathead.....I got 8 million different screw driver sizes laying around......easy fix.

 

[mike_of_bbg]

link? cause I'm still not seeing anything but single bolts

http://www.z1enterprises.com/detail.aspx?ID=2489

It's in the engine section for your model (I assume you're speaking of your GS1000G)

 

[mike_of_bbg]

I've seen a higher % of stripping in allen bolts than in philips head screws. Probably not much of a risk if you're properly torquing them down though; side covers don't take too much force.

 

[JEEPRUSTY]

I've seen a higher % of stripping in allen bolts than in philips head screws. Probably not much of a risk if you're properly torquing them down though; side covers don't take too much force.

The quality of the hex head bolts is bad. The kits I see look like mass produced crap. There is a very good cost related reason that japanes makers chose screws.

A quality allen head bolt has no discenible slop in it. The cheap ones do and are to be avoided.

 

[gothera]

anti-sieze

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/LOCTITE-Anti-Seize-Compound-1LLT8?Pid=search

thats what i use, take off cap and roll threads on top of stick and screw um in,. a must for ss screws

 

[bigbill808]

i have replaced 99% of my srews with ss hex bolts and i highly recommend it. i use marine grade copper anti size with all my bolts and never had an issue with stuck bolts or rusty threads.....

 

[iampocket]

This may seem like a stupid question but here goes...I've stripped out too many factory bolts on my GS1000 and am going to replace them with stainless, but my Dad said I may have to adjust the torque applied to the bolts because of the change. Does this sound valid to anyone? Can anyone reassure me that they have done the same thing and used the Clymber Guide recommended torque without any problem?

 

[cowboyup3371]

Iampocket,
Welcome to the forum. You'll get lots of great information here that can help you out with that bike from a ton of great folks here. However, you might want to start your own thread in one of the technical forums (General Maintenance for this one probably) so you get a quicker response.

With that said, I haven't tried this but will soon since I just replaced all of my valve cover bolts and all others are now mostly hex or allen head bolts and I just hand-tighten plus a little.