Topic: stainless bolts

[bert96]

 Where can i find these bolts in stainless(#18) 

[750essess]

I tried to find those at one time also, they are 10mm by 1 thread shouldered IIRC. They hard to find just plated too. I got plated ones from fastenal, but they didnt have stainless. The plated ones also had a bigger head on them also.

[BobbyR]

You can try McMaster-Carr, but youwill have to buy more than one. If yours are rusty you can wire brush them and paint them.

[bert96]

 I also find them zinc plated,it's better than my old one but it's not the best,i don't like rust

[750essess]

Me either, I replaced all could get with stainless on my bike.

[bert96]

I've just check McMaster-carr they have it in stainless but with 1.50 thread pitch and i think the bolts i want are 1.25

[Steve F]

 Where can i find these bolts in stainless(#18) 

Had a hard time finding them anywhere, but got some "flanged hex head" in zinc plated.  Best I could do.  No socket head anywhere.  Seems Honda (or NISSIN) had them made special.

[bert96]

I know i can have them on YAMIYA  site but at $20 each!!! i think i will stay with my zinc plated until i find them cheaper

[SteveD CB500F]

Be very careful when replacing high tensile steel bolts with stainless as the material is not as strong as HT steel. This could be very important in applications such as the two bolts you describe.

Having said that, the bolts screw into a piece of aluminium - hardly the stongest of materials.

Read the FAQs put up by the major suppliers. Here's one from Inox in the UK:

If Stainless isn’t as strong as high tensile steel is it going to be strong enough?
This is our MOST faq. Firstly it should be made clear that if for whatever reason you require high tensile (HT) bolts you should use original equipment. Secondly if we believed a bolt was not strong enough for a particular application we would not sell it to you. HT steel is used by factories because it is cheap, convenient and saves assembly time. We ran a motorcycle fitted with standard A2 bolts on discs and fork castings etc which were tested on a daily basis for many months and found no problems whatsoever. Not really a surprise when you consider both the hub and the yokes are low tensile cast alloy - the threads on the fastener are actually stronger than the threads in the material. If you need further reassurance - in the seven years we have been selling stainless we have not had a report of a single failure because the bolt wasn’t strong enough

You'll note that they cover themselves by firstly advising that you use OEM - then go on to say that their SS bolts are better!

Any metallurgists out there care to comment?

[Steve F]

Are you're not missing the bolts, I would consider re-plating them if you're looking to keep the original "look".  I might have this done at a later time, but for now, the flanged hex head zinc plated bolts are working out fine for me.

[BobbyR]

I am nit a metallurgist but I work in the Railcar Industry and we by law must use graded bolts and give stated torque values for each bolt. We build the cars using a high tensile stainless. However, all of our critical fasteners are grade 8 plated steel bolts. In my own case I simply cleaned mine up and reused them for that reason. You can get graded SS bolts, but they are very expensive. For this application you can properly sized SS bolt and be fine. They are huge bolts, Honda did not kid around on those babies. I would just clean them and paint if needed. 

[Gregorymoto]

Yes they will be strong enough
Tacoma Screw Products Incorporated

(206) 632-7565
3930 Leary Way NW
Seattle, WA 98107

SOCKET HEAD CAP SCREW , they have ss cost you about 2.00 each if i remember right.

Good luck
G. Mountain