Topic: Bolts

[mdl91881]

In the process or rebuilding the 78 F cafe.  Im at the point where things can start going back together and have a few questions on the bolts. 

1. Difference in chrome plated vs. stainless steel?  Besides chome is more polished.
2. Can you switch the bolts from hex heads to allen heads?

im pretty much looking to replace all mounting bolts in the frame,swingarm,front fork,triple trees

[Jinxracing]

Saw this one slipping away and thought I'd put in my two cents, especially since I just finished ordering up a bunch of fasteners from McMaster-Carr.

1. Chrome is a bit shinier, but stainless doesn't chip and rust. The chrome bolt has the potential to be stronger (or weaker) than the stainless one, depending upon what type of bolt is under the chrome.
2. Absolutely, as long as you don't use a weaker bolt as a replacement.

If you're really interested in this stuff, I heartily recommend "The Nuts, Bolts, and Fasteners Handbook" by Carroll Smith. It's got everything you ever wanted to know (and some things you didn't) about nuts, bolts, rivets, AN fittings, etc. You'll amaze and/or bore your friends to death with everything you'll learn about fasteners. 

http://www.amazon.com/Fasteners-Plumbing-Handbook-Motorbooks-Workshop/dp/0879384069/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204274761&sr=8-3

[chopstar500]

In the process or rebuilding the 78 F cafe.  Im at the point where things can start going back together and have a few questions on the bolts. 

1. Difference in chrome plated vs. stainless steel?  Besides chome is more polished.
2. Can you switch the bolts from hex heads to allen heads?

im pretty much looking to replace all mounting bolts in the frame,swingarm,front fork,triple trees

Stainless can be polsihed to look close to chrome also. I have a local True Value hardware that has a WICKED selection of stainless hardware - check your local store, you might be surpised. Otherwise, there's a great source online: http://www.boltdepot.com/default.aspx

[Patrick]

And I think pretty much everyone on this forum has switched out their screws to socket head bolts. Harder to strip, easier to torque precisely and evenly.

[lordmoonpie]

Chromed bolts tend to be cheaper steel base bolts. Why would you bother chroming an expensive stainless steel bolt when you can polish the stainless bolt to be as shiny as chrome and it will never rust like the chrome inevitably will?

Go stainless and allen head throughout I say - saves loads of maintenance and tatty looks over the years

The thing to watch is that you put copper slip on the ones that go in places where you want to take them out again at some point and they're not going into steel - slows the chemical bonding reaction with things like alloys that will make them hard to remove over time.

[mdl91881]

Thanks for all the info.  I know most people have changed the motor bolts to allen head, but what about motor mounts, brakes, triple tree ect..

Thanks again for all the input!

[Patrick]

I even have stainless allen head bolts holding my head light in the bucket, so I say change as many as you can.