final drive drain bolt wont tighten

[kevxs]

hey guys, just changed my fluids today, went to torque the final drive drain bolt to 17flbs but it just keeps going round and round, did i wreak the threads? it wont come out either now

[TADracer]

Sight unsdeen, it sounds to me like you have stripped threads. Look inside the hole with a small mirror to see. If you need to repair the threads then you can remove the final drive and perhaps tap the hole the next size up and use a larger bolt and copper washer to make a new drain plug. Any cuttings from re-threading should be minimal and would not hurt anything inside the final drive since they will be small pieces of aluminum and all the gearing is steel.

[kevxs]

i can't find it now but I thought I read a post about putting in a larger self tapping bolt, is this an option? anyone know what size?

thanks again

[trbig]

Just take the plug to an ACE hardware or something that has the bolt assortments. Find a fine thread bolt that's just a touch bigger.. standard or metric.. and I would even spring the extra buck for stainless if it was me. Then go by just about any auto parts store and buy a crush washer (That's the copper washer tadracer mentioned) that fits that bolt. Those washers are usually in a metal bin behind the counter with the other brake parts. That aluminum is pretty soft and threads easily.

BUT.. I wouldn't get too awefully involved in it. You can probably pick up another F/D for 25 or 30 bucks.... or less.


Tod

[kevxs]

thanks, I want to avoid changing the FD as I don't have the tools or space to do so (city living )

[trbig]

LOL.. Yeah those four 12mm nuts that hold it on play heck with people..


Tod

[DGXSER]

If you can pull the rear wheel off, and have a 12 mm wrench and a 17mm wrench or socket, you can get the FD off.

If you need another, I have one laying in the garage I would be interested in parting with. I swapped out to the 750 FD and aint looking back.

[trbig]

What do you need the 17mm socket for? Unless you're talking about the shock nut. I forgot about that.

[DGXSER]

The nut that holds the left side shock onto the final drive.

[trbig]

Hee hee.... I type faster than a cripple! Woo hoo!!


Tod

[DGXSER]

Heck, I'm still typing two handed, I just can't lift any weight with the arm. So alot of other things are onehanded these days. Its surprising how much you can miss switching hands sometimes.

[kevxs]

i dont even have a jack to pull the wheel off

[trbig]

Center stand.


Tod

[DGXSER]

IF you have a centerstand and a jack stand to prop under the front frame rail, you can pull one of these bikes down to nothing but the frame. No jack required.

On my specials, I can put it on the centerstand, remove the rear wheel and then turn it on an angle and slide it out without even loosening or raising the rear fender.

[trbig]

On my specials, I can put it on the centerstand, remove the rear wheel and then turn it on an angle and slide it out without even loosening or raising the rear fender.

Pretty damned impressive for a one-armed guy, Don!!


Tod