Subframe bolt upgrade

[Britman]

Do I have to buy a kit for crazy $$$ or does one of you fine chaps know the size of the bolts needed so I can get them from the hardware store?

[XDragRacer]

Originally Posted by Britman

Do I have to buy a kit for crazy $$$ or does one of you fine chaps know the size of the bolts needed so I can get them from the hardware store?

Do what you want to do, Britman!

The "crazy $$$$" is about $ 5 for a four-bolt kit.

Why not measure your own subframe bolts, and then sift through the bins at the hardware store to buy replacements to your liking?

The three-bolt kit's somewhat different, but . . . find yourself a 3/8" or so bolt and nut of the proper length and grade, and . . . you're in business--might buy a couple of drill bits, too, while you're at it.

Eagle Mike et al have assembled compatible kits of known effectiveness, sold at nominal prices IMHO, but . . . if you find saving the few pennies you might by DIY hardware store bin grazing sufficiently important, more power to you.

[gbynum]

Originally Posted by XDragRacer

Why not measure your own subframe bolts, and then sift through the bins at the hardware store to buy replacements to your liking?

And whether you buy from someone who has a proven record, or DIY, DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT have threaded portions loaded in shear.

[Britman]

Originally Posted by XDragRacer

Do what you want to do, Britman!

The "crazy $$$$" is about $ 5 for a four-bolt kit.

Why not measure your own subframe bolts, and then sift through the bins at the hardware store to buy replacements to your liking?

The three-bolt kit's somewhat different, but . . . find yourself a 3/8" or so bolt and nut of the proper length and grade, and . . . you're in business--might buy a couple of drill bits, too, while you're at it.

Eagle Mike et al have assembled compatible kits of known effectiveness, sold at nominal prices IMHO, but . . . if you find saving the few pennies you might by DIY hardware store bin grazing sufficiently important, more power to you.

Thank you for your so helpful and informative reply. Having only found the following I thougt the applied knowlege base of this forum would be of assistance.

$39.95 http://www.whitehorsepress.com/produ...oducts_id=6177
$49.95 http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Bran...pgrade_kit.htm

I look forward to any other replies you may make to any questions I may have in the future.

[Britman]

Originally Posted by gbynum

And whether you buy from someone who has a proven record, or DIY, DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT have threaded portions loaded in shear.

Thanks.

[TrevorHeath]

Number 1 source for functional upgrades for this bike including high strength subframe bolts is Eagle Mike

[NVGTI]

Originally Posted by Britman

Thank you for your so helpful and informative reply. Having only found the following I thougt the applied knowlege base of this forum would be of assistance.

$39.95 http://www.whitehorsepress.com/produ...oducts_id=6177
$49.95 http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Bran...pgrade_kit.htm

I look forward to any other replies you may make to any questions I may have in the future.

Go the the "vender" page of this site, find "Eagle Manufacturing"....never mind, go here: http://www.eagle-m-e.com/productlist.htm

If you decide to order from him, go the the "home" page of his site, find his phone number and call him.

[XDragRacer]

Originally Posted by Britman

Thank you for your so helpful and informative reply. Having only found the following I thougt the applied knowlege base of this forum would be of assistance.

$39.95 http://www.whitehorsepress.com/produ...oducts_id=6177
$49.95 http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Bran...pgrade_kit.htm

I look forward to any other replies you may make to any questions I may have in the future.

Appreciate the acknowledgement, but not sure I communicated 100 % effectively, Britman; because . . . your research did not disclose the $ 5 4-bolt upgrade kit (marketed by the excellent source, Eagle Mike, et al).

I have the 4-bolt kit; surely not as strong as the 3-bolt upgrade, but--$ 5 and 10 minutes and its done (oh, yes; this approach requires some thread-locker also--used Lock-Tite RED; they ain't coming out without a struggle!).

Could I have beat $ 5 at the local hardware store? Maybe, but . . . bolts the EXACT length and EXACT grade, with the Allen-head bolt heads might be hard to find; plus . . . the washers, or spacers, for the lower bolts would require some minor additional provisioning . . .

Same for a 3-bolt kit; DIY component shopping might save some money, but . . . purpose-selected drill bits, etc., already in the box, would be worth some money to me, and--as mentioned by gbynum, no thread-weakend shear-stress points.

Best wishes on your subframe bolt upgrade; let us know what you decide and how it turns out!

[cdoe]

Eagle Mikes drill through kid was $25 (at least when I did it... $$$ now?, but can't be much different) and was such an easy job.

[Scott_Rides_Again]

Not so easy if you are not skilled with a drill. You have to keep oil on the bit while drilling or you will burn up bits.

Also, keep the fuel and vent lines clear. Shavings can fall into them as well. Don't ask me how I know.

[Blackheart]

Originally Posted by Scott_Rides_Again

Not so easy if you are not skilled with a drill. You have to keep oil on the bit while drilling or you will burn up bits.

Also, keep the fuel and vent lines clear. Shavings can fall into them as well. Don't ask me how I know.

AND...use low rpm's on the drill. Don't get impatient, or you'll heat it up and dull it.

[Scott_Rides_Again]

Originally Posted by Blackheart

AND...use low rpm's on the drill. Don't get impatient, or you'll heat it up and dull it.

Ya, in general, mostly if it's smoking a lot, you are going to fast or not using enough oil..

[Britman]

Originally Posted by NVGTI

Go the the "vender" page of this site, find "Eagle Manufacturing"....never mind, go here: http://www.eagle-m-e.com/productlist.htm

If you decide to order from him, go the the "home" page of his site, find his phone number and call him.

Thanks. I ordered them and installed them.

[ttpete]

Originally Posted by gbynum

And whether you buy from someone who has a proven record, or DIY, DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT have threaded portions loaded in shear.

I notice this doesn't seem to have created ANY interest. So, I'm going to say it again, only louder:

DO NOT EVER HAVE THE THREADED PORTION OF A BOLT IN A SHEAR PLANE WHERE IT HAS TO BEAR A LOAD. NEVER.

The notch formed by the thread is a stress riser, and a crack WILL propagate from that point. This is why aircraft (AN) bolts are available in 1/16" increments of length, and have just enough thread length to support a nut.

Buy a bolt long enough that the solid shank extends through both shear planes and cut some of the threaded part off to get the correct length. Or just use a proper AN bolt.

[NVGTI]

Originally Posted by ttpete

I notice this doesn't seem to have created ANY interest. So, I'm going to say it again, only louder:

DO NOT EVER HAVE THE THREADED PORTION OF A BOLT IN A SHEAR PLANE WHERE IT HAS TO BEAR A LOAD. NEVER.

The notch formed by the thread is a stress riser, and a crack WILL propagate from that point. This is why aircraft (AN) bolts are available in 1/16" increments of length, and have just enough thread length to support a nut.

Buy a bolt long enough that the solid shank extends through both shear planes and cut some of the threaded part off to get the correct length. Or just use a proper AN bolt.

Noted, Thanks!