|
|
Cruiser
Posts: 135
Chesterfield, VA | I stripped out the upper left fork tube pinch bolt. Anyone have any suggestions on how to get the bolt loosened? It takes a 6mm allen and there isn't much room to work. I've tried everything I can think of, so I'm asking the experts. Hopefully I'm not the only one to have done this, and someone out there has a recommendation on loosening the bolt. |
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 324
New Orleans, La, | EZ out. |
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 482
Beer Collins, Colorado (there is no fort) | If you just buggerd up the the bolt head there's a couple of things that might work. Usually this is from having the allen wrench only partially in the bolt head -with a good 6mm try tapping it in 'till it bottoms out and try it again. You can also try tapping a torq/star bit into the opening and getting a good bite. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 135
Chesterfield, VA | Thanks for the recommendations. I've already thought about trying a torx/star bit, but the issue is the limited space available. Remember this is the fork tube pinch bolt on the UPPER triple tee, there is only about 4-5 inches of room to work in that area...makes using an EZ ot impossible and trying to tap/force a torx bit in difficult - if not impossible. |
|
| |
|
Central Wisconsin | You might want to take some of your fairing apart to get at the allen bolt. Start by taking your mirror off, speaker out and take out the speaker housing to access the problem bolt.
|
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 482
Beer Collins, Colorado (there is no fort) | Get one of these-they come in very handy on the Vision
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MINI-RIGHT-ANGLE-ANGLED-OFFSET-HAND-RATCHET... |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | That would be extremely handy when removing the headlight. You could easily get to the two screws that make the bulb change so difficult. If you don't know what I'm talking about, click this link and scroll down to the pics.
http://www.Vision-riders.com/bb/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=11259&st... |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 4278
| what a friend did once was masking tape all the surrounding metal and put grease around where he didn't want JB Weld to stick. He put a small amount on the end of a allen wrench and put in place he let it sit over night next day walked the bolt right out. He does have the wrench with bolt hanging on the wall.
I though it was clever idea
Your not in a good place to do anything. Good Luck
IF its the top triple tree you could pull it off
|
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 65
| When we used to strip out the head of an SAE allen we would wiggle a metric in as they are a little different size. It might work in reverse. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 251
Mechanicsville, VA United States | Bill I looked at my Vision and tried to turn my bolt and you're right, where's not enough room between the gas tank and the fork to do much. I think you're going to have to remove the console and the left side top tank cover all with the mirror and speaker cover. After that you still don't have much room to work but at least you won't tear up as much. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 208
Edmonton Alberta, Canada | Snap-on sells and I imagine some else out there has the same. Extractor set which would be about 1 inch long and you can put a socket or box end of a wrench on it. Has a tapered LH nub that pulls itself into the recessed hole. Should be able to purchase individually for about 5-6 bucks each. The best thing when using an extractor is a universal joint as it lets the extractor grab with out twisting the end in the same direction as the wrench. That way you're not having to try to steady the extractor end with your second hand. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 154
Danbury, Connecticut | If you have sprayed penetrating oil on the screw and it is in the cavity where the hex key goes, clean it out with some brake clean. If you can find valve lapping compound at an auto parts store, coat the tip of the hex key with the compound and try again. Lapping compound is like fine sand and it will give the bit some traction just like sand under your tire on ice. If the hex bit is worn at all, spring for a new one. This is if you haven't totally killed the screw head. If it is really screwed up you may want to consider professional help because it's a blind hole with minimal access short of some major disassembly. The more you leave a professional to work with, the better your chances. Don't keep digging to get out of the hole your in. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 135
Chesterfield, VA | Again, thanks for the suggestions. I've sprayed it down with some PB balster and plan to let it soak a couple days while I finish putting together the rear of the bike. I've also ordered a allen bolt extraction kit along with the offset hand rachet suggested by ByteN2it. I'll let you know how I eventually get it out... |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 108
Conneaut, OH | Try using a soldering iron to put some heat on the bolt if it has loctite on it the heat will help loosen it |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 68
LONDONDERRY NH | Take a one size bigger allen wrench and grind it down until it fits tight |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | How many miles do you have on the Vision? If it's over 50k or so, you might as well dismantle the front end and replace the steering head bearings. If you're gonna mess with it this much, you might as well go all the way. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 135
Chesterfield, VA | OK...so I got the stripped pinch bolt out last night. I was able to get a T40 star bit to fit tight enough in the head of the bolt to break it loose. Again, thanks for all the suggestions - sometimes it's just best to step away from the problem for a couple days and go back with a clear head.
Now on to my next issue, which is raising the fork tubes up in the triple T's. I started a new post on that in this forum. |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 4278
| Here is a tip put anti seize on hear of bolts so it never rusts or freezes in place. I said head of bolt |
|
| |
Help - Stripped fork tube pinch bolt