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Title: It Shouldn't Be This Hard! Post by: Serge C on October 28, 2011, 06,09:29 AM As part of this PE resto I'm doing, I decided to replace the 4 engine mounting bolts (and nuts). Suzuki recommend that at least the nuts be replaced whenever the motor is removed, but I figured with everything else looking pretty, I'd get new hardware all round.
So, off to Suzuki to get some, only to find that 2 are discontinued, and one is gonna cost $35.00!! And that's just for the bolt! I purchased the one that I could (or would) buy, and set off in ernest to find a bolt shop that carried flange bolts. How hard could that be? Very, apparently. After trying 4 different stores, they all said that no-one carries flangies. So I tried a few auto stores and similar places with no luck. Suddenly, that $35.00 bolt was starting to look good! I sat in front of the PC, and logged onto 'Parts Shark' to check some numbers, and found that a 1980 PE uses the same 2 bolts (that I'm trying to locate), although they are both 10mm longer. Well then, I'll buy them and cut them down. How hard can that be? Well, let me tell you! Firstly, the $35.00 (original) bolt was now gonna cost me about $6.00. Win! But it had to be ordered in. The 10mm bolt was in stock, so I took it to a mates place to cut some more thread into the shaft. Being longer meant that the thread wasn't where I wanted it to be. We spent about an hour looking for his 10mm x 1.25 die, and he eventually decided he'd lost it. No probs I said, I know someone else who will have one. How hard can that be? I called Robbo, and he looked, and looked and advised that he had a 10 x 1.0, a 10 x 1.5 and a 10 x something else (I'd given up the will to live by then!) So I went and saw Rob Balaz who didn't have a die set, but did have a gizmo for cleaning damaged threads. He said it would probably work, but didn't really want to try it in case it stuffed his tool. So he sent me to a mechanic mate of his who had the right tools and although he couldn't understand why I was bothering "on a $2 bolt", he got it done, and the PE now has ONE more new bolt. The 8mm bolt that I ordered is now ready for me to collect from Suzuki. I know it's 10mm longer than it should be, and that I will need to go through the whole process again, this time in 8mm sizing! Give me strength! Title: Re: It Shouldn't Be This Hard! Post by: Mat R on October 28, 2011, 06,33:42 AM I have a bunch of dies of various sizes, and a thread guage to tell what you should need. So call me when you get the 8 mm bolt.
Title: Re: It Shouldn't Be This Hard! Post by: Frankie-boy on October 28, 2011, 07,34:13 AM Hey Serge, who told ya that restoring an old bike was going to be easy. That's why most blokes that have restored bikes will never part with their pride & joy ;D
Title: Re: It Shouldn't Be This Hard! Post by: AL on October 28, 2011, 10,52:36 AM Here you go Serge.
Cwww.boltmotorcyclehardware.com www.keable.com.au www.probolt-australia.com www.parts4cars.com Blackwoods should also have them? But you will need the KY for the bill! Title: Re: It Shouldn't Be This Hard! Post by: Serge C on October 28, 2011, 11,12:13 AM Ooh! That Pro-bolt joint has got some sexy stuff! 8) Title: Re: It Shouldn't Be This Hard! Post by: Peter r on October 28, 2011, 11,16:41 AM Ooh! That Pro-bolt joint has got some sexy stuff! 8) Title: Re: It Shouldn't Be This Hard! Post by: Willbar on October 28, 2011, 11,54:23 AM It's funny how things in life can make stuff hard, the lady down the road always seems to make it hard 4 me ;D ;D
Title: Re: It Shouldn't Be This Hard! Post by: Serge C on October 28, 2011, 11,56:49 AM Somehow, we're gettin' off-topic.....again! ::) Title: Re: It Shouldn't Be This Hard! Post by: Peter r on October 28, 2011, 12,04:45 PM It's funny how things in life can make stuff hard, the lady down the road always seems to make it hard 4 me ;D ;D Lets not go there!!!Title: Re: It Shouldn't Be This Hard! Post by: MarcL on October 28, 2011, 10,07:44 PM Al started it with the KY reference.
Real men don't need KY .... ummmmmmmmmmm so i've been told ;) |