Stainless Bolts/Screws

[hampshirehog]

I used the word 'galvanised' as a derogatory term for the crap nuts and bolts that have been fitted to bikes for the last I don't know how many years. Galvanised over here usually refers to farm gates and dustbins.

Here's a previous thread on the subject:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=174771

[Normk]

I understand the reference now. Another interesting aspect of galvanized materials is that the plating seems to affect the surface hardness. Galvanized (zinc plated) Allen wrenches seem to be weaker than black finish. I may be wrong in this impression as it has only held consistently for the last 52 years during which I have been using them.

HIH

Norm

I used the word 'galvanised' as a derogatory term for the crap nuts and bolts that have been fitted to bikes for the last I don't know how many years. Galvanised over here usually refers to farm gates and dustbins.

Here's a previous thread on the subject:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=174771

[Hoosier Daddy]

Galvanized (zinc plated) Allen wrenches seem to be weaker than black finish. I may be wrong in this impression as it has only held consistently for the last 52 years during which I have been using them.

That's because the black is "Case Hardened"... basically heating them up super hot and quenching in oil. Changes the molecular structure so the ARE harder
The zinc coating is more rust prevention. It actually flows back into scratches and nicks to keep them from oxidizing.

You can get different grades of Stainless fasteners A2 and A4 are the most common. But as a standard, Socket head cap screws (allen bolts) have a higher tensil strength that a standard hex head.... and leaps and bounds better than a phillips head that some PO buggered all up!

[keman]

Hey Norm, nice Soap Box, only took you 52 years to build it. My soap box is a few years younger, but it's mine. I try to keep it to myself so other folks don't feel like I am putting them down.


As for the Stainless trend/bandwagon, Much like anything else in the world, the price is right and it's popular. The "damage" from using stainless with aluminum is highly over rated from what I have actually experienced. While most of us are not morons, and would not use SS for head fasteners or exhaust. It happens.
Damning stainless in general makes no sense. I ordered the Z1 complete set of SS bolts yesterday.

[hampshirehog]

I understand the reference now. Another interesting aspect of galvanized materials is that the plating seems to affect the surface hardness. Galvanized (zinc plated) Allen wrenches seem to be weaker than black finish. I may be wrong in this impression as it has only held consistently for the last 52 years during which I have been using them.

HIH

Norm

Norm, I don't want to put you down (and Keman has already tickled you for soapboxing) but nuts and bolts haven't metaphorically stood still for 52 years. If they had I would be using cycle thread and Whitworth on my bikes an awful lot more! And I hate working on Trumpets and Beezers- my feeble brain struggles with 3/8 spanners but I can see 11mm.

Now I don't pretend to know sod all about the physical or chemical content of SS stuff but suffice to say there's SS and there's SS and some of it's bloody obvious. I leave all the teccy stuff to the boys at Southampton or in The Marches (or Stainless Steve - he of that stupid hat) to sort for me. If you get the right SS you're ok. It is rare to see when somebody has got it wrong - heck I can't remember the last bike I saw that had problems with SS. But every week I see a bike that is in trouble and looks like pants because of the cheapo stuff the manufacturers sling on there just to save 10 bob.

[Normk]

OK, point taken. I will keep mine to myself also then as that seems to be what is wanted.

Posting takes effort and returns nothing so if you are offended I will stay away. Wouldn't wish anyone to be offended by trying to clear up myths expecially at the expense of rudeness.

As for exhausts, people install stainless there all the time, even from the factory. They also install brass, use split lockwashers, reuse nuts and on and on but it is likely that none of that is of interest either so stick with your myths.

Out of here,

Norm

Hey Norm, nice Soap Box, only took you 52 years to build it. My soap box is a few years younger, but it's mine. I try to keep it to myself so other folks don't feel like I am putting them down.


As for the Stainless trend/bandwagon, Much like anything else in the world, the price is right and it's popular. The "damage" from using stainless with aluminum is highly over rated from what I have actually experienced. While most of us are not morons, and would not use SS for head fasteners or exhaust. It happens.
Damning stainless in general makes no sense. I ordered the Z1 complete set of SS bolts yesterday.

[rustybronco]

As for exhausts, people install stainless there all the time, even from the factory.

Out of here,

Norm

Ford motor company uses stainless studs to attach their exhaust manifolds to the cylinder head on their 4.6, 5.4 and 6.8l engines. I didn't say it was a good idea, but some engineer at one time thought it was

sorry you're leaving so fast... most of the things you are suggesting have been presented and rehashed many times before. you'd be surprized what tid-bits you might be able to pick up if you'd stick around a bit. we're always glad to have someone who is willing to teach, discuss and learn, as it is with most of the rest of us.

Dale

[bccap]

Hey Norm, nice Soap Box, only took you 52 years to build it. My soap box is a few years younger, but it's mine. I try to keep it to myself so other folks don't feel like I am putting them down.

If that's the case. The above doesn't look very much like keeping it to yourself ! But thanks for alienating a new member, who was willing to share knowledge from an experienced career. I for one will very much miss his input.
Yours ? Not so much !

[hampshirehog]

As for exhausts, people install stainless there all the time, even from the factory. They also install brass, use split lockwashers, reuse nuts and on and on.......

Absolutely; nothing wrong with any of that. It's all about kowing what you have got and where you can use it.

Also I have to say that when you look at some of the stuff made out of metal by the manufacturer on some bikes and used in a critical area it does make you wonder how on earth it works. The poorest metal ever was used on some British bikes in the not-so-glory days of the early 70s and I have unwound countless wheel spindles that were only slightly stronger than Camembert (and I don't just mean the smell). This same metal has been recycled and is being used on the Chinese bikes attempting to flood the world - just how many versions of a Honda CG125 or Suzuki GS125 does the world need? The thing is, that '71 T120R has been through 26 owners, 24 of whom weighed 17 stone and treated the thing like crap, it's been over speed humps at a Smiths speedo indicated 140mph and has been hit by 24 lump hammers for every tyre change and yet that spindle has held up fine.

[JStones]

Wow, I hadn't come back to this thread in a while. I missed a lot. I ordered the SS ones from Z1 but they are just being used to replace the stripped 30 year old bolts on the covers etc.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Perfect application!

[Agemax]

all these stainless bolt thread application threads make me chuckle. i use SS bolts almost everywhere on my bike and not had one failure.
has anyone actually had a disaster caused by using SS fixings?

[keman]

OK, point taken. I will keep mine to myself also then as that seems to be what is wanted.

Posting takes effort and returns nothing so if you are offended I will stay away. Wouldn't wish anyone to be offended by trying to clear up myths expecially at the expense of rudeness.

As for exhausts, people install stainless there all the time, even from the factory. They also install brass, use split lockwashers, reuse nuts and on and on but it is likely that none of that is of interest either so stick with your myths.

Out of here,

Norm

I apologize if I came off a bit harsh. It was not my intent to make you go away.

[hampshirehog]

all these stainless bolt thread application threads make me chuckle. i use SS bolts almost everywhere on my bike and not had one failure.
has anyone actually had a disaster caused by using SS fixings?

Adrian, I've got some 100mm M8 SS Allen bolts you could try.....

I rescued them from one of those climbing walls - the towers with the nobbly bits of plastic on the side so you can pretend to climb Mt Everest. You can feel in your hand how light and rubbish they are and can snap them with a pair of mole grips. They're not stamped so I have no idea what grade they are. They haven't gone rusty though!

[Nessism]

all these stainless bolt thread application threads make me chuckle. i use SS bolts almost everywhere on my bike and not had one failure.
has anyone actually had a disaster caused by using SS fixings?

Do what you want but I wouldn't use run of the mill stainless bolts to replace a Suzuki bolt labeled with either a "7" or "9". Some of the better stainless bolts may be okay for high strength applications, but hardware store grade stainless is questionable as a "7" bolt replacement, and is definitely not appropriate to replace a "9" bolt.