Where to find case bolts?

[renobruce]

I'm about to put my GS1000 motor back together. I'd like to find some new case bolts. Shouldn't I use new ones? I've looked, but can't find anyone selling the flange head bolts like came stock. Is there something different I can use? I'd even spend extra for chrome or stainless.

[Suzuki_Don]

I bought flange type 6mm bolts for my tappet cover from my Suzuki dealer in Adelaide. So I imagine they are available in the States. Just make a list and record the correct lengths and get them from your local Suzuki dealer.

[Tarbash 27]

I bought one of those stainless allen bolt kits from z1 enterprises and there great. Better than philips head screws. Never was able to find hex head kit. Ace hardware maybe.

[renobruce]

I bought one of those stainless allen bolt kits from z1 enterprises and there great. Better than philips head screws. Never was able to find hex head kit. Ace hardware maybe.

What I'm after are the ones you remove when you split the cases.

I knew Suzuki had them... I was just seeing if anyone else sold them. It will be about 90 bucks if I go with the OEM bolts.

[salty_monk]

Bruce,

Do you have any spec on them? Length, head, flange, thread length & spec etc.

Might help see if we can track some down. There are a couple of specialists that I think I have links for somewhere....

Dan

[salty_monk]

Here's one... http://www.boltdepot.com/default.aspx

[bwringer]

For the case bolts (NOT the case cover bolts), I went with new OEM bolts. Cleaning and re-using the old bolts is also perfectly OK.

I considered stainless, but I believe that the case bolts are engineered to have a certain amount of stretch to accomodate heat expansion. Stainless is brittle and far less elastic, so you run the risk of warping the cases or breaking bolts when the engine gets hot.

As far as case COVER bolts (clutch cover, stator cover, valve cover, etc.) I'm a big fan of stainless -- these bolts are not highly stressed at all, so you can use whatever you want. Z1 sells nice kits, or you can buy boxes from http://mcmaster.com . You can also get individual fasteners from Bolt Depot as noted above.

Just in case you need to know...
- the diameter is measured across the threads -- it is NOT the wrench size. For example, a 6mm bolt on most places on the bike has a 10mm head. Some later model 6mm case cover bolts have 8mm heads, and some have those useless phillips heads.

- the length is measured from the tip to UNDER the head. The length measurement does NOT include the head.

- McMaster sells two types of stainless steel --- the cheaper type is fine.

- Always, always, always use anti sieze on stainless threads going into aluminum.

[renobruce]

For the case bolts (NOT the case cover bolts), I went with new OEM bolts. Cleaning and re-using the old bolts is also perfectly OK.

I considered stainless, but I believe that the case bolts are engineered to have a certain amount of stretch to accomodate heat expansion. Stainless is brittle and far less elastic, so you run the risk of warping the cases or breaking bolts when the engine gets hot.

As far as case COVER bolts (clutch cover, stator cover, valve cover, etc.) I'm a big fan of stainless -- these bolts are not highly stressed at all, so you can use whatever you want. Z1 sells nice kits, or you can buy boxes from http://mcmaster.com . You can also get individual fasteners from Bolt Depot as noted above.

Just in case you need to know...
- the diameter is measured across the threads -- it is NOT the wrench size. For example, a 6mm bolt on most places on the bike has a 10mm head. Some later model 6mm case cover bolts have 8mm heads, and some have those useless phillips heads.

- the length is measured from the tip to UNDER the head. The length measurement does NOT include the head.

- McMaster sells two types of stainless steel --- the cheaper type is fine.

- Always, always, always use anti sieze on stainless threads going into aluminum.

McMaster has the flange heads? I couldn't find them there in metric.

I already have the cam cover bolts which are allen button heads, and chrome allen head side cover bolts.




Maybe I'll just get the bolts from Suzuki and have the heads powder coated black.8-)