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subframe bolt upgrade
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 9:27 am
by amigoride
Being new to klr's I am probably asking for input on topics that have
been thoroughly discussed already. Thanks for your patience.
I have seen two options for subframe bolt replacement. One simply
replaces the four OEM bolts with a higher grade. The second appears
to involve three bolts by drilling out the two upper bolt threadways
and installing one long upper bolt.Obviously the first option is
easier,cheaper etc . But does this method provide adequate strength
for a 170 lb. rider and gear on rougher terrain?
Can anyone share their experience? I have been told by a couple of
experienced klr 'rs that this is one of the first things I should do
to my new machine.In their words "if they let go it can be ugly".
Thanks gang!
subframe bolt upgrade
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 9:33 am
by Thor Lancelot Simon
On Mon, Feb 07, 2005 at 03:22:58PM -0000, amigoride wrote:
>
>
> I have seen two options for subframe bolt replacement. One simply
> replaces the four OEM bolts with a higher grade. The second appears
> to involve three bolts by drilling out the two upper bolt threadways
> and installing one long upper bolt.Obviously the first option is
> easier,cheaper etc . But does this method provide adequate strength
> for a 170 lb. rider and gear on rougher terrain?
Do we know of any reports of anyone managing to break the higher grade
bolts (also known as the "Lite Blue" upgrade)? They're quite a bit
stronger than stock and if you install them with red loctite on all
bolts should have considerable resistance to vibrating loose. The way
the stock bolts seem to go often seems to be that one of the lowers
shakes loose and then the upper breaks -- keep them tight and you may
go a long way towards solving the problem right there.
A lot of people on the list do seem to go for the full-on upgrade with
the drill. I don't ride very rough stuff but I do load the bike
pretty heavily and I weigh about 200; I have not had trouble with the
higher-grade, same-size bolts and the red Loctite on all of them.
subframe bolt upgrade
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 10:05 am
by Eric L. Green
On Mon, 7 Feb 2005, amigoride wrote:
> I have seen two options for subframe bolt replacement. One simply
> replaces the four OEM bolts with a higher grade. The second appears
> to involve three bolts by drilling out the two upper bolt threadways
> and installing one long upper bolt.Obviously the first option is
> easier,cheaper etc . But does this method provide adequate strength
> for a 170 lb. rider and gear on rougher terrain?
Short answer: Yes.
-E
subframe bolt upgrade
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 11:32 am
by Krgrife@aol.com
In a message dated 2/7/2005 7:40:34 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
amigoride@... writes:
Being new to klr's I am probably asking for input on topics that have
been thoroughly discussed already. Thanks for your patience.
I have seen two options for subframe bolt replacement. One simply
replaces the four OEM bolts with a higher grade. The second appears
to involve three bolts by drilling out the two upper bolt threadways
and installing one long upper bolt.Obviously the first option is
easier,cheaper etc . But does this method provide adequate strength
for a 170 lb. rider and gear on rougher terrain?
I'm a bit heavier than you, quite a bit actually, and the grade 12.9 top
bolts I installed several years ago have held up despite lots of rough road and
trail riding. Use blue Loktite and torque to spec.
Kurt Grife
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
subframe bolt upgrade
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 12:07 pm
by Bogdan Swider
I have not had trouble with the
> higher-grade, same-size bolts and the red Loctite on all of them.
Why red ?
Bogdan
subframe bolt upgrade
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 12:53 pm
by Thor Lancelot Simon
On Mon, Feb 07, 2005 at 11:07:24AM -0700, Bogdan Swider wrote:
> I have not had trouble with the
> > higher-grade, same-size bolts and the red Loctite on all of them.
>
> Why red ?
As I recall, the top ones come with red threadlocker on them from the
factory; it's not imappropriate at these torque ratings, and having
had my factory lower bolts shake loose and having seen pictures of a
KLR where the lowers shook loose and then the uppers broke, I do *not*
want my subframe bolts, upper or lower, shaking loose -- period.
It's basically a permanent assembly anyway. Why *not* red threadlocker,
just for the peace of mind? You can still get it loose without breaking
the 8mm bolts; I use red on my motor mounts, soo, and I've loosened
them without trouble (but with a lot of grunting, which is fine with
me!)
Thor
subframe bolt upgrade
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 1:40 pm
by Tengai Mark Van Horn
At 1:53 PM -0500 2/7/05, Thor Lancelot Simon wrote:
>On Mon, Feb 07, 2005 at 11:07:24AM -0700, Bogdan Swider wrote:
>> I have not had trouble with the
>> > higher-grade, same-size bolts and the red Loctite on all of them.
>>
>> Why red ?
>
>As I recall, the top ones come with red threadlocker on them from the
>factory; it's not imappropriate at these torque ratings, and having
>had my factory lower bolts shake loose and having seen pictures of a
>KLR where the lowers shook loose and then the uppers broke, I do *not*
>want my subframe bolts, upper or lower, shaking loose -- period.
>
>It's basically a permanent assembly anyway. Why *not* red threadlocker,
>just for the peace of mind? You can still get it loose without breaking
>the 8mm bolts;
A friend of mine had me do the BigCee upgrade on his bike. When I
removed the factory bolts, both heads twisted off. I saw traces of
thread-locker in there, and had I known, I woulda heated the bolts
with a blowtorch first.
Mark
subframe bolt upgrade
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 7:56 pm
by Don Van Dyke
Todd at Happy Trails says that that the simpler option, just using stronger
bolts of the same size, is strong enough to hold anything you would most
likely want to carry with their aluminum paniers. That is all they suggest
that you do for the panniers. Happy Trails is one place you can buy the bolts.
At 03:22 PM 2/7/2005 +0000, amigoride wrote:
>Being new to klr's I am probably asking for input on topics that have
>been thoroughly discussed already. Thanks for your patience.
>I have seen two options for subframe bolt replacement. One simply
>replaces the four OEM bolts with a higher grade. The second appears
>to involve three bolts by drilling out the two upper bolt threadways
>and installing one long upper bolt.Obviously the first option is
>easier,cheaper etc . But does this method provide adequate strength
>for a 170 lb. rider and gear on rougher terrain?
>Can anyone share their experience? I have been told by a couple of
>experienced klr 'rs that this is one of the first things I should do
>to my new machine.In their words "if they let go it can be ugly".
>Thanks gang!
>
Don Van Dyke
Sacramento, California
Moto@...
www.intellection.org
subframe bolt upgrade
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 8:55 pm
by dooden
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "amigoride" wrote:
>
> Being new to klr's I am probably asking for input on topics that have
> been thoroughly discussed already. Thanks for your patience.
> I have seen two options for subframe bolt replacement. One simply
> replaces the four OEM bolts with a higher grade. The second appears
> to involve three bolts by drilling out the two upper bolt threadways
> and installing one long upper bolt.Obviously the first option is
> easier,cheaper etc . But does this method provide adequate strength
> for a 170 lb. rider and gear on rougher terrain?
> Can anyone share their experience? I have been told by a couple of
> experienced klr 'rs that this is one of the first things I should do
> to my new machine.In their words "if they let go it can be ugly".
> Thanks gang!
Many believe just keeping the OEM bolts tight is enough also, I happen
to just be getting something else from Jake so I op'd for the bolts
that he happen to have.
I run 200+ and ride the bike pretty hard off road, yet to see a
problem with just upgraded fasteners, but then the OEM seemed fine
upon removal also.
It's all about piece of mind.
Dooden
A15 Green Ape
subframe bolt upgrade
Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 12:38 am
by kdxkawboy@aol.com
In a message dated 2/7/2005 7:40:48 AM Pacific Standard Time,
amigoride@... writes:
Being new to klr's I am probably asking for input on topics that have
been thoroughly discussed already. Thanks for your patience.
I have seen two options for subframe bolt replacement. One simply
replaces the four OEM bolts with a higher grade. The second appears
to involve three bolts by drilling out the two upper bolt threadways
and installing one long upper bolt.Obviously the first option is
easier,cheaper etc . But does this method provide adequate strength
for a 170 lb. rider and gear on rougher terrain?
I've gone the route of replacing the OEM bolts with a higher grade. I'm
running HT panniers, carrying a full touring load as well as a lot of hard off
roading and have yet to see any problems with the higher grade bolts. I use red
Loctite with them to make sure they don't vibrate loose and replace them,
along with all the other frame bolts, every third or fourth year as preventive
maintenance for metal fatigue.
Pat
G'ville, NV
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]