ARRRGH! Stripped a screw! : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

backinthesaddle · 10-11-2003, 04:45 PM

Using a torque wrench set at 9 ftlbs I stripped the upper left torx bolt of the clutch inspection derby cover.

The other bolts torqued fine. I put a little loctite on the stripped one and snugged it up. No leaks but I should take care of it.

Any tips on fixing this or is a new primary cover in my future?

Flyer · 10-11-2003, 04:59 PM

nah....helicoil it. Will work fine.

harleyhog · 10-12-2003, 02:02 AM

http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcnuts/stuckscrews.html

donnie · 10-12-2003, 08:44 AM

I did the same thing on my 2000 Road King and ended up installing a helicoil the next time I did a primary oil change. I also changed the torx head bolts to Allen Head bolts on every area that requires a cover to be removed. Just my preference. You can get the helicoil kit at Sears Hardware or a hardware specialty store. I also started putting the primary oil in the inspection cover as its less screws and a easier gasket to mess with. If its not leaking now leave it til next time.

backinthesaddle · 10-12-2003, 11:16 AM

Sorry I didn't acknowledge the posts earlier.

Like donnie suggested, I'm going to wait until the next primay change. There's no leaks, the bolt is on the upper left of the star pattern so I don't anticipate any either. I figure with the milage I put on, I can postpone this job till this time next year.

I totally forgot about the helicoil solution. I think I'm going to take the primary off when I do it, though. I don't want to risk getting any shavings from the drilling in there. Service manual makes it look like an easy process, just need a new gasket.

Thankfully the previous owner used anti-seize when he's done work on it in the past. Getting bolts on the bike loose has not been a problem. When putting things together, I always use a torque wrench and am very careful with aluminum.

Are these primary cover threads just kinda wimpy or am I just unlucky?

donnie · 10-13-2003, 07:05 AM

Its a big job to remove the primary cover just to fix the stripped out threads for the cover. I stuffed a couple of shop towels in the primary hole and this caught all the shavings. I bought my bike new in 99 and have 3 helicoils in it so far. Not a big deal but a pain and actually the helicoil provides a better thread surface than the aluminum.

Flyer · 10-13-2003, 11:39 AM

Being aluminum and all, it's real easy to crossthread the start as you're reinstalling the bolt. And if you don't "feel it" the first couple of turns, well, it's then FUBARed.
Use a torque wrench in inch/lbs....much more precise