Front Disks

Jimbeamrye

.060 Over
Joined
Sep 4, 2006
Messages
155
Location
Cantonment, Florida. USA
Ride
2007 Rocket 3 Classic
I always love big surprises AFTER I do what I think is something good to my bike! I replaced my front tire today! But before I attached the rim and new rubber to the forks, I thought I would "Clean" all those hard to access areas first. Cleaned under the fender, inside of the shocks and so forth, and moved to the filthy rim. The rotors are as big as the rim itself almost, so I thought, why not just take them both off and clean the rim and rotors easily! They were very easy to remove"with air impact wrench". I cleaned everything to a shine then went to the manual for the "torque" specs to re-assemble! As luck would have it, it tells me to "Throw Away" those rotor bolts, never to use them again.

I thought engine head bolts were the only things made to stretch and were one time use?
I re-used them anyway and re-torqued to 23 NM's. Anyone disagree on the re-use of these bolts? Let me guess, the guy who re-used those bolts isn't here today to warn me?
 
I would do what you did and wouldn't think twice. Just check them once in a while.
O.
 
I have reused em a couple of times on rear wheels and both bikes have done many miles with no problem. I wouldn't be worried about it.
 
I would buy a bunch of spare bolts and replace them at the next time you clean the bike. Others more knowledgeable will weigh in and enlighten us I hope, but IMHO the torque is not reliable when the bolt has already been stretched. They are subject to a lot of heat cycles and they are a critical part of the ride. One coming loose, just one, will be very annoying. A lug nut can fall off your car and you notice it next time you wash the car. A bolt on a motorcycle wheel may jam between the rotor and fork briefly, as it gouges a big scratch in the parts, or, in the unlikely event that it happens at low speed, it could stop the wheel. I am talking out my a** here, as I have never heard or seen of this happening, BUT I would buy some new bolts next time I was at the dealer.
And I am going to do this myself, as I think you have a great idea for being able to clean up the front wheel. My bike certainly needs some help in the detailing area!
 
Great minds think alike, Jimbeamrye! My rear wheel is off and I pulled the disc off of it, too, to clean. They screws were an absolute mother to break loose. I was so concerned that I'd round out the heads, but new tools kept that from happening. I spoke to a dealer about it, and he said that is a standard line in the shop manual about not reusing the bolts. It is a form of locktite as well as an insulator to inhibit corrosion between the steel and aluminum. Reusing them is not an issue, but torquing them to the correct spec and in the proper sequence is CRUCIAL. I'm in the middle of polishing my wheels.
 
The bolts that hold the discs on are threaded into the aluminum of the wheel. Therefore it is unlikely that they could be torqued to failure, the wheel thread would strip first. The bolts come with a gob of sealant on them already from Triumph and that is not re usable so they tell you to buy new bolts every time. If you feel safer doing this then by all means do so. It is the same as the torque arm bolt on the rear disc. That thing is huge and is there to stop the disc holder from rotating as the brakes are applied. It is suggested by Triumph that it be replaced every time it is removed. I use a daub of blue Loctite there as well.
 
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