Nuts and Bolts

fulltime wrench
Edited Date/Time 6/7/2015 11:22am
I want to know who uses grease, and who uses thread lock most of the time when reassembling something on their bike.

Where and why?

Or, if you use nothing please also share.

Just curious. I have my own preference, give me your opinion.

Absolutely not casting a line here.
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Hman144 5/6/2014 8:04pm
5/6/2014 8:04pm
Grease on bolts that go in places where things move- linkages, axles, etc. Threadlock on things I don't want to come loose- motor mounts, cylinder and head bolts, case bolts. Nothing on other things other than maybe locknuts.
Sr_Vet_Rider 5/6/2014 8:11pm
5/6/2014 8:11pm
I use Redline assembly lube on everything but my shock bolts, motor mounts, caliper mount for front brake. Use blue loctite on those... Grease on my axles, swing arm and linkage bolts.
AS64
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AS64 5/6/2014 8:14pm
5/6/2014 8:14pm
Anti-seize on chain adjuster bolts.
ToolMaker 5/6/2014 8:15pm
5/6/2014 8:15pm
Locktite where specified and blue anti-seize everywhere else (aka smurf blood)

The Shop

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fulltime wrench 5/6/2014 8:19pm
5/6/2014 8:19pm Edited Date/Time 5/6/2014 8:23pm
AS64 wrote:
Anti-seize on chain adjuster bolts.
Can't forget anti-seize. I like to dab a little on spark plugs, crack it loose and spin out with your fingers when its time to change it.

I hate drilling swingarms.
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 5/6/2014 8:23pm
5/6/2014 8:23pm
When I watch the guys at BTO/KTM reassemble a bike, they seem to use a dab of grease on just about everything.
BobPA
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BobPA 5/6/2014 8:24pm
5/6/2014 8:24pm
Grease/oil on most everything. You get much more accurate torque readings with a bit of lube.....especially on the flange of the nut/bolt.

Thread lock on bolts that spin.
JordanB
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JordanB 5/6/2014 8:25pm
5/6/2014 8:25pm
fulltime wrench wrote:
Can't forget anti-seize. I like to dab a little on spark plugs, crack it loose and spin out with your fingers when its time to change...
Can't forget anti-seize. I like to dab a little on spark plugs, crack it loose and spin out with your fingers when its time to change it.

I hate drilling swingarms.
2 strokes have just a tad of oil on the threads.
just one more way a 2 stroke is cheaper.
Tongue Cool
GuyB
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GuyB 5/6/2014 8:26pm
5/6/2014 8:26pm
But they're also obsessive about keeping things tight, and disassemble and reassemble weekly.
fulltime wrench 5/6/2014 8:28pm
5/6/2014 8:28pm
fulltime wrench wrote:
Can't forget anti-seize. I like to dab a little on spark plugs, crack it loose and spin out with your fingers when its time to change...
Can't forget anti-seize. I like to dab a little on spark plugs, crack it loose and spin out with your fingers when its time to change it.

I hate drilling swingarms.
JordanB wrote:
2 strokes have just a tad of oil on the threads.
just one more way a 2 stroke is cheaper.
Tongue Cool
For sure! Linkage and swingarm bearings stay rust free.Smile
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 5/6/2014 8:30pm
5/6/2014 8:30pm
GuyB wrote:
But they're also obsessive about keeping things tight, and disassemble and reassemble weekly.
Yes, yes they do.
cable
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cable 5/6/2014 8:37pm
5/6/2014 8:37pm
A former factory mechanic once wrote an article to put grease on threads of everything otherwise the torque specs would not be correct. This dude also had a mechanical engineering degree I think. I've always used blue loctite on stuff I didn't want to come loose
nytsmaC
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nytsmaC 5/6/2014 9:39pm
5/6/2014 9:39pm
Do you guys use loctite on parts such as sprocket bolts when lock washers are used?

I noticed that all fasteners are oiled or greased on my TM from the factory, and no sign of loctite used anywhere.
TripleFive 5/6/2014 9:52pm
5/6/2014 9:52pm
I love the smell of loctite.
Boarddesign
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Boarddesign 5/6/2014 9:54pm
5/6/2014 9:54pm
When there is a nutcert in plastic (tanks) I use grease. I use loctite in most others.
fulltime wrench 5/6/2014 10:20pm
5/6/2014 10:20pm
nytsmaC wrote:
Do you guys use loctite on parts such as sprocket bolts when lock washers are used? I noticed that all fasteners are oiled or greased on...
Do you guys use loctite on parts such as sprocket bolts when lock washers are used?

I noticed that all fasteners are oiled or greased on my TM from the factory, and no sign of loctite used anywhere.
If its a locking "tab" style washer, no.

I know they are not common on dirt bikes but split lock washers are a waste of steel.

On rear sprocket bolts I use blue Loctite along with the flanged "Fuji" style locknuts.
Outsider
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Outsider 5/6/2014 10:26pm
5/6/2014 10:26pm
TripleFive wrote:
I love the smell of loctite.

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jock
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jock 5/7/2014 1:51am
5/7/2014 1:51am
A dab of grease on most bolts here, especially radiator shrouds..
BobPA
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BobPA 5/7/2014 5:54am
5/7/2014 5:54am
fulltime wrench wrote:
If its a locking "tab" style washer, no. I know they are not common on dirt bikes but split lock washers are a waste of steel...
If its a locking "tab" style washer, no.

I know they are not common on dirt bikes but split lock washers are a waste of steel.

On rear sprocket bolts I use blue Loctite along with the flanged "Fuji" style locknuts.
Split washers work well 2-3 times. After that the edges dull and they no longer bite into the flange.
newmann
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newmann 5/7/2014 6:01am
5/7/2014 6:01am
I keep a tub of Bel-Ray waterproof grease handy at all times. Loctite Red around the head of sprocket bolts, none on the threads.
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Racer92 5/7/2014 6:05am
5/7/2014 6:05am Edited Date/Time 5/7/2014 6:08am
BobPA wrote:
Grease/oil on most everything. You get much more accurate torque readings with a bit of lube.....especially on the flange of the nut/bolt. Thread lock on bolts...
Grease/oil on most everything. You get much more accurate torque readings with a bit of lube.....especially on the flange of the nut/bolt.

Thread lock on bolts that spin.
There is much debate about whether that is a good practice.
fulltime wrench 5/7/2014 9:15am
5/7/2014 9:15am
BobPA wrote:
Grease/oil on most everything. You get much more accurate torque readings with a bit of lube.....especially on the flange of the nut/bolt. Thread lock on bolts...
Grease/oil on most everything. You get much more accurate torque readings with a bit of lube.....especially on the flange of the nut/bolt.

Thread lock on bolts that spin.
Racer92 wrote:
There is much debate about whether that is a good practice.
I have to think too much lube will cause a "drag" on the fastener. And in blind holes the bolt could possibly feel tight before it applies a clamping force due to grease being trapped ahead of it.
Aceofspades 5/7/2014 9:32am
5/7/2014 9:32am
Dirt in the threads is murder on correct Torque specs as well as causing wear on threads. I use a brass brush to clean threads, thin film of waterproof grease on linkage and swingarm bolts, blue loctite on every bolt except brake hangers and rotors. Those get red loctite. A also apply a thin coat of blue loctite on the part of any seal that fits into the case(not sealing lip) and the outside rim of bearings. Keeps em from spinning out.
Aceofspades 5/7/2014 9:35am
5/7/2014 9:35am Edited Date/Time 5/7/2014 9:37am
newmann wrote:
I keep a tub of Bel-Ray waterproof grease handy at all times. Loctite Red around the head of sprocket bolts, none on the threads.
I forgot to add that as well, but I red loctite the treads also. Heating the bolts to loosen the loctite is a lot less hassle then losing a bolt on the sprocket. Dont ask me how I know this Smile by the way: ive used clear fingernail polish as loctite on non-stressed bolts in a pinch.
philG
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philG 5/7/2014 10:39am
5/7/2014 10:39am
BobPA wrote:
Grease/oil on most everything. You get much more accurate torque readings with a bit of lube.....especially on the flange of the nut/bolt. Thread lock on bolts...
Grease/oil on most everything. You get much more accurate torque readings with a bit of lube.....especially on the flange of the nut/bolt.

Thread lock on bolts that spin.
No you don't ... Quite the opposite . We had a rig built to prove it , results were quite interesting , to the point where we banned the use of WD40 on he car wheel nuts , as it was possible to get the nuts so tight that you couldn't get them off in a service park with a buzz gun . Clean and dry , bit of grease on anything that pivots. Thread lock on disk and sprocket bolts.
Alex Schubow 6/6/2015 11:57pm
6/6/2015 11:57pm
All fasteners have must need of grease. Because, it's used for make the bolts to rust free or the bikes ride easily without any trouble. I used it after sometime but no more. Its really interesting tips which you share with us.
Awesome Johnson 6/7/2015 2:02am
6/7/2015 2:02am
I grease the swing arm bolt, both axles, linkage bolts, stem bearings and clutch perch adjuster. A very light film of grease on the brake caliper pins. Do those a few times a summer in fear of it drying out and causing drag. The rest are dry. Any time I remove anything it gets cleaned along with the nuts and bolts and reassembled. I'll use bell ray 6in1 on the chain, pipe, peg pins and pipe. Not a big fan of loc-tight. It's not much fun cleaning out the old stuff when it's time for new stuff so I stay away. I think if you torque everything to spec then your good. Haven't had any thing fall off ever so I'm doing something right but to each there own.
Mikeyam187
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Mikeyam187 6/7/2015 2:28am
6/7/2015 2:28am
You don't really need grease on the axle or swingarm bolts because they do not spin, it is the outer bearing race that spins on the inner race. The only reason to have something on them is just so they do not get corrosion and become hard to pull out.
Ebs
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Ebs 6/7/2015 5:31am
6/7/2015 5:31am Edited Date/Time 6/7/2015 5:31am
Yeah, lubricating the threads will throw off torque readings. Most torque values are given for clean, dry fasteners (unless otherwise specified). Reducing friction on the threads will give actual torque values higher than what is indicated on a wrench.

Maybe not a huge deal on a dirtbike, but for sake of technical speak, and something to keep in mind for critical fasteners.

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