How NOT to install frame sliders

Tailgate said:

Picked up T-Rex sliders on ebay. They looked good since they had the metal inserts and Delron (yeah, I know there are better). Before installing them, I checked the torque of stock engine bolts---I was surprised that they were only about 30 foot/pounds. I carefully torqued them to 40 lbs (per service manual specs) just to get how they should feel at 40lbs and to make a preliminary check . Then, I backed the left side engine mount bolt out, installed the correct left-side (shorter) T-Rex slider and proceeded to tighten the bolt. At less than 20 ft/lbs torque I heard a "pop". Next thing I knew, tightening the bolt became wierd. It was futile; the bolt now would not torque further. I KNEW the sick feeling: trying to tighten a bolt/screw into threads that have been stripped. I removed the slider and bolt. There were about 3 threads wrapped perfectly around the slider bolt. The softer FZ6 aluminum threads gave way. Why did this happen? The frame slider bolt, when coupled with the slider itself, could not penetrate into the FZ6 threaded hole as deep as the Yamaha engineers designed it to. The result was me trying to torque down a frame slider bolt that could only "bite" partway into the threaded engine mount assembly. With less engine mount threads to bite into,the demand was too much. Fantastic! I now have to helecoil or oversize tap thread the engine mount. Advice: don't use frame sliders with bolts that don't screw in as much as the stock bolts.

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Tailgate said:

Picked up T-Rex sliders on ebay. They looked good since they had the metal inserts and Delron (yeah, I know there are better). Before installing them, I checked the torque of stock engine bolts---I was surprised that they were only about 30 foot/pounds. I carefully torqued them to 40 lbs (per service manual specs) just to get how they should feel at 40lbs and to make a preliminary check . Then, I backed the left side engine mount bolt out, installed the correct left-side (shorter) T-Rex slider and proceeded to tighten the bolt. At less than 20 ft/lbs torque I heard a "pop". Next thing I knew, tightening the bolt became wierd. It was futile; the bolt now would not torque further. I KNEW the sick feeling: trying to tighten a bolt/screw into threads that have been stripped. I removed the slider and bolt. There were about 3 threads wrapped perfectly around the slider bolt. The softer FZ6 aluminum threads gave way. Why did this happen? The frame slider bolt, when coupled with the slider itself, could not penetrate into the FZ6 threaded hole as deep as the Yamaha engineers designed it to be. The result was me trying to torque down a frame slider bolt that could only "bite" partway into the threaded engine mount assembly. With less engine mount threads to bite into,the demand was too much. Fantastic! I now have to helecoil or oversize tap thread the engine mount. Advice: don't use frame sliders with bolts that don't screw in as much as the stock bolts.

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driver145 said:

Maybe that was why mine was loose in the first place... its a long story but I more or less did the same thing. Anyhow, it was on the left side and I just had my local shop machine a bolt and put it through with a nut on the other side.

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Tailgate said:

Yeah, that's an option. I'm first, though, going to hardware today to find longer hex head metric thread bolts (I need one for the other good side anyway), There might be enough good thread at the end of the hole to help the bolt "bite." If not, I'll tap it. If that doesn't work, I'll helicoil or do the bolt and nut like you did. Geesh, T-Rex has mucho frame slider sales and fantastic feedback although I only saw, I think, one from a FZ6 customer. I wonder if T-Rex only messed up with my order or with my model, the FZ6? (or maybe there's a change between the '06 and '07???). Geesh, it never ceases to amaze me how trying to do just one "simple" thing turns into a "project."

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Nelly said:

Have you spoken to them about the ****up?

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driver145 said:

Maybe that was why mine was loose in the first place... its a long story but I more or less did the same thing. Anyhow, it was on the left side and I just had my local shop machine a bolt and put it through with a nut on the other side.

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wrightme43 said:

Were there two different length bolts? Was there a call out for two different length bolts?

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wrightme43 said:

Were there two different length bolts? Was there a call out for two different length bolts?

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Tailgate said:

Both bolts, which were already placed inside the sliders, both have threads that extend out the same exact distance. I will re-look at them after I home get from work. (I want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row before I send off a complaint). I also diligently followed the one page of model specific directions that came with the sliders.

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