Critical bolt checklist

[CHEMIKER]

We all know that we're supposed to check all of the bolts all of the time, right? Well I was looking my bike over last weekend and there are a lot of bolts to go over. Some are hard to reach and therefore can get overlooked. It got me to thinking, what bolts are prone to loosening or are so critical that I should check them at every oil change regardless of whether they're hard to reach?

So far I have:

Wrightme43 found all of his oil pan bolts loose to the point that oil was leaking onto his rear tire.

Whirlygirl found the two bolts that hold down the gas tank missing.

A couple of folks have found their fender eliminators hanging or loose.

All of these bolts are now at the top of my list to check at every oil change. I check the engine engine case and engine mount bolts at every gas stop since they're really critical.

What bolts have you found loose/think are critical to check often?

 

[wrightme43]

I check my caliper bolts at least once a day. I grab my foot pegs and wiggle them. I check my handle bar bolts, and look at my fork clamps. I check my front axle crosslock bolt, and my rear axle nut. Thats all I am obsessive about though.

 

[Cali rider]

I check my caliper bolts at least once a day...

No way! At least once a DAY? Tell me that's a typo....If that's true you must have a severe OCD.

 

[stevesnj]

No way! At least once a DAY? Tell me that's a typo....If that's true you must have a severe OCD.

LOL thats overkill for sure.

 

[wrightme43]

Nope, if I ride it, I actually reach down and make sure they are on. I got that from being on submarines. Every time we walked past one of the E.A.B. connection ports (emergency air breathing device) we would reach up or out and touch it. That was so if the boat was on fire, full of smoke, and you couldnt see you knew exactly where they were.

It was just a mask with a short hose, that had a regulator, that pluged in just like air tool. If you touched every one of them all the time you just knew. Imagine being underwater in the dark, on fire, with no help coming. Its fix it or die. You get real proactive about stuff. Its the same with the bike, if you touch it you know its right.

I am a freaking fruit loop though. Ask anyone on here that has met me.
Normal people think people in the military are crazy.
People in the military think people in the navy are crazy.
People in the navy think people on submarines are crazy.
People on submarines think Sonarmen are crazy.
Sonarmen think Missletechs are crazy.

I was a sonarman.

 

[jsp]

I use to apply treadlocker in all bolts i can reach, then forget their existence...

 

[reiobard]

I had my right side mirror come loose on me after a little while and i actually lost one of the bolts on the back side of it and was very close to loosing the other and subsequently the mirror was about to fall off. also i was going to tighten my steering head bolt (the big one under your handle bar mounts) i had to remove the handle bars and found all 4 of those to be less than finger tight after the first couple hundred miles. so i would de sure to check those.


Thanks for the heads up, I will be checking my oil pan tonight.

 

[colobb]

In my line of work, and I'm sure in others, we call these 'Jesus bolts' (don't mean to offend anyone). If you find one, either broken or just backed out, you tend to say something along the lines of 'Oh Jesus' or, 'Jesus Christ', cos it ain't a good thing.

In my job they are M10 x 80 socket head bolts that are painted red. If I find one where I shouldn't, ie. on the ground, I've got a potentially serious problem. People could die. Its called a 'Hanger keeper bolt'. Its all that stops a 40mm hollow axle from sliding out. If that axle slides out... Not a good day.

Anyway, checking caliper bolts at least once a day, is in no way overkill. Just remember all of that vibration that the bike feels every time you ride it. I've found 20mm nylocs backed off. These nuts are hammer tight. I've found not to long ago a couple of 16mm bolts with no nuts on that hold down the frame for some brake pads, and I know that I reefed on them when we put them in.

Anyway, checking critical bolts daily is not that big of a deal compared to the potential consequences of having your front axle come loose. Some people check their oil daily, why? Does their bike leak, no. Is there a puddle of oil under the bike, no. Then why? Whats more important, being a hair low on oil (which is better than being too full) or, having your front calipers rip off when you stand on those brakes trying to stop for an elk at 1 am on the way home from an 18 hour day at work? Speaking from experience about the elk, not the calipers flapping in the wind part.

I'm done.

 

[CCHOUSEKY]

I am a freaking fruit loop though. Ask anyone on here that has met me.
Normal people think people in the military are crazy.
People in the military think people in the navy are crazy.
People in the navy think people on submarines are crazy.
People on submarines think Sonarmen are crazy.
Sonarmen think Missletechs are crazy.

I was a sonarman.

LMAO...man, I have GOT to ride with you sometime! That's too damned funny!

 

[Nelly]

We all know that we're supposed to check all of the bolts all of the time, right? Well I was looking my bike over last weekend and there are a lot of bolts to go over. Some are hard to reach and therefore can get overlooked. It got me to thinking, what bolts are prone to loosening or are so critical that I should check them at every oil change regardless of whether they're hard to reach?

So far I have:

Wrightme43 found all of his oil pan bolts loose to the point that oil was leaking onto his rear tire.

Whirlygirl found the two bolts that hold down the gas tank missing.

A couple of folks have found their fender eliminators hanging or loose.

All of these bolts are now at the top of my list to check at every oil change. I check the engine engine case and engine mount bolts at every gas stop since they're really critical.

What bolts have you found loose/think are critical to check often?

Good shout mate,
I check my bolts when I wash my bike.

Nelly

 

[lattin25]

My FE Kit was hanging by the wiring... so i put it back on with some loctite!! I make sure its secure, and my front signals. I also check the tank bolts since they are right there.

 

[Wolfman]

I check everything i can within reason, every time i wash the bike, which is at least once a week.

Whenever i take something off the bike, i make sure that when i put it back i use a little bit of Loctite...cheap insurance policy!

 

[Bill3508]

Could one of you guys post a list of the critical bolts and their recommended torque settings? I'd like to check mine but don't have any idea on the torque.

Bill3508

 

[githianki]

You can add the 4 bolts that hold the stock bar clamp. When I put the risers on last night, they were just about hand tight.

 

[wolfc70]

In my line of work, and I'm sure in others, we call these 'Jesus bolts' (don't mean to offend anyone). If you find one, either broken or just backed out, you tend to say something along the lines of 'Oh Jesus' or, 'Jesus Christ', cos it ain't a good thing.


.

That is funny. I call snap rings "Jesus clips", as in "Jesus where did that clip fly off to now". or "Jesus, that clip nearly took my eye out".

I did a nut check at 2k miles and only a few were loose. The right foot peg was loose as were two of the handle bar bolts.

I will do a check probably every 2K or so. Considering the way this thing buzzes, you would think they (Yamaha) would put some form of thread locker on the bolts.

 

[dako81]

This is why I try to wash my bike regularly, and touch everything with my hands and fingers as I go. This way I will hopefully catch anything that shouldn't be. I'd still appreciate it if someone made a list of bolts that should be checked, say weekly.

 

[sideslider]

Nope, if I ride it, I actually reach down and make sure they are on. I got that from being on submarines. Every time we walked past one of the E.A.B. connection ports (emergency air breathing device) we would reach up or out and touch it. That was so if the boat was on fire, full of smoke, and you couldnt see you knew exactly where they were.

It was just a mask with a short hose, that had a regulator, that pluged in just like air tool. If you touched every one of them all the time you just knew. Imagine being underwater in the dark, on fire, with no help coming. Its fix it or die. You get real proactive about stuff. Its the same with the bike, if you touch it you know its right.

I am a freaking fruit loop though. Ask anyone on here that has met me.
Normal people think people in the military are crazy.
People in the military think people in the navy are crazy.
People in the navy think people on submarines are crazy.
People on submarines think Sonarmen are crazy.
Sonarmen think Missletechs are crazy.

I was a sonarman.

A sonarman!! that explains a lot!!

actually I don't even know you lol but I would love a compiled list of what to check and how often. When I get home I will check the service manual and see what is in this post that isn't in the manual.

 

[FZ6er_FSR]

It’s nice to see I’m not the only one having loose bolt issues. About a month ago, my FE kit was also hanging by two threads on one bolt. I had to replace the bolt & collar for the left side.

Just yesterday, I was cleaning the windshield and notice the bolt and nut under the headlights securing the windscreen was missing. I did a quick inspection when I got to work today and noticed the FE bolts are coming loose again.

When I get home, I'm going to start checking all the bolts every 2 weeks.

Would most of you recommend using “Loctite” or “nail polish” on the threads to prevent bolts from coming loose so easily? Should I do this treatment on all the bolts that I see that are loose?


Thanks!

 

[TeamGreen]

I check as many bolts as possible when I change my oil. I tighten things to waste time while the oil is draining. that way I don't get impatient and all the old oil drains. I've not had any problems though...

 

[bigdog9191999]

makes me want to go home and check the thing over now... what tools are required for a decent once over? as in allen or regular socket and what are the most common sizes.. thanks guys just trying to be safe