Help, Broken Bolt

davidimurray · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Karma :

Hello

Bugeer, damn and blast. Just whipped the front wheel off the er5 to have a look at straightening the front mudguard - bent since I had it. Anyhow, no sucess there so just tried to put the bike back together.

Anyhow got the front axle back in. Started tightening the fork clamp and ping, with 2 or 3 mm left before tigtening up it snapped. My question is, is it safe to ride without it until I get it fixed. The axle bolt is fine and done up tight, just no clamp bolt.

Cheers

Dave

Gazdaman · I did a trackday!!! Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Karma :

So it's just the pinch bolt?

When I was changing G's front wheel on the daytona last weekend, I noted his pinch bolts were less than finger tight.

And I suspect he's riding that slightly harder than you.

As long as the axle's done up ok, it'll be fine. But do get it fixed sooner rather than later.

Gaz

davidimurray · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Karma :

Yup just the pinch bolt.

iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

Try a jubilee clip round it in the short term... If you can't get it out.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

crazymotorbik... · Nearly there... Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Karma :

Hey,

I had the same problem on one of my bikes. The bolt was seized in and snapped.

I drilled it through then simply nut and bolted it. Worked a treat for me.

Cheers,
Shaun.

ratboy · Nova Slayer Joined: 23 May 2005 Karma :

depending on how daring you are you can try drill it to the closest size to it. i did it and gently wriggled it and it brought the thread out of my scooter, could tap it slightly bigger if it all goes wrong.
hope its rmotely helpful!
rat

davidimurray · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Karma :

Hi Guys

Got it sorted in the end. Tried a screw extractor but it was so tight that it destroyed a Moore & Wright tap wrench and then broke the square off the extractor. Ground a couple of flats on the extractor body and got the mole grips on it. Then drilled through the bolt and put a nut and bolt in instead.

Took the bike out for a test ride and all is well. Since i've dropped the clamps on the forks 5mm there is a massive difference to the handling. Had a race with an RX8 and a 5 series BMW on the twisties and completly smoked them Smile

Done a great job on reducing the chicken strips and I think it is now time to get some knee sliders - got a bit close a couple of times Razz

Gazdaman · I did a trackday!!! Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Karma :

Knee down on an ER-5 is definitely possible, been there, done that.

That's the problem with stud extractors though, they tend to snap, and the annoying thing is they're made out of the hardest stuff known to man, so they're a complete twat to drill through.

Well done though.

Gaz