Fork pinch bolt help

[CruiserNewb]

I have a 14 Valk with right around 16,000 miles on it. I bought it brand new. Yesterday I took the front wheel off to get a better cleaning job done. I have the service manual and was following step by step and got everything back together. I was using a torque wrench to the specified values. One of the pinch bolts just seemed to strip. It will not catch. I started it by hand and it was going fine. This wheel has only been off 3 total times. Once at 9,000 by the dealer, once a couple months ago by me, and this time. It’s still under Honda Extended Warranty but the dealer informed me Honda is not going to take care of this. I’m at a loss. I feel this is in no way my fault. I wasn’t overtightening, but steel bolt on aluminum does not seem like a good design. Any ideas or help is greatly appreciated as to what can be done. Does anybody feel Honda should cover it?

Thank you.

[hubcapsc]

Once at 9,000 by the dealer...

...Does anybody feel Honda should cover it?

I bet they think it was good last time they saw it... I'm
going to take my front wheel off soon, what bolt was it? Inner/Outer?
Left/Right?

-Mike

[hal47]

You could probaly put a heli coil init.

[CruiserNewb]

It was the left inner bolt.

I was thinking helicoil but that problem is once I make the hole a little larger, I would be losing the shoulder that that bolt tightens down to. I’m thinking. I’ve not really done much machining or the such.

I did cal another drake and he seemed more promising. Like the other dealer was just trying to pass the buck. He’s gonna talk to Honda and let me know.

[Adirondack Bill]

Forgive me, but you took the trouble to remove your wheel just to clean it better?

[CruiserNewb]

Yes, I had kind of neglected them and not thoroughly cleaned whenever I washed bike. Had some really caked on gunk that wasn’t coming off so easily. Was a lot easier to spray and soak and brush off the bike. I will be paying more attention to them from now on. Need to find a good wheel cleaner.