How crucial is the second pinch bolt on the front fork?

[Zswanie]

I just stripped  the pinch bolt (the inside one) on the left front fork after replacing the front wheel with new rubber mounted.  I do not have tools to get the bit that is stuck out and won't have time to go to the dealer before leaving on a 4 day ride the day after tomorrow.  What are the risks?  ???

[Disco]

My hunch, and it's only a hunch:  If you can get the other three out, clean them up, apply some anti-seize to each one, install the axle nut to 67 lb/ft and reinstall the pinch bolts yo the proper torque value of 16 lb/ft, you'll probably be fine.  If you can't do all that, you'd still probably be OK except for the constant nagging in the back of your mind.

I hope others will chime in.   

[fordmano]

I can't remember if those are blind holes or through holes.
Did you strip all the threads out? Or just the first couple?
If it's a through hole and all the threads are stripped out I would probably fine a grade 8 bolt and nut that will fit through the hole and snug it up real good and add a dot of locktite or better yet take the time and go get a Tap and clean the threads up install a slightly longer bolt. You will probably feel better about this if you take the extra hour or two to fix this properly, if your anything like me it will eat at you even though it will probably be fine.


If none of that can work out then I would guess the other 3 will hold but I would carry the proper size Allen wrench and check the tightness every stop just to make your self comfortable with your choice.

EDIT: after re-reading your post, did you break the bolt off in the hole/threads?

[KSDragonRider]

I just stripped  the pinch bolt (the inside one) on the left front fork after replacing the front wheel with new rubber mounted.  I do not have tools to get the bit that is stuck out and won't have time to go to the dealer before leaving on a 4 day ride the day after tomorrow.  What are the risks?  ???

oh... heck... this sounds like one of my projects from years ago when i first started working on bikes... one bad thing after another after another.  I hope you get it figured out before you damage anything bad.

Post some pics, did you break the bolt off?, strip the bolt then try to drill it out?, break the bolt then try to drill it out?, do you have anything sticking out? 
Im thinking pics will explain alot

[Daniel Meyer]

I would not run it without repairing it further than it took to get me home.

...and I'll run almost anything.

[Gryphon Rider]

If you mean you stripped the hex socket so you can't turn the screw, buy an Alden Grabit tool set to get it out. You may be able to get it locally, so ask around.  Then buy a new screw.
http://www.aldn.com/index.php

[Gryphon Rider]

Oh, I see you're in Alberta. Canadian Tire rebrands Alden as Mastercraft. If you're close to Calgary, call me for help. Five eight seven 777 six five oh 3.

[old2soon]

There are 4 pinch bolts to hold on your front axle. You want to go on a 4 day trip with 25% of your axle pinch bolts on strike/not working/missing.  I'm with Daniel on this one-REPAIR it properly BEFORE leaving.  RIDE SAFE.

[Raverez]

I did that once. I drilled it out from the back side wit a tap I bought at autozone. then went to my local Ace hardware and replaced the bolt.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,30807.msg284253.html#msg284253


I had the forks off at the time but I'm sure you can do it with the forks on.

[Raverez]

used a little oil when drilling the pilot hole, and a little heat on the fork to remove the broken bolt.


Here's a thread on what to do.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,30807.msg283150.html#msg283150

[Zswanie]

I can't remember if those are blind holes or through holes.
Did you strip all the threads out? Or just the first couple?
If it's a through hole and all the threads are stripped out I would probably fine a grade 8 bolt and nut that will fit through the hole and snug it up real good and add a dot of locktite or better yet take the time and go get a Tap and clean the threads up install a slightly longer bolt. You will probably feel better about this if you take the extra hour or two to fix this properly, if your anything like me it will eat at you even though it will probably be fine.


If none of that can work out then I would guess the other 3 will hold but I would carry the proper size Allen wrench and check the tightness every stop just to make your self comfortable with your choice.

EDIT: after re-reading your post, did you break the bolt off in the hole/threads?

It broke off (yes I was using a torque wrench) about half of it is still in the hole.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I can't remember if those are blind holes or through holes.
Did you strip all the threads out? Or just the first couple?
If it's a through hole and all the threads are stripped out I would probably fine a grade 8 bolt and nut that will fit through the hole and snug it up real good and add a dot of locktite or better yet take the time and go get a Tap and clean the threads up install a slightly longer bolt. You will probably feel better about this if you take the extra hour or two to fix this properly, if your anything like me it will eat at you even though it will probably be fine.


If none of that can work out then I would guess the other 3 will hold but I would carry the proper size Allen wrench and check the tightness every stop just to make your self comfortable with your choice.

EDIT: after re-reading your post, did you break the bolt off in the hole/threads?

It broke off (yes I was using a torque wrench) about half of it is still in the hole.

Please don`t go anywhere without fixing that ! It won`t take that long and even if you have to delay your trip by a few hours it`s gonna be worth it. How much is your life worth to you ?

[Zswanie]

Thank you all for the advice.   This is a thread about the exact same problem and I think I 'll proceed as illustrated here. http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,30807.msg284253.html#msg284253

I'll let you know it turns out

[Disco]

I would never recommend one of my VRCC brethren take his life in his hands over this question of bolt extraction and replacement.  So, what am I missing? 

Is 3 out of 4 ideal?  Certainly not.  Does the repair need to take place?  Certainly.  Should the repair take so long as to delay his trip?  Probably not.  Should he prioritize the repair over the departure schedule?  Yes.  However, Zswanie uses the word "crucial". 

With proper torque value on the axle nut, is the axle going to come out and the wheel fall off?  With 3 out of 4 pinch bolts at proper torque value, is the axle going to spin?  If the axle spins, will the nut come off (it's actually a screw, so, will it come out?)  If you think it might, remember that it's on the side with 2 good pinch bolts. 

[Gryphon Rider]

The worst case scenario from improper clamping on the axle is not that the axle would come out, as probably one bolt on each side would be sufficient to prevent this, but if the wheel were jarred by a severe bump or extreme manoeuvre, the fork legs are more likely to become misaligned, or more misaligned than they would be if all four bolts were properly tight.

[Hoser]

I can't remember if those are blind holes or through holes.
Did you strip all the threads out? Or just the first couple?
If it's a through hole and all the threads are stripped out I would probably fine a grade 8 bolt and nut that will fit through the hole and snug it up real good and add a dot of locktite or better yet take the time and go get a Tap and clean the threads up install a slightly longer bolt. You will probably feel better about this if you take the extra hour or two to fix this properly, if your anything like me it will eat at you even though it will probably be fine.


If none of that can work out then I would guess the other 3 will hold but I would carry the proper size Allen wrench and check the tightness every stop just to make your self comfortable with your choice.

EDIT: after re-reading your post, did you break the bolt off in the hole/threads?

It broke off (yes I was using a torque wrench) about half of it is still in the hole.

That's probably why it broke off.  Only time I ever broke a bolt was when I used a torque wrench. Who would of thought it!  Hoser 

[Rio Wil]

On my I/s those holes are through holes and threaded all the way.  I suspect that drilling the broken screw from then backside might back it out rather quickly.....

[Rio Wil]

OOps....had I read more of this thread I would have seen you are already successful.....good going!

[Zswanie]

The worst case scenario from improper clamping on the axle is not that the axle would come out, as probably one bolt on each side would be sufficient to prevent this, but if the wheel were jarred by a severe bump or extreme manoeuvre, the fork legs are more likely to become misaligned, or more misaligned than they would be if all four bolts were properly tight.

I also thought that it is not a matter of life and death but that the alignment might suffer, my reasoning was also that should the alignment go out by just a tiny amount the caliper might drag on the brake disk or even snag on the disk rivets.  Anyway I managed to get the remainder of the bolt out with WD40 and a small screw driver and replaced it with good one.  The dealer did not have any but I found one from a nuts and bolts shop.  It is longer by several mm but luckily it is a through hole, so bolt protrudes by a couple of mm at the rear.  But all is well to leave on my trip tomorrow 

[rugguy]

If there were 5 pinch bolts on each side I would say "ride on". But they put two per side on them for a reason. And you don't want to find out what that reason is at 70mph....or hitting a pothole in traffic.

[The emperor has no clothes]

The worst case scenario from improper clamping on the axle is not that the axle would come out, as probably one bolt on each side would be sufficient to prevent this, but if the wheel were jarred by a severe bump or extreme manoeuvre, the fork legs are more likely to become misaligned, or more misaligned than they would be if all four bolts were properly tight.

I also thought that it is not a matter of life and death but that the alignment might suffer, my reasoning was also that should the alignment go out by just a tiny amount the caliper might drag on the brake disk or even snag on the disk rivets.  Anyway I managed to get the remainder of the bolt out with WD40 and a small screw driver and replaced it with good one.  The dealer did not have any but I found one from a nuts and bolts shop.  It is longer by several mm but luckily it is a through hole, so bolt protrudes by a couple of mm at the rear.  But all is well to leave on my trip tomorrow 

Good to hear, I'm sure your trip will be a lot more comfortable now. Have fun!