Final Drive Question

[Fazer]

After attending Dan Meyer's excellent technical session at Inzane, I could not wait to tackle the inspection and maintenance on 98's final drive system.  Everything went perfectly, splines and gears in great shape, bearings and brakes good condition.  The only issue I had was getting the four nuts off the studs on the final drive that hold the unit to the tube housing the drive shaft.  Two of the four studs came out in lieu of the nut.  I guess 18 years of galvanic (?) action sort of welded the nuts to the threads. 

My question:  Rather than replacing the studs/nuts, why can't I use bolts of sufficient length?  Should they be hardened, stainless, etc?  I'm thinking allen head.  I think they are 8mmx1.25, but will of course check the manual or the on line drawings--either may identify the correct size and pitch.

[Chrisj CMA]

In theory it should work fine.  The danger is that repeated removal and retightening a steel bolt into aluminum threads will be very harsh of the aluminum and you stand a good possibility of ruining the threads before the final drive fails in any other way.

A stud that never or hardly ever is removed will not cause the same stress on the aluminum.

I would not change the configuration

[falconbrother]

This happens on Harley head exhaust studs all the time (my experience is with evos, BTs and sportsters).  Either save those studs or buy new ones and use red locktite when you install them.  No need for a lot of torque when installing the studs.  If it were me I'd just kind of snug them.  Red locktite will hold them in place very well.  Then use a little anti seize when you put the nuts back on the studs...is what I would do.  The previous reply was dead on.  You cannot use bolts to replace those studs and stay happy for a long time.  The tapped aluminum holes can't take a lot of threading in and out nor will they like a lot of torque when you're tightening a bolt in those holes.   

[Fazer]

Good advice Chris and Falconbrother, thanks.  I will get new studs and use the red loctite.  Thanks for your help.

Greg