Stainless Screws

[Captain Black]

They have several riders with screws loose, that's for sure.


PS

As both are fasteners, primary differences seperate the two. A bolt is a type of machine screw that requires a nut or a threaded insert (reciever) to join 2 or more parts together. A screw, which is more general, has the ability to join parts together without a nut or insert.

So they don't have screws then

 

[Time Traveller]

Bolts have a thread on some of the shank, set-scews have a thread all the way up the shank.

So mostly screws on a bike.

 

[Time Traveller]

OK, so lets say you are going to replace the timing cover bolts... Is there any reason to remove the timing cover (maintenance items?) or shall I just do each bolt one at the time leaving the cover in place? I live in a dry, warm part of the world, so no road salt, or moisture problems...

Dave
Atlanta, GA
2005 R1200GS

Dont forget loctite / copperslip depending on which screw where, the latter to reduce the electrical potential. . . Although less of an issue in dry climates.

TBH Im not too pro stainless into aluminium, because of the potential for corrosion (pun intended) far better to use zinc plated steel fixings. . . er. . . Like the originals

if you do use stainless dont use aluslip, because of the potential difference is greater than if you use copper...

 

[cookie]

i use copper slip & i have never ever, ever had a stainless bolt corrode into an aluminium casting or anything else for that matter.

ever.

...and i've been fucking about with bikes for 40 years (not the same ones, admittedly)

 

[Steptoe]

OK, so lets say you are going to replace the timing cover bolts... Is there any reason to remove the timing cover (maintenance items?) or shall I just do each bolt one at the time leaving the cover in place? I live in a dry, warm part of the world, so no road salt, or moisture problems...

Dave
Atlanta, GA
2005 R1200GS

Be daring. Replace two or three bolts at a time.

i use copper slip & i have never ever, ever had a stainless bolt corrode into an aluminium casting or anything else for that matter.

ever.

...and i've been fucking about with bikes for 40 years (not the same ones, admittedly)

That just about sums up my experience of stainless as well. No big drama or fuss, just use copperslip.

 

[JayC]

A bolt can be used as a screw and a screw can be used as a bolt, though not in all circumstances.
A bolt or screw isn't a physical thing, it is a descriptive term for how that physical thing is used.
A screw has torque applied to the head whereas a bolt (used in conjunction with a nut) has torque applied to the nut.

Insert a screw through two clearance holes to join two items together and use a nut to secure means that screw has now become a bolt.
In motorcycle cases, or any other item where the fastener enters a blind hole/thread only screws are used.

 

[Time Traveller]

i use copper slip & i have never ever, ever had a stainless bolt corrode into an aluminium casting or anything else for that matter.

ever.

...and i've been fucking about with bikes for 40 years (not the same ones, admittedly)

yes exactly

A bolt can be used as a screw and a screw can be used as a bolt, though not in all circumstances.
A bolt or screw isn't a physical thing, it is a descriptive term for how that physical thing is used.
A screw has torque applied to the head whereas a bolt (used in conjunction with a nut) has torque applied to the nut.

Insert a screw through two clearance holes to join two items together and use a nut to secure means that screw has now become a bolt.
In motorcycle cases, or any other item where the fastener enters a blind hole/thread only screws are used.

It is ambiguous, and so it depends to what you refer when you give a definition.

Controlled vocabulary versus natural language[edit source | editbeta] The distinctions above are enforced in the controlled vocabulary of standards organizations. Nevertheless, there are sometimes differences between the controlled vocabulary and the natural language use of the words by machinists, auto mechanics and others.

These differences reflect linguistic evolution shaped by the changing of technology over centuries. The words bolt and screw have both existed since before today's modern mix of fastener types existed, and the natural usage of those words has evolved retronymously in response to the technological change. (That is, the use of words as names for objects changes as the objects themselves change.)

Non-threaded fasteners predominated until the advent of practical, inexpensive screw-cutting in the early 19th century. The basic meaning of the word screw has long involved the idea of a helical screw thread, but the Archimedes screw and the screw gimlet (like a corkscrew) preceded the fastener.

The word bolt is also a very old word, and it was used for centuries to refer to metal rods that passed through the substrate to be fastened on the other side, often via nonthreaded means (clinching, forge welding, pinning, wedging, etc.). The connection of this sense to the sense of a door bolt or the crossbow bolt is apparent.

In the 19th century, bolts fastened via screw threads were often called screw bolts in contradistinction to clench bolts. In common usage, the distinction (not rigorous) is often that screws are smaller than bolts, and that screws are generally tapered while bolts are not. For example, cylinder head bolts are called "bolts" (at least in North American usage) despite the fact that by some definitions they ought to be called "screws". Their size and their similarity to a bolt that would take a nut seem linguistically to overrule any other factors in this natural word choice proclivity.

Other distinctions[edit source | editbeta] Bolts have been defined as headed fasteners having external threads that meet an exacting, uniform bolt thread specification (such as ISO metric screw thread M, MJ, Unified Thread Standard UN, UNR, and UNJ) such that they can accept a non-tapered nut. Screws are then defined as headed, externally threaded fasteners that do not meet the above definition of bolts.[citation needed]

These definitions of screw and bolt eliminate the ambiguity of the Machinery's handbook distinction. And it is for that reason, perhaps, that some people favor them. However, they are neither compliant with common usage of the two words nor are they compliant with formal specifications.

My head hurts and now I'm just bored.

 

[Time Traveller]

ooooh. true anarakal arguement. a whole US government document "Distinguishing Bolts from Screws" 22 pages FFS...

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/legal/informed_compliance_pubs/icp013.ctt/icp013.pdf

I rest my case my lud

 

[JayC]

You haven't been out today have you?

 

[Penfold99]

I wasn't really asking if I can do one bolt/screw at a time. I was asking if there was any reason while I'm down there to take that cover off, to inspect/clean/maintain anything?

Dave

 

[Wapping]

I wasn't really asking if I can do one bolt/screw at a time. I was asking if there was any reason while I'm down there to take that cover off, to inspect/clean/maintain anything?

Dave

You can check the Canbus fluid reservoir.

 

[Time Traveller]

Checked mine today. . Never had to top it up yet, so still got a full cannister of magic smoke sitting on the shelf


Good eh?

 

[Bendy toy]

Bolt is recent Disney dog character or a skinny tall fast bloke in lycra.

Bolt is also the act of quickly leaving the girlfriend's bedroom when hubby gets home early.

Screw is what he went there for in the first place. Nuts are what was hoping to avoid getting kicked by angry hubby.

 

[ianran]

So let some other poor sap jump through the same hoops?

Where is the logic in that?

You found it important enough to post a warning.... But now that you have recouped your 50p you are happy?

Useless tosser.

Coming from you I will take that as a compliment.
As you say, warning withno names are useless! company was DcMotorsportuk.

 

[Wapping]

Got there in the end

 

[Penfold99]

Even though I'm in the US, I got mine from the UK, off ebay... Bristolsuperbikes. No quality concerns. They are hex's not torx's, but I am not too concerned about that. One day when I have nothing to do, maybe I will have the originals replated, or search out stainless torx ones...or maybe I will just forget about them, and ride my bike instead!

Dave
Atlanta, GA
2005 R1200GS

 

[Bendy toy]

The perfect solution would be to get stainless torx and have the threads and shanks zinc plated.

Zinc and aluminium are close on the galvanic scale so there is minimal corrosion between them. Zinc is sacrificial on a ferrous fastener. When it gets depleted, the aluminium becomes the sacrificial anode. Aluminium oxide has a larger volume than the bare metal so quickly seizes the threads.

Maybe zinc plate over stainless will allow the zinc to last a lot longer (stainless does not oxydise). Plating kits are not costly. Does anyone know if this is a solution (sic)?

Perhaps we should be using hard anodised aluminium alloy screws for things like engine covers.

 

[Time Traveller]

From what I understand St/St can be zinc coated (not that I have ever seen it done)

However copper slip reduces the electrolitic action between St/St and Al - Copper being far closer to Al than St/St is on the noble scales.


What is the objection to using the standard fixings anyway - zinc plated steel?

Aesthetics maybe? Stainless looks nice 'tis true (In which case, zinc plating St/St maybe a bit of a waste of time)

Longevity? Well if the bike is cleaned and had appropriate WD40/ACF50/FS365/etc treatment (not getting into that argument again), it shouldn't really be an issue IMHO.


If screws do get a bit manky, then replace them sooner rather than later (though if they are decent quality to start with, they should last for years and years).

 

[ianran]

Screws were being replaced because they were rusting. Decided to swap it all for a triple black gsa

 

[cookie]

A bolt can be used as a screw and a screw can be used as a bolt, though not in all circumstances.
A bolt or screw isn't a physical thing, it is a descriptive term for how that physical thing is used.
A screw has torque applied to the head whereas a bolt (used in conjunction with a nut) has torque applied to the nut.

Insert a screw through two clearance holes to join two items together and use a nut to secure means that screw has now become a bolt.
In motorcycle cases, or any other item where the fastener enters a blind hole/thread only screws are used.

Interesting, but if going to buy such things at the fastener suppliers, IME you'll get done quicker if you remember to ask for bolts if you don't want them threaded all the way along, and ask for set screws if you do.