Thread: Transom Bolt Stretch?

Loctite is a must on Harleys. The red especially.

Originally Posted by wilbur

Loctite is a must on Harleys. The red especially.

I use a lot of blue on trucks....out of curiosity...what all do you use the red on when working with Harleys? We have a Harley guy that drives for us. Has a truck that I wouldn't cross the highway in...but MAN...you should see his bike! Left it in the shop one night when he was out. I didn't even want to walk by it, it was so clean! He has rebuilt many.

After looking at the motor installation (Merc 150 four stroke), the installer could've drilled the lower bolt holes closer to an inner brace. This resulted in the inner wall of the transom slightly bowing when the nuts are torqued. The stiffener plates keep it from bowing very far. If it becomes a problem, I'll drill the bottom holes lower, closer to an inner brace. The engine bolt holes are slotted, so I can do that. I replaced the locknuts and used blue loctite.

Thanks for your ideas and suggestions. If nothing else, I learned about bolt types and strengths.

Originally Posted by Scrapper

I use a lot of blue on trucks....out of curiosity...what all do you use the red on when working with Harleys? We have a Harley guy that drives for us. Has a truck that I wouldn't cross the highway in...but MAN...you should see his bike! Left it in the shop one night when he was out. I didn't even want to walk by it, it was so clean! He has rebuilt many.

All the engine an trans bolts except for the head bolts.

wow...wouldn't never guessed that. Guess they are such good bikes they aren't ever supposed to be taken apart! Wouldn't that be nice!
Thanks for that.

Naw Scrapper, they shake so much all the bolts would vibrate out if not glued in LOL

Originally Posted by wannabe fisherman

Naw Scrapper, they shake so much all the bolts would vibrate out if not glued in LOL

Best shake in the world though and the chicks seem to dig it

I guess we just going to completely Hijack Searks post, but when I was a youngster I owned Triumph, BSA and Matchless twin and single cyl motorcycles. Talk about vibration, Red Loctite wouldn't hold those things together. Go for a 500 mile trip and you better have your tool kit and tighten everything up every couple hundred miles.