Bar Ups and locktite

[JimFNH]

Hi - just received a set of bar risers from Suburban Machinery, lightning fast delivery, Nice finish and fit on the spacers. Question is they recommend that all the factory anti-seize be cleaned off with alcohol before reassembly.

Should I be concerned about using something during reassembly? Locktite on the threads? The hardware is stainless and the block aluminum. Is over torquing a problem? Just trying to think it thru before I start. As always all your help is appreciated!

Jim

[Railbender]

I would use some low strength thread locker, such as Loctite 242 or an anti-sieze compound. The main reason being the joint of dissimilar metals. In theory either one will affect the torque value to some extent. Did the factory bolts have something on them? You didn't specify what bike but normally bar torque is only about 21Nm. If you are concerned about over torquing use perhaps 1Nm less.

:buds

[PETDOC]

Jim,
Like yourself I have an aftermarket aluminum attachment for the bars (also replaced the bars with Protapers). The new setup came with eight stainless steel 6mm socket head bolts, but no torque recommendations. I started reading up on appropriate torque and stainless steel. Some interesting facts--on my 6mm bolts the recommended torque is only 9 N-m, which caused me to remove and discard all the bolts I had way over torqued. Do a Goggle search on torque and bolts and you'll come up with some great tables for all bolt sizes and types of metals. Stainless steel does not allow loctite to bound appropriately--see very informative loctite thread on Advrider.com, and stainless steel is brittle, so may not be best metal for critical components that may experience a sheer force. End result for me was to use the SS bolts with a thin wavy washer, torqued to 9 N-m and no thread locker. If I could locate the appropriate 6mm x 55mm socket head bolts in a zinc coated steel (like OEM bolts) I would use them instead of SS.
Here's a good bolt torque calculator-
http://www.futek.com/boltcalc.aspx