Who does regular nut and bolt inspections

chameleon · Post by **chameleon** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:26 pm

I was at the girl's shop the other day, having a smoke outside and probing over my bike "as you do" When I found a loose bolt up under the front of the fairing. Nothing structural, it held the horn or some such on. I grabbed a spanner from under the seat (thank you kawasaki) and nipped it up. Then later at home took it out and applied some loctite to it and it's mate on the other side.

So my question is, How many people here make it a regular thing to go over the bike with a few spanners and test all the external nuts and bolts? I was thinking of doing it every oil change myself.

Stace · Post by **Stace** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:54 pm

I do mine every wash. When i finish Chamieing (i know i can't spell) it off in the shed i go over everything. Just comes frokm racing i guess and getting scrutineered all the time. Good habit to get into though.

mike-s · Post by **mike-s** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:04 pm

I give it a once over once in a while. Halfway through the last putty run i went on, i noticed the rhs dash mount bolt was loose *again*, i must have forgotten to nip it up last time i took it off. I say "again" as it happened to me with the old bolts once months ago, this was right before i went over my bike with a fistfull of stainless steel hex-headed bolts to replace all the slightly dodgy, (i.e. cheesed up), ones.

Smitty · Post by **Smitty** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:26 pm

Stace wrote:... Chamieing (i know i can't spell) it off in the shed i go over everything. ...

Stace
lesson of the day

chamois..animal and the leather of the animal
(also name for synthetic leather replacement)
used to /soak up remove water
so
chamoising..the verb as in removing water
from ya bike

cheers

Smitty · Post by **Smitty** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:35 pm

mine get the once over
..when I clean the bike after every run!

its a habit I have after losing a front mudguard off my Suzi waterbottle
that I had at the time..they had a reputation for vibrating the guard off
Suzukis do not like running over their own mudguards

and it nearly pitched me off...so lesson learnt

cheers

Plaz · Post by **Plaz** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:50 pm

The 636 is pretty "buzzy" so i NOW make a habbit of checking the lot over once every 2 weeks.

I say now cause until I became aware of thei "buzzyness" I didn't bother and the result was 3 bolts in an engine cover vibrating loose enough to create a small oil leak (more like seeping). 2 turns each with a socket spanner and no more leaks.

chameleon · Post by **chameleon** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 5:12 pm

Ok ok!!! Lets scrap the "every oil change" plan and go for something a little more regular. I think I'll go over her every 500k, that's when I check/adjust the chain.

Gosling1 · Post by **Gosling1** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 6:36 pm

STACE

He's always checking his NUTS and his BOLT !!!!!!!

I luv you maaaaaaaate

PrinceAlbertDave

Stace · Post by **Stace** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 6:40 pm

Gosling1 wrote:STACE

He's always checking his NUTS and his BOLT !!!!!!!

I luv you maaaaaaaate

PrinceAlbertDave

NO mate, i loooooovvvvvveeeeeee you.

Oh and by the way, you did your home work but mine isn't a prince albert, its an "apridavria"

jpbikeboy · Post by **jpbikeboy** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:14 pm

I don't need to check mine as my bike is apart so friggin often.

Gosling1 · Post by **Gosling1** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:38 pm

Stace wrote:..... but mine isn't a prince albert, its an "apridavria"

an apra-WHAT ?? anything like an "abracadabra" ??

Back on topic - checking *real* nuts and bolts is always worth the time, it only takes a couple of minutes to go over the important ones......

My old YZ500 chooky needs the engine-mounts checked after *every* ride

man that thing is the most *vibey* bike I have ever owned......

ty · Post by ty » Wed Mar 08, 2006 8:56 pm

I really only get around to checking them when I service the bike - so once a month or so
ty

Neka79 · Post by **Neka79** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 10:28 pm

i do mine every time i put the bike back together

actually the boys will tell ya..a freak thing happened at the GP last year...dan was playing with my bike whilst pissed..i decided not to ride to town, but to walk (think id had a few drinks)..i get back & get handed this HUGE bolt..it was a rear subframe bolt..Dave was walking past & noticed it on the grass beside my bike....lucky i didnt try riding it like that!

HemiDuty · Post by **HemiDuty** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 10:38 pm

I check the main bolts on the race bike everytime out (except when I forget, and then panic about the caliper bolts just before braking for turn 3). But I never really bother with the roadbikes, although I should get into the habit. Have had stuff come off them before.....

mohawk miss · Post by **mohawk miss** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 1:42 pm

I check mine after every ride. This is how I came to discover that both front fairing bolts were missing after it had been at the mechanics for 5 days

grrr.

No wonder it was more rattley than usual