Hitchcocks Forum

Anyone know the t wrench settings for the B350 front wheel spindle clamp nuts.

I wouldn't risk going near those with a torque wrench, the temptation is to just wind them in until it clicks. The threads are not very well cut and there is a really high risk of winding the stud out of the alloy of the fork leg, taking the thread with it. I've had to fit thread repair inserts to all of the ones on my 350 bullet over the years.



I'd suggest replacing the nuts with nyloks or two conventional nuts tightened together as locknuts. I'd suggest tightening them down with a ring spanner or a 3/8" drive socket while paying careful attention to the feel of it, if it seems to be winding in without getting tighter, stop, there is a good chance the thread is stripping. If it's nipped up reasonably tight and there's no play, the nylok or locknut will stop it undoing.



With my latest build, I actually cut out the middle man and fitted thread inserts before they went. I use a plain nut with a nylok on top.

Thanks for the advice.After years off tightening nuts and bolts by "feel" I only recently purchased a new torque wrench.After using it for the recommended settings on my Japanese bike (ie oil filter) I was pretty much horrified to find out how much I had been overtightening in the past.

Jamesy, you can find charts on the net for torque values to use on fasteners.
If you can't find a specific value, just use the generic one. Just be aware of the material you are threading into, it makes a big difference.
If the threads are not as they should be then they need fixing. Don't just reduce the torque on the fastening. If you feel a thread yielding it's too late and a repair should be done. A Helicoil type would be sufficient and would be much stronger than threaded alloy. An insert would be even better.
I wouldn't compromise on the spindle clamps.

Oh, and if you've never done a Helicoil repair, it's not difficult to get a good result.

good testomony of jamesy for use of a torqeu wrench.



as long as the torque whren is calibrated and used in the correct manner, its your friend not your enemy.



more threads have been dammaged with the nudge it up method than use of a torque wrench.



and the story that back then they didn't us torque wrenches, so you should't us it now is completley wrong.

that,s people talking without any knowledge and who are just parroting.

Well. I'd strongly suggest anyone who intends doing up the fork clamps on a bullet with a torque wrench buys an M8 helicoil kit before they start.

Money where my mouth is. The steel inserts certainly give me a lot more confidence.

Did you get away drilling them by hand or machine set up.The parts manual has them listed as 5/16 BSF.

I did them by hand because it's only making the hole a little bigger.



Parts book does list them as 5/16BSF. Hmm. M8 nuts screwed all the way onto mine by hand and the studs screwed into the helicoils with finger pressure only.



Best to check what you have I suppose.