Bolts! Nuts! Fasteners!

**xwhatsit** · 5th May 2009, 12:16

I never have enough of them. Bolts, nuts, screws, washers... With the amount of junk I have accumulated since I got into bikes a little while ago, I have a little collection of spares, but it's not really adequate.

An old dodger told me I could go to a wrecker and ask if I could buy a box of assorted leftovers. Wreckers ain't what they used to be -- do they perform this `service'?

**Kflasher** · 5th May 2009, 12:27

Go for new ones, most old ones have done there job already, as some are only designed to do a specific job and only once.
I have rebuilt a few bikes and dealing with new fasteners is much better, always have stock of typical sizes & grades and only use nyloks once.
Availability is better than it used to be nowadays.

**Motu** · 5th May 2009, 17:44

Nuts and bolts and other fasteners are very specific on Japanese vehicles - you won't be able to buy that stuff over the counter.I save everything - every engine or gearbox at work gets stripped and all bolts and studs are saved.Most rare are 6,8 and 10mm nuts in Japanese sizes and threads - they seldom use nuts,everything is caged.The nuts are flanged,have washers built in or are self locking - these are gold to me.

Find an old car engine - strip and save.

**tigertim20** · 7th May 2009, 20:07

see if anyone you know is wreckin a car for a demolition derby, I have done a few and the amount of randon strange peculiar and wondeful items I come across and save is mind boggling. see if anyone you know is wrecking a car and get all the bits and pieces you can find!!!

Or carry a tool set with you and every time you see a bike parked up, flog a few nuts and stuff off it. just a few mind, not all of them, just the ones you dont think the owner will notice....

**Squid** · 7th May 2009, 20:19

Originally Posted by tigertim20

......
Or carry a tool set with you and every time you see a bike parked up, flog a few nuts and stuff off it. just a few mind, not all of them, just the ones you dont think the owner will notice....

Sounds like a plan, EVERONE knows that Hondas come with waaaaaaay to many bolts anyways.

It'll make em lighter too so therefore = faster

**Ixion** · 7th May 2009, 21:40

The trouble is the Japs don't use metric nuts and bolts they use the OTHER metric nuts and bolts.

So ordinary metric bolts and nuts that are easy and cheap to get are no good, you have to have the OTHER ones which aren't.

WTF is the point of a non standard standard. At least the Briddish got that sorted. BSF FTW.

**Motu** · 7th May 2009, 22:25

Yes,it's the Japs that are doing it wrong - but because everyone only works on Japanese bikes and cars...they think any other system is wrong.

**gatch** · 7th May 2009, 22:31

Originally Posted by Ixion

BSF FTW.

B.S is about right, there is so many different kinds of b.s threads, at least metric is easier to work out without a pitch gauge.

As for random fasteners I can usually turn up my own, for example today I turned up a m10x1 grub screw, 5mm long in stainless and put a flat head screwdriver slot in the top, its the little dust cap off my front brake caliper.

Looks good too.

**Ocean1** · 7th May 2009, 22:39

Originally Posted by Motu

The nuts are flanged,have washers built in or are self locking - these are gold to me.

Standard spec' for Dynabolt-type nuts.

Not cripplingly expensive, even if you have to buy the whole bolt.

Can get 'em in SS too.

**Motu** · 7th May 2009, 22:48

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Can get 'em in SS too.

But can you get them in all the weird pitches that the Japanese like to use? I suspect they are just in ISO pitch.That's why I save all the Japanese nuts....they fit all the Japanese bolts.

**Ocean1** · 7th May 2009, 22:51

Originally Posted by Motu

But can you get them in all the weird pitches that the Japanese like to use? I suspect they are just in ISO pitch.That's why I save all the Japanese nuts....they fit all the Japanese bolts.

No.

As a matter of interest, how many of the finer threads found on jappers are in fact ISO fine and how many are pure mongrel?

**Motu** · 8th May 2009, 00:03

They may very well be ISO fine - but every nut and bolt supplier who say they have everything,don't.6 and 8mm are ok,but 10 and 12mm are a different story,I've never found a supplier who can supply them.Not just the thread pitch,but also the various lengths,shanks etc.Strip a complete Japanese car,save every bolt you can find - then dump them on the counter and ask for the same please.I bet they can't do a fraction of them.

**xwhatsit** · 8th May 2009, 00:39

I'm a fastener noob. When is metric not metric?

**TLDV8** · 8th May 2009, 00:53

Originally Posted by Ixion

The trouble is the Japs don't use metric nuts and bolts they use the OTHER metric nuts and bolts.

So ordinary metric bolts and nuts that are easy and cheap to get are no good, you have to have the OTHER ones which aren't.

WTF is the point of a non standard standard. At least the Briddish got that sorted. BSF FTW.

They simply use Metric Fine.

M4/.75 mm pitch
M5/.75
M6/1
M8/1.25
M10/1.25
The bigger threads on axles etc are 1.5mm pitch.

All easy to find especially at the likes of Atom Fasteners in East Tamaki who have a great range.