starter bolts der airhead

Rapid Dog · 01-04-2007, 01:32 PM

...well gee, my last airhead had capscrews holding in the starter motor...this derelict GS has two 13mmm hexhead bolts...

oh sure, I can get a socket on the left side bolt but that's it...the useless tranny flange is in the way....what's a mother to do???

Ugh · 01-04-2007, 02:32 PM

I use a 3/8" drive wobble extension to get to the rear one. Works pretty well.

jtwind · 01-04-2007, 02:53 PM

I've gotten that one with a little 1/4" breaker bar and a 12 point socket. JT

Rapid Dog · 01-04-2007, 02:59 PM

...'ll give it a try den...

Rapid Dog · 01-04-2007, 08:34 PM

only thing that seemed to work was grinding down a spare 13mm 10pt boxend wrench....just barely...

datchew · 01-05-2007, 07:00 AM

there's always 1 ridiculously tight space to get a bolt from in every vehicle.

I've read that people replace these bolts with recessed allen head bolts to make it easier the next time.

If anyone knows where to buy these bolts, please cough it up. My starter is in the mail and I wanna have the bolts ready to upgrade.

The local hardware store only has standard. Bastards.

Size according to the fish is (M8X45)

Rapid Dog · 01-05-2007, 07:34 AM

...only place I kmow for sure you can get high quality metric bolts is MCMASTER.COM...but you have to buy boxes of them.
you find a source let me know!

Motomech · 01-05-2007, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by datchew

there's always 1 ridiculously tight space to get a bolt from in every vehicle.

I've read that people replace these bolts with recessed allen head bolts to make it easier the next time.

If anyone knows where to buy these bolts, please cough it up. My starter is in the mail and I wanna have the bolts ready to upgrade.

The local hardware store only has standard. Bastards.

Size according to the fish is (M8X45)

I just swap the airbox mounting bolts(Allens) with the starter mounting bolts.

datchew · 01-05-2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motomech

I just swap the airbox mounting bolts(Allens) with the starter mounting bolts.

Why the hell didn't I think of that?

Suppermotodd · 01-05-2007, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motomech

I just swap the airbox mounting bolts(Allens) with the starter mounting bolts.

That's F**ing Brilliant dude!

bmwblake · 01-05-2007, 12:59 PM

my local true value and lowe's both have metric bolts and fasteners. might give one of those a shot if you haven't.

motomech, good idea on swapping bolts with the airbox. very elegant solution.

Quote:

Originally Posted by datchew

there's always 1 ridiculously tight space to get a bolt from in every vehicle.

I've read that people replace these bolts with recessed allen head bolts to make it easier the next time.

If anyone knows where to buy these bolts, please cough it up. My starter is in the mail and I wanna have the bolts ready to upgrade.

The local hardware store only has standard. Bastards.

Size according to the fish is (M8X45)

Motomech · 01-06-2007, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwblake

my local true value and lowe's both have metric bolts and fasteners. might give one of those a shot if you haven't.

motomech, good idea on swapping bolts with the airbox. very elegant solution.

Yeah, kinda makes you wonder why BMW didn't think of it.

Hennepinboy · 01-06-2007, 06:02 AM

BMW part number, for the trans to engine bolts

07119901029

fillister-head screw (M8X40)

BUY

2

$1.03

From the Max BMW web site.

datchew · 01-07-2007, 07:29 PM

just a quick FYI:

put in my new valeo today after some extensive cleaning.
Some dead bugs, dirt, grime, etc.

Those stock bolts are very hard to get to. I was starting to cuss because i don't have a grinder or a file handy when i remembered this super cheap $9 set of wrenches i bought from harbor freight. It's the crappy chicago brand of box end's that goes from 5mm to 32mm.

Anway, my ratchet wrenches certainly didn't fit. several sockets did but not with a ratchet or wobble socket attached. an old s-k breaker bar almost fit, but not quite. none of my box end wrenches fit, but amazingly, that piece of crap chicago wrench set's 13mm just barely BARELY fit in there on the left side bolt. (left leg as riding it)

The other side i had to pull the crankcase vent rubber tube from the airbox and put an extension and socket through it to get it.

Anyway got them out and replaced with allen bolt M10x40 from Lowes. The originals are 45mm long but i measured the portion of the starter that the threads go into. They're a full 15mm deep and threaded all the way through. So the M10x40 (also same as the upper two tranny bolts mentioned) will still catch a full 10mm of threads.

Since they're mostly working against shear forces (keeping the starter from rotating in place) I think they'll be just fine like that.

If they shear off, i'll let you know.

01-04-2007, 01:32 PM	#1
Rapid Dog ^OP bikes, booze, broads... Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Strangel Living West of Hell Oddometer: 8,300	starter bolts der airhead ...well gee, my last airhead had capscrews holding in the starter motor...this derelict GS has two 13mmm hexhead bolts... oh sure, I can get a socket on the left side bolt but that's it...the useless tranny flange is in the way....what's a mother to do???

01-04-2007, 02:32 PM	#2
Ugh Redneck Adventurer Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Middle Tennessee Oddometer: 35	Do this... I use a 3/8" drive wobble extension to get to the rear one. Works pretty well. __________________ ________________________________ Dyslexics of the world - UNTIE!

01-04-2007, 02:59 PM	#4
Rapid Dog ^OP bikes, booze, broads... Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Strangel Living West of Hell Oddometer: 8,300	...oketdokey ...'ll give it a try den...

01-04-2007, 08:34 PM	#5
Rapid Dog ^OP bikes, booze, broads... Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Strangel Living West of Hell Oddometer: 8,300	grind only thing that seemed to work was grinding down a spare 13mm 10pt boxend wrench....just barely...

01-05-2007, 07:00 AM	#6
datchew Don't buy from Brad Joined: Aug 2005 Location: Savannah - the dirty south Oddometer: 7,403	there's always 1 ridiculously tight space to get a bolt from in every vehicle. I've read that people replace these bolts with recessed allen head bolts to make it easier the next time. If anyone knows where to buy these bolts, please cough it up. My starter is in the mail and I wanna have the bolts ready to upgrade. The local hardware store only has standard. Bastards. Size according to the fish is (M8X45) __________________ On tap:Nada Aging: 3 experiments in mead - blackberry, apple, and straight honey

01-04-2007, 02:53 PM	#3
jtwind Wisconsin Airhead Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Madison WI Oddometer: 3,451	I've gotten that one with a little 1/4" breaker bar and a 12 point socket. JT

01-05-2007, 07:34 AM	#7
Rapid Dog ^OP bikes, booze, broads... Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Strangel Living West of Hell Oddometer: 8,300	Mcm ...only place I kmow for sure you can get high quality metric bolts is MCMASTER.COM...but you have to buy boxes of them. you find a source let me know!

01-07-2007, 07:29 PM	#14
datchew Don't buy from Brad Joined: Aug 2005 Location: Savannah - the dirty south Oddometer: 7,403	just a quick FYI: put in my new valeo today after some extensive cleaning. Some dead bugs, dirt, grime, etc. Those stock bolts are very hard to get to. I was starting to cuss because i don't have a grinder or a file handy when i remembered this super cheap $9 set of wrenches i bought from harbor freight. It's the crappy chicago brand of box end's that goes from 5mm to 32mm. Anway, my ratchet wrenches certainly didn't fit. several sockets did but not with a ratchet or wobble socket attached. an old s-k breaker bar almost fit, but not quite. none of my box end wrenches fit, but amazingly, that piece of crap chicago wrench set's 13mm just barely BARELY fit in there on the left side bolt. (left leg as riding it) The other side i had to pull the crankcase vent rubber tube from the airbox and put an extension and socket through it to get it. Anyway got them out and replaced with allen bolt M10x40 from Lowes. The originals are 45mm long but i measured the portion of the starter that the threads go into. They're a full 15mm deep and threaded all the way through. So the M10x40 (also same as the upper two tranny bolts mentioned) will still catch a full 10mm of threads. Since they're mostly working against shear forces (keeping the starter from rotating in place) I think they'll be just fine like that. If they shear off, i'll let you know. __________________ On tap:Nada Aging: 3 experiments in mead - blackberry, apple, and straight honey

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