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r16 air cleaner assembly wing nuts/bolts

Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2020 4:04 pm
by leonhart
Are the bolts (the ones that the wing nuts attach to to hold the cover) replaceable?

Mine are stripped, and the bolts themselves turn around a lot in their little "housing" - looks like maybe they were tack welded and the weld came undone? I'd just try to re-tack it, but since the threads are also stripped in places, just checking to see if there's an easy way to replace them, or if I need a new assembly.

Re: r16 air cleaner assembly wing nuts/bolts

Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2020 4:22 pm
by devo
leonhart wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 4:04 pm Are the bolts (the ones that the wing nuts attach to to hold the cover) replaceable?

Mine are stripped, and the bolts themselves turn around a lot in their little "housing" - looks like maybe they were tack welded and the weld came undone? I'd just try to re-tack it, but since the threads are also stripped in places, just checking to see if there's an easy way to replace them, or if I need a new assembly.

You can replace them. I went to the hardware store and got replacement bolts. I cut out the old, stripped studs and welded the new in their place. I used slightly longer bolts so that I can run the reusable Spectre air filter listed in the Techwiki. Works perfectly.

Re: r16 air cleaner assembly wing nuts/bolts

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2024 5:04 pm
by ppeters914
Anyone come up with another or better idea for stripped bolts? I don't have a welder nor do I play a welder on TV.

Thanks.

Re: r16 air cleaner assembly wing nuts/bolts

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2024 5:21 pm
by GeoffM
Just arm-chairing a solution…but you could cut the stud short, clean-up the threads with a die, and use a threaded hex coupling to thread on a new chunk of threaded rod.

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/coupl ... d+coupling

Re: r16 air cleaner assembly wing nuts/bolts

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2024 5:37 pm
by ppeters914
GeoffM wrote: Sun Aug 04, 2024 5:21 pm Just arm-chairing a solution…but you could cut the stud short, clean-up the threads with a die, and use a threaded hex coupling to thread on a new chunk of threaded rod.

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/coupl ... d+coupling
Nice thought, but most of the thread extends past the air filter cover. The cover would not slide over the coupling nut. It also doesn't solve the problem of the bolt spinning.

Re: r16 air cleaner assembly wing nuts/bolts

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2024 11:46 pm
by GeoffM
ppeters914 wrote: Sun Aug 04, 2024 5:37 pm
GeoffM wrote: Sun Aug 04, 2024 5:21 pm Just arm-chairing a solution…but you could cut the stud short, clean-up the threads with a die, and use a threaded hex coupling to thread on a new chunk of threaded rod.

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/coupl ... d+coupling
Nice thought, but most of the thread extends past the air filter cover. The cover would not slide over the coupling nut. It also doesn't solve the problem of the bolt spinning.
I couldn’t remember how long the stud was. But thinking more about it, yeah.

Re: r16 air cleaner assembly wing nuts/bolts

Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2024 6:08 am
by Stick
Dis regard if mentioned, but I didn't see any mention of just trying to repair what you have rather than replacing....Wouldn't the easiest solution be just re-tapping the threads on the bolts and nuts? Are the threads on the rod that far gone? I have been able to revive a number of bolts, nuts and threaded holes along the way without having to replace the original hardware.

Re: r16 air cleaner assembly wing nuts/bolts

Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2024 9:59 am
by ppeters914
Stick wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 6:08 am Dis regard if mentioned, but I didn't see any mention of just trying to repair what you have rather than replacing....Wouldn't the easiest solution be just re-tapping the threads on the bolts and nuts? Are the threads on the rod that far gone? I have been able to revive a number of bolts, nuts and threaded holes along the way without having to replace the original hardware.
The problem is not just the threads. The bolt heads have become rounded or something, which allows the bolt to spin. This makes it near impossible to fix the threads and/or screw on the wingnuts.