Frozen rotor bolts

kvgeorge1 · May 28th, 2018, 03:14 PM

I am having to replace my rotors on my 250R. I am the 3rd owner, so I don't know what was done before. However, the rotor bolts are frozen (or stuck) and I am not able to break them loose. Also, I am using a manual impact driver (the one's you hit with a hammer) set to loosen and still cannot get the bolts to budge.

Am I just SOL?

MLR · May 28th, 2018, 04:16 PM

Have you soaked them with penetrant?

If not, take the front wheel off and lay it flat, soak with penetrant and leave for a day, then hit them with your impact driver.

Have you tried heating them?

I've struggled with bolts when someone has used red lock tight before.

Penetrant, heat and your impact driver should sort it out.

kvgeorge1 · May 28th, 2018, 04:38 PM

So, by "heating" them, do you mean with a blow-torch (propane)?

DannoXYZ · May 28th, 2018, 06:11 PM

Yes, heat them with torch. A lot of them come from factory with red Loctite. Be sure to re-install to correct torque. It's gonna feel like you're gonna snap them, but that's correct amount. Don't want those suckers loosening!

kvgeorge1 · May 28th, 2018, 06:37 PM

I've never done anything like that before. So, when I heat them, do I keep the torch on them until they turn red, or just heat them up a little bit?

kvgeorge1 · May 28th, 2018, 07:26 PM

Got 'em off! Letting the penetrating oil sit for longer and quite a bit of rapping with the impact driver did the trick. Oh, and yes - RED THREAD LOCKER! So, now that it is off, how do I clean the inside of the threaded holes of all the old red locktite?

DannoXYZ · May 28th, 2018, 08:16 PM

Leave it on and use a drop of blue Loctite when re-installing. Won't be as difficult next time, but still secure as Loctite fills void in threads and prevents rattling loose.

kvgeorge1 · May 28th, 2018, 08:28 PM

Awesome! Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

jkv45 · May 29th, 2018, 06:01 AM

One suggestion when heating to remove a bolt that is seized or has red loctite on it - apply heat around the threaded area and not directly on the bolt itself.

You do want to loosen the loctite, but you are also heating to expand the area around the bolt to help release it. Even a seized bolt that doesn't have loctite will be easily removed if you expand the threads around it.

A temperature differential between the bolt (colder) and mount area (hotter) is what you are looking for - not just getting everything hot.

May 28th, 2018, 03:14 PM	#1
kvgeorge1 ninjette.org member Name: Ken Location: houston Join Date: Jul 2017 Motorcycle(s): EX250J Posts: 47	Frozen rotor bolts I am having to replace my rotors on my 250R. I am the 3rd owner, so I don't know what was done before. However, the rotor bolts are frozen (or stuck) and I am not able to break them loose. Also, I am using a manual impact driver (the one's you hit with a hammer) set to loosen and still cannot get the bolts to budge. Am I just SOL?

May 28th, 2018, 07:26 PM	#6
kvgeorge1 ninjette.org member Name: Ken Location: houston Join Date: Jul 2017 Motorcycle(s): EX250J Posts: 47	Got 'em off! Letting the penetrating oil sit for longer and quite a bit of rapping with the impact driver did the trick. Oh, and yes - RED THREAD LOCKER! So, now that it is off, how do I clean the inside of the threaded holes of all the old red locktite?
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

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May 28th, 2018, 04:16 PM	#2
MLR ninjette.org member Name: Mark Location: Australia Join Date: Feb 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R Posts: 219	Have you soaked them with penetrant? If not, take the front wheel off and lay it flat, soak with penetrant and leave for a day, then hit them with your impact driver. Have you tried heating them? I've struggled with bolts when someone has used red lock tight before. Penetrant, heat and your impact driver should sort it out.

May 28th, 2018, 04:38 PM	#3
kvgeorge1 ninjette.org member Name: Ken Location: houston Join Date: Jul 2017 Motorcycle(s): EX250J Posts: 47	So, by "heating" them, do you mean with a blow-torch (propane)?

May 28th, 2018, 06:11 PM	#4
DannoXYZ ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: AKA JacRyann Location: Mesa, AZ Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17	Yes, heat them with torch. A lot of them come from factory with red Loctite. Be sure to re-install to correct torque. It's gonna feel like you're gonna snap them, but that's correct amount. Don't want those suckers loosening!

May 28th, 2018, 06:37 PM	#5
kvgeorge1 ninjette.org member Name: Ken Location: houston Join Date: Jul 2017 Motorcycle(s): EX250J Posts: 47	I've never done anything like that before. So, when I heat them, do I keep the torch on them until they turn red, or just heat them up a little bit?

May 28th, 2018, 08:16 PM	#7
DannoXYZ ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: AKA JacRyann Location: Mesa, AZ Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17	Leave it on and use a drop of blue Loctite when re-installing. Won't be as difficult next time, but still secure as Loctite fills void in threads and prevents rattling loose.

May 28th, 2018, 08:28 PM	#8
kvgeorge1 ninjette.org member Name: Ken Location: houston Join Date: Jul 2017 Motorcycle(s): EX250J Posts: 47	Awesome! Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

May 29th, 2018, 06:01 AM	#9
jkv45 Rev Limiter Name: Jay Location: WI Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jun '18, Oct '16	One suggestion when heating to remove a bolt that is seized or has red loctite on it - apply heat around the threaded area and not directly on the bolt itself. You do want to loosen the loctite, but you are also heating to expand the area around the bolt to help release it. Even a seized bolt that doesn't have loctite will be easily removed if you expand the threads around it. A temperature differential between the bolt (colder) and mount area (hotter) is what you are looking for - not just getting everything hot.