Loose Triple Clamp Pinch Bolts?

[klrman]

I must be getting Alzheimers because I can't remember if any of my old bikes had lock nuts on the triple clamp pinch bolts. Anyway, do any of you loctite your T-Clamp pinch bolts or use lock nuts? Whilst torquing down my bros bike, 7 of the 8 pinch bolts were very very loose, and I just torqed them about a month ago to factory specs of 25nm. Kind of spooky thinking about the stanchion tubes punching you in the face on a hard landing I checked the bolts the other day as I had a dream that the tubes were going to come out and belt me, but luckily I decided to check my brothers bike too and that is when I found out they were so loose.

 

[edzzed]

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i have just over 25000 kms. i check all my bolts occasionally and don't recall any ever coming loose. i don't have alzheimers yet so i think i'd remember if any did loosen up. lol. they say alzheimers isn't all bad, at least you get to meet new people all the time. ED

 

[Pirate]

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Yup, just a few weeks ago I adjusted the centre nut on the triple clamp, of course loosening the tube nuts. Needless to say I forgot to tighten them up and lost everyone. There are no lock washers normally, but if I recall correctly the factory nut has a built in washer that is slightly serrated. Just make sure they are done up tight or as per torque spec.

 

[klrman]

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That's why everybody seems new to me all the time!

I do remember torquing the bolts down last time, that is why I am confused that
they loosed up so much. Doesn't make sense to me and it looks like nobody loc tites them, so I better do some more checking as to why they loosened up!

 

[Flyfisher]

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Triple clamp bolts have to be all torqued, meaning that when you tighten one to torque and move to the other ones and torque them, go back and torque the first again, then the secondetc. until you have done this to allof them.

What I have noticed is that when you do the first one and then do the next one. it will pinch the clamp a little bit, so the first one has to be done again.

Never had a problem doing it this way.

Hope this helps.

 

[klrman]

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That makes good sense. I have been lucky with my other bikes as they never loosened, but the KLR has taught me some lessons about never slacking off on anything.