Stuck Fasteners

[doats]

I have new '08 Nomad. I have tried three different allen wrenches to remove windshield fasteners (4). They won't budge. Any ideas?

Ken

[dragon57]

no guarantees, but, sometimes, if you turn just a pinch toward clockwise (tightening), then reverse, to go couter clockwise (loosening), it may loosen them just enough.
otherwise; try to squirt some wd/400 in from behind, if you can get to it; then let it soak for 30 minutes.
be sure NOT to get wd/40 in the "socket" area where the allen wrench goes, or it will cause slippage, and stripping of the bolt head.
another thing to try is; take a small block of wood; hold onto the head of bolt, then hit it pretty hard a couple times, to loosen the threads a little.
hope this helps...

[flightdoc]

take it to the dealer and have them loosen them.

[bosko]

I used a 3/8 drive ratchet with the appropriate Allen tip(socket) My closest dealer is 3 hours away.

Or If you have good quality Allen wrenches you can try using a snipe to give you more leverage. I use a box end wrench that will slip over the Allen wrench. Try a 9/16 Box end.


Cheap Allen wrenches just bent and twist.

[burkazoid]

I had the same problem the first time I took the windshield off my 2005 Nomad. I was practically standing on the damn wrench, and they wouldn't budge. I finally used a cheater bar, and remember a loud *pop* the first time they broke loose.

[redeye]

I tried to lower my w/s once, & all but one bolt came loose. I stipped the head of the lone stand out. I then figured I like the height of the w/s where it is after all.

[burkazoid]

Originally Posted by Redeye

I tried to lower my w/s once, & all but one bolt came loose. I stipped the head of the lone stand out. I then figured I like the height of the w/s where it is after all.

I didn't strip one, but I did back it out crooked, and it locked in that position. Had to dremel it off, and drill out the remains. That was one frustrating week, since I couldn't get it all done in one day.

I wound up taking all of the supporting brackets off the bike as well, and tapped out all of the fastener wells. The allen bolts slide in and out just fine now. No more grunting and farting to back them out. ;)

[Top Cat]

Three of mine on my 07 came out with the technique Bosko suggested. One however rounded the hex hole in the screw.
I took a sawsall and cut a slot in it and used a big ass screwdriver to loosen it. I would recommend a Dremil tool over a sawsall but I didn't own one at that time

[Yellow Jacket]

Use a good penetrating oil to loosen them up. It works much better than WD-40. When you reassemble, don't over torque like the dealers do when them assemble them out of the crate.

[timebandit]

On of mine was crooss treaded when I took it out. Seems that they install them with impact wrench when put together at some dealers from out the crate

[skeeter]

One cross threaded and all with loctite (or similar product) on the threads. Snapped an allen wrench and twisted another before I got the cross threaded one out. Also got a tap and chased the threads to eliminate future problems.

TC - Karma for the sawzall. My favorite tool.

[slots]

Ken.
I too fought them buggers for a long afternoon. A pro auto mechanic friend of mine came to my home and removed them for me. His method/tips were:

1. Use penetrating oil on each...allow to sit for an hour or two (we drank beer and watched football while waiting)...
2. Use ONLY hi-quality 3/8 inch sockets with the allen wrench tips. Don't use the cheap versions...'cause the allen tip itself can strip and round out on ya. He told me the socket-type allen wrenches keep the torque aligned in the hole.... the cheap "L" shaped allens allow the wrench torque to angle to one side or the other while we are twisting it....and will increase the probability of rounding the hole...
3. Tap the wrench (inserted in the hole) with a small hammer a couple of times to break the tension if required.....
4. Keep constant pressure on the wrench......

Anyway.....some of mine came loose with a "pop"...others unwound with few issues. One of the buggers took a good bit of force...I thought something would break...but it finally came out.

Lastly...apply a good coat of anti-sieze compound on them when you reinstall. My fix was to buy replacement stainless metric bolts with the normal bolt head on them...applied anti-seize...installed the replacement bolts and threw them damned allen-head bolts in the trash bin.

Slots

[zoom45]

Try heating it up with a good hair dryer or heat gun then try to breeak it loose.
Zoom

[dogdoc]

:-)

[skeeter]

Honey! Have you seen my hair dryer?