How?


I have never had one strip...Ever! If they are torqued properly and you are using the right size bit they come right out.

 

When I bought my street bob one of the screws had the head busted off. When I took the derby cover off the rest of it spun right out using my fingers.

 

Plain and simple - the guy who put them in put them in too tightly. They're designed to lock *without* loctite or any other stuff. It's why the *SERVICE MANUAL* says to only torque to 40-70 *INCH POUNDS*, or, let your one-year old kid turn the torx driver and done! People who have problems with these bolts like this are those who think they know better than the manual and the spec's it says to use. In the OP's case, the twit who had the bike before him screwed things up.

 

Well you are partially correct. That twit, was me. I changed the oil last time. So I am certain I was the one guilty of overtightening them. No loctite here. But no anti-seize either. Honestly I would never have thought to use anti on these bolts. Spark plugs, exhaust bolts, sure. But on a cover like this. No.
Oh well from the sounds of it from others that have had this problem it is the head/washer that is seized and not the threads. Will look better with Chrome allen bolts anyway.
And I believe this time I will dig out the in/lb torgue

 

Hmmm how many hundreds of phillips head screws have I drilled out since birth. In a weird way I enjoy it. I relish the moment the head breaks off onto the drill bit like a wedding ring. BTW I like Torx.

 

Whats weird is the way you described it like a ring put a little smile on my face for some reason.

 

Do the derby cover holes go all the way through ? If so, screw a bolt in from the opposite side with red Lock-tite, and the attach the cover with chrome acorns and washer if needed. Now you have a steel bolt and nut that can be replaced if needed.

 

A few whacks with a rubber mallet usually helps loosens them up a bit. And you have to go at it slow while putting pressure on your wrench until they break loose. I use a 1/4" ratchet so I can use my palm to apply pressure. A palm ratchet wrench would work well too.

 

My neighbor tightened his so much, and unevenly, that he actually warped the derby cover.
I got it off for him, but the cover wouldn't seal after that. Lucky for him, I had a spare I gave him. but I made sure I put it on.

 

Happy to oblige:

https://www.assemblymag.com/articles...for-automation