02 CR and CRF owner- very important!!

[mxfonzeeboy]

If you own an 02 CR or CRF you might want to check your rear axle nut. I had mine sieze up this weekend and it ruined the axle nut, bolt and chain tightener block. I had the nut torqued to spec, but it still pulled the threads out of the nut. I am going to use anti-sieze as soon as I get my new bolt, nut and tightener block. I also have a friend with an 02 CRF 450 that almost had the same problem. Luckily he caught his in time before any permanent damage was done.

 

[DEANSFASTWAY]

What is it a reaction with different metals ?

 

[Rich Rohrich]

Sounds like a maintenance issue.

 

[motometal]

Don't feel bad, I just stripped out the nut on my suspension linkage bolt while using a torque wrench!

I know torque wrenches are "the right" way to do it. Maybe my wrench is off or the numbers in the book are off.

I had no problems the first 20 years of my wrenching life just using ratchets, common sense, and locktite. I personally think the torque wrench is more trouble than it's worth for most applications. I still plan to use it for cylinder heads and tripple clamps.

 

[CanadianRidr]

Moto I never ever used a torque wrench but when I decided to send my suspension away I decided to bite the bullet and by a VERY expensive torque wrench. Well needless to say I smooshed some bolts and ruined an axle, I learnt my lesson but I guess the rule is live and learn :thumb:

 

[mxfonzeeboy]

"Sounds like a maintenance issue."

I do ride my bike hard, but I do all necessary mainenance to it. So when a guy buys a new CRF 450, rides it a maximum of 10 easy rides and washes it after every ride I find it hard to believe that it is a maintenance issue!

 

[los36]

I have a freind who just picked up his 03 CR250. While in the process of regreasing all of the bearings, he snapped a linkage bolt and the brake pedal bolt. At first, I though it was his torque wrench or just his ignorance, but it sounds like Honda's torque specs are just way off.

 

[slideways11]

The reason you are stripping your bolts is that you are using a dry torque value on a bolt that you have gotten grease on.For example a 5/16-18 that would dry torque to 29ft/lbs would only torque to 16ft/lbs if you applied white grease to the threads.

 

[Humai]

I had a similar experience with the WR250F - some of the torque figures stated in the manual - for example, the front engine mount bolts - were just plain wrong.

Use a torque wrench but never switch off the "common-sense-what-feels-right-for-this-bolt-diameter-ometer".

 

[Zero]

Before I ever rode my CR250 I stripped one of the linkage nuts when taking it off! On my previous 00 CR250 I stripped one the linkage nuts as well putting it on using -5 lbs of what the torque table said.

Personally I think those builtin lock washer things can sometimes funk up the threads and cause some of these issues regardless of how anal we are about proper upkeep.

And I agree the torque values are out of whack, they should be used as guidelines. Calibrate your hand/arm and call it good. I never torque my rear axle nut. Its all by feel.