Alt Rider crash bar install assistance please.

[Floracycle]

Tried to install my AltRider crash bars last night and ran into a road block. The two bolts under the steering column that require a 17mm socket are tight. Working with a 3/8 drive breakover bar I twisted a 3 inch Craftsman extension. Before I take a 1/2 x 18 breakover bar to it I wanted to see if anyone else had this problem and solutions before I break something. The bike was cold so I am thinking about riding first to heat things up. Similar stories or advice would be appreciated.

 

[Ridetherock]

I just installed mine a few days ago. Those bolts were incredibly tight. I just barely got em broke free with a half inch ratchet. They let go with a good snap so watch your knuckles as well, I banged one of mine up pretty good doing it

 

[jajpko]

Tried to install my AltRider crash bars last night and ran into a road block. The two bolts under the steering column that require a 17mm socket are tight. Working with a 3/8 drive breakover bar I twisted a 3 inch Craftsman extension. Before I take a 1/2 x 18 breakover bar to it I wanted to see if anyone else had this problem and solutions before I break something. The bike was cold so I am thinking about riding first to heat things up. Similar stories or advice would be appreciated.

This is probably the only time I will recommend using an impact wrench, but if you have a one, it would work taking the bolt out. Putting it back in use a torque wrench.

 

[Floracycle]

Thanks guys will try the impact wrench first.

 

[Wanderer]

Howdy,
I went with the 1/2" breaker bar and a 6 point socket. They are very tight.
Later,
Norm

 

[Don in Lodi]

Ummm, lefty; loosey, righty; tighty... O

 

[Camel]

I remember mine been tight, but I got them off with just a few whacks with the palm of my hand on a socket wrench. Great bars to...loving them. Good luck, but you should be OK. Maybe try a solid socket wrench handle and give it a few hits with a small mallet.

 

[Floracycle]

Ummm, lefty; loosey, righty; tighty... O

Roger that. Although in the past I have had luck going left first then right then left. No luck this time. I didn't get a chance to work on it last night maybe tonight.

 

[r1d1]

I found them hard to loosen off as well, when I installed my AltRider bars.

They should be torqued up to 75Nm ( from the service manual), that's why they're so hard to free up. ::008::

The replacement bolts provided with my bars required a 19mm socket to fit, as opposed to the 17mm socket to remove the originals - said 17mm in the instructions :question: