Safety Wire

What do you want to safety wire? What group are you riding in? You can use RTV for a lot of it.

 

Harbor Freight has inexpensive safety wire pliers and safety wire. The only other tool you need is a 1/16 drill bits. Buy a few they break. When drilling go slow and use wd40 to keep the bit cool while drilling the bolts. There isn't really much to it.

 

I went through this when I got bumped to Intermediate late last season. It seems like it's some sort of evil hazing ritual, but I would highly suggest grabbing a cheap set of safety wire pliers and learning to do it yourself even if you have the bolts drilled by someone else.

EDIT: Buy more than "a few" 1/16 drill bits. I went through 5 (all I had) and luckily was close enough to finish the job with a nail and hammer. A friend with a drill press would be a HUGE help.

 

eric, i can help with that. harbor freight is your friend. lots of 1/16 drill bits (LOTS), 1 pound can of saftey wire (thicker version) will last your lifetime, and the small pliers set.
i am going to buy one of the drill guides soon too. just help extend the drill bit life. Ski

 

Find someone who will let you borrow the fixture to hold the bolts. Thanks me later

 

+1 on the drill press.
You can buy pre-drilled bolts also, but still have to drill a few others.

 

+1 on buying the bolts pre drilled. I know Ed Bargy sells kits for the standard 600, Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda. Maybe other bikes. lots of places on the web to buy predrilled bolts. little more expensive but to me well worth it. couple hours swapping out one bolt at a time and all bolts ready for wiring.

 

do you know you can thread the wire through whatever hole then take both loos ends and place them into a drill, tighten the chuck, and spin it at LOW speed to twist the wire.

 

Always convenient when you are wiring the front axle to the back axle and the pliers make you tired.... :fencing:

 

Drill press, pick up one on craigslist. Watch a couple youtube how too videos..

 

I prefer thinner gauge wire like .019 or .017. To me its easier to work with and braids nicer. I also have never used anything to cool the bit. Just go very slow with low rpm and let the tiny little drill bit do its thing. A center punch can also be useful to keep the bit from wandering around when starting a new hole. :cheers:

 

Here you go.....

 

I bought 3, broke 2 and as much as I hate to admit this, make sure the drill is set to drill the correct way. I spent like, 10 minutes with the oil drain bolt in the vice trying to figure out why I wasn't making any progress :doh:. Didn't break the bit until I started drilling correctly and over halfway through. Just be steady if you end up doing it yourself and you shouldn't break too many.

 

Easiest way is with a drill press. I had a friend drill 4 oil drain plugs because he had a drill press. I gave him 20 bits from Harbor Freight (10 packs for $2.99) expecting him to break nearly all of them. Next day, he gave me 4 drilled oil drain plugs and 17 unbroken drill bits. A drill press is the way to go and like previously said, take is slow.

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There are a couple things to look at while drilling screw heads.
First thing is to center punch them to make sure the drill goes in straight. If it goes in an angle chances are high it will just snap off on you.
Next thing is it needs RPM to get the cutting speed right. A drill that small into mild steel should run around 3000rpm (http://www.ollivier.nl/html/drillspeedchart.htm). Take it easy on the feed don't push too hard.
I drilled quite some bolts by now and didn't snap too many drills so far, but I do have drill press (cheap ass HF one) and that helps A LOT! Also a good HSS drill, Ti coated is nice to have! If you need a hand drilling your bolts Im happy do help out.

 

You guys want the easiest way to drill effectively?
Buy some 1/16" carbide end mills,no need to center punch.
I drilled every bolt on my bike and never broke any !


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1 more thing. Don't get in a hurry and try to drill the bolts in place on your bike.
If you have lots of experience drilling, it's not too hard.
But, you are just asking for scratches.

 

Also important, and passed over so far.... when wiring the bolt to the bike, make sure that the wire "pulls" the bolt tight. In other words, don't run the wire to the left: it may not seem like much, but a 1/4 or 1/2 turn on a loose bolt can mean leaks, lost pressure, etc. True, the purpose of the wire is not to add tension or torque to the fastener, but it will prevent it from loosening if oriented correctly.

Also, around the oil filter: hose clamp run to the bike with wire, or use a K&N with a drilled nut on the end.

 

Just use a Hammer and Nail!!!!! it will go through somehow. The Heck with Drilling!