Replacement nuts and bolts?

[charliewalden]

Hey everyone.
I find myself in a predicament some of the time where I lose a bolt and have no replacement lying around, then I have to figure out the measurement and go and buy one separately. I'm sure most of you have been here.
What do you all think about these assorted nuts and bolts kits you can get on Ebay. Obviously, they are not going to be extensive but I figure it's a good backup for when you need to replace one.
I'll link the one I'm looking at below, but if anyone has any advice on sizes etc... that'd be brilliant.
Cheers,
Charlie

[Joolstacho]

Orright Charlie... So why do you "lose" bolts etc ... When you work on your bike, as you pull nuts and bolts off, immediately put them into a plastic container. Mate it ain't that hard! You won't lose them.
It really couldn't be simpler mate. Just think, just being a little bit organised with a 5 dollar plastic parts box you'll rarely need to buy other nuts and bolts because you won't lose them.
Yes by all means, it's good to have a selection of spare metric nuts bolts and washers as backup. But do bear in mind that bolts come in various tensile strengths, -you wouldn't want to be replacing a high tensile bolt in a critical application with a lower, say 'decorative' Stainless bolt unless it's a stop-gap measure to get you out of trouble.

[charliewalden]

Cheers for the reply. Recently I've had a couple of bolts fall out mid trip. The most recent was my damn front brake fastener as I turned a corner, lost both and had to go any buy more specifically. I also do keep everything that comes off the bike but it never seems like I have the ones I need.
Look at this on eBay  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231592721706
Look at this on eBay  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282436641671
I've linked the ones I'm looking at below. What do you think?
Charlie

[ajensen]

It has been my experience that such sets have a number of pieces that you will never use and not have some that you need. I have a large collection of metric hardware that I got from old projects. Otherwise, you may want to make a little inventory of  the screws, nuts, and bolts and just buy the things you think you may need.

[RideShield]

Just a reminder, the GStwin.com Wiki has a page started with bolt sizes.
http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Restoration.BoltSizes


Here is a copy of what is currently listed:


Bolt Sizes

This page is a list of bolt sizes on the GS500 so you can easily replace them.

Metric bolt sizes are DiameterxPitch followed by length - all in millimeters.

    Battery Well Bolts - 6x1mm x 20mm
    Carb Float bowl bolts - 5mm x 12mm; 2002--4mm X 0.7mm 10mm length
    Carb Cap (04+) bolts - 5mm x 12mm
    Fork Brace bolts - 6x1mm X 12mm (will work - 16 better, IMHO- or 15mm longer than brace is thick.)
    Front Fender bolts - 5mm x 18mm
    Bar end weights (old ones, for sure) 6x1mm x 60mm (flathead)
    Gas Tank bolts (for my 2007 GS) - 8x1.25 x 40mm
    Front axle nut cotter pin (english size that works) 1/8x1
    Rear axle nut cotter pin (english size that works) 5/32x1
    Front Sprocket circlip - A 7/8" circlip fits on there and retains the sprocket. It has to be stretched slightly. A 1" circlip would most likely fit much better. I paid 80 cents for two at Lowes. (USA store) The employees there don't call it a circlip, they call it a retaining pin or a snapring.

[Watcher]

In my case the ones I lose are ones like turn-signal lens screws and washers, which are typically your hardware-store type replacements.  They fall and end up in some other dimension through the concrete singularity.

As for actually working on something, if you aren't using a magnetic bowl you're missing out.

[rscottlow]

As for actually working on something, if you aren't using a magnetic bowl you're missing out.

Harbor Freight has these things for free pretty often, and when they're not free they're still dirt cheap. Absolutely worth it.

[J_Walker]

As for actually working on something, if you aren't using a magnetic bowl you're missing out.

Harbor Freight has these things for free pretty often, and when they're not free they're still dirt cheap. Absolutely worth it.

Free, but they never have them in store when you buy something... lmao but you can have this free flashlight that cost like 50cent on ebay straight from china.

JEG's offers free these too. even with online orders.

[Bluesmudge]

The trick I learned from addidasguy was to buy an eBay hardware set from a GS500 part-out. Like this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-500-GS-GS500-F-GS-500-F-Used-Misc-Frame-Hardware-2006-SB43-/401153094503?hash=item5d66967367:g:pWkAAOSwyDxXhWLU&vxp=mtr

Its most every nut and bolt from a GS500 for about the price of 10 or 15 trips to the hardware store for a single bolt. Buy two of them and you will never be without the correct bolt again. You can make a neat storage solution in your garage. Also helpful for little project add-ons to the bike so the hardware matches the bike. Adidasguy took it one step further and would everything through a parts cleaner so that all the bolts looked polished and new.

[ShowBizWolf]

Idk, I've had a couple of those bolts break on me from time to time... from those cheap kits... plus when I replace a bolt or screw I like to go with stainless if I can.

That wiki link is awesome, I know I could contribute to that list when I have some spare time!!