Its number 12 on here: http://www.bikebandit.com/2002-suzuki-gs500k2/o/m6063#sch240838

I'd just pull the other one but 'im not home and have no allan keys on me. Safe to ride without for a bit??? Or i'm stuck here!!

Thanks heaps as always guys!!!!
Clancy

I'm sure you can make it home without any catastrophic damage. It's too dark in the garage to get at it tonight.

Mary

#6 metric allen key
3cm long
#7 metric

Why does everyone go to Bike Bandit? Need a few small parts - go to your local dealer. They can be sure you have the right part and you get it NOW.

Oh, yea, I think that is an important bolt. If that fell out, I wonder how many other bolts are lose? Take some time and check all bolts on your bike.

Your profile doesn't have your location so I don't know where you are.
If you were near me, I'd say come and get a half a dozen from my giant box-o-bolts.

i'm in Australia matey!!!
Local hardware isn't close and very small. noticed it when i was checkin all bolts for tightness....
Does #7 metric mean 7mm??
thanks so much adidas and goofy. Cheers a bunch!!!!

I'm not sure how metric bolts are labeled. My bolt sizer indicates "M7".
Its a plastic bolt & nut sizer from   www.crownbolt.com
Maybe this photo will help. Take to a hardware store and they should understand it.
With threads, outside diameter seems about 8mm and at inside of threads about 7mm.


I know there are other bolts the same size where you could probably take one off for a day or so. I took a quick look. I know there are other bolts the same size. So far I see the clips for the factory clip on bars are held on by 2 of them. A handle bar could get by with one - but that's only if you have the factory clip ons.

With your bolt missing on the triple, I'd be afraid of hitting a pot hole (or tree root) and twisting the front end.

Thanks again Adidas!!! Champion!
M7 bolt. Got it. Will find one tomorrow and pop her in. No clip ons for me. Carpel Tunnel in both wrists prevents me from aggressive ergos. 27 with the wrists of a 50 year old. Here's what the old grl looks like.

Its prime riding weather here. Sunny and 30 degree C (86F) and i'm about 4 hours from home.
Million thanks buddy. Hope ya recovery is heading in the rite direction.
cheers
Clancy

For these questions - look here, and if it's not here (which this one appears not to be), add it to here (complete spec, dia/pitch/length) if at all possible...makes the trip to the hardware store faster.

http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Restoration.BoltSizes

I wanna say you need an 8mm for that one. From what adidasguy is saying, the overall outside diameter is 8mm, and 7mm is if you measure at the inside of the teeth. Go with the bigger size. Using 7mm on anything is pretty rare. Most people go straight from 4mm to 5mm to 6mm to 8mm to 10mm to 12mm.

See the bolt sizer. It fits the M7.
There is WAY to much space when put into the M8 hole.
I was just eyeballing sizes on a crude MM ruler.
Go by what the bolt sizer shows.

cheers guys
None of the local or bigger hardwares have anything 7mm. Local dealer will have one tomorrow.
Oh well, guess ill just have to stay and enjoy the 38 C (100F) weather and my proximity to beautiful, untouched beaches and my inability to get to work.  F**K my life.
Clancy

Just to be sure, an M7 tap fits. M6 - falls through. M8: won't even start to go in.

Although it exists M7 is not a prefered metric size, it sits between M6 and M8 which are. You will struggle to find any bolt to fit this thread on this side of the sea of japan! Let alone an off the shelf cap-head of the correct length.

M7 indicates the outside diameter of the thread, in this case 7mm. Assuming it is M7 and by some miracle you find one, no one has yet mentioned thread pitch, standard values for M7 are 0.75 and 1.0. and they are most definately not interchangable.........so which one is it?? 

When I get home towards the weekend I will pull the bolt and size it properly with a micrometer and pitch gauge and post it in here for future ref`......Those plastic things will get you in the ball park but they are not 100% accurate and far from infallable, they are no substitute for the correct methods and tools needed to ID thread forms.

The easy option to all this is to buy this bolt as an OEM spare part, its not going to cost a huge amount and you know it will fit.

done. Ordered OEM. Be here in the morning. Thanks a bunch for your help guys
Clancy

Quote from: sledge on February 01, 2011, 03:09:29 AM
Although it exists M7 is not a prefered metric size, it sits between M6 and M8 which are. You will struggle to find any bolt to fit this thread on this side of the sea of japan! Let alone an off the shelf cap-head of the correct length.

M7 indicates the outside diameter of the thread, in this case 7mm. Assuming it is M7 and by some miracle you find one, no one has yet mentioned thread pitch, standard values for M7 are 0.75 and 1.0. and they are most definately not interchangable.........so which one is it??  

When I get home towards the weekend I will pull the bolt and size it properly with a micrometer and pitch gauge and post it in here for future ref`......Those plastic things will get you in the ball park but they are not 100% accurate and far from infallable, they are no substitute for the correct methods and tools needed to ID thread forms.

The easy option to all this is to buy this bolt as an OEM spare part, its not going to cost a huge amount and you know it will fit.

You are correct sir!  To add to the confusion, there is at least one other typical metric pitch, 1.2.........

You will also find that a threaded fastener is always slightly smaller than the nominal size.....so for instance an 8MM nominal, will measure 7 "point something"   it is just the way the threads work.....you need clearance for the fit.....an 8 MM thing cannot fit in an 8MM hole!  Either the thing is a tiny bit smaller, of the hole has to be a tiny bit bigger....they make the thing smaller....

The other problem with "Hardware store" bolts is they are probably not the correct alloy or heat treatment for the application.  Structural bolts have to be strong while having some ductility.....depends on the application which bolt material and heat treatment.

Yet another reason to buy OEM.....factory bolts often have a custon shape, special length, special shoulder, special head shape, special flange, special finish (black, chrome, dull silver, ) etc!

Cookie

Never heard of a 1.2 pitch in M7  only 0.75 (fine) and 1.0 (course) and there is nothing in any of my tables???.....but I guess that doesnt mean to say its an impossibilty.

http://www.shender4.com/metric_thread_chart.htm

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=22339&page=60

Quote from: sledge on February 01, 2011, 11:18:20 AM
Never heard of a 1.2 pitch in M7  only 0.75 (fine) and 1.0 (course) and there is nothing in any of my tables???.....but I guess that doesnt mean to say its an impossibilty.

http://www.shender4.com/metric_thread_chart.htm

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=22339&page=60

Yer right......looks like you have to go to 8MM to get to 1.25 pitch (not 1.2).....notice that "fine" or "course" is not so simple in metric as you find more than one pitch for the same diameter in the same chart.   So it's like fine and really fine, or would you say coarse and sort of course, or course and courser. 

 The only M7 bolt on a GS 500 is the valve cover hold down bolts. 7mm/1.00

Quote from: wera90ex on February 02, 2011, 04:51:13 PM
The only M7 bolt on a GS 500 is the valve cover hold down bolts. 7mm/1.00

How did you arrive at the conclusion that there is only one M7 bolt in the GS500?
Going through the boxes of bolts from GS500's that were taken apart, there are other M7 bolts in the bike.

NOTE: In the Suzuki parts lists, the size of bolts is rarely indicated.

I think I'll invest in a really good bolt sizer. With everyone asking for bolts & stuff, I should get one. I noticed there are fine and coarse threads which can mess up the sizing of the bolts. The bolts also vary in diameter depending on the wear and how they were threaded.

Anyway, he ordered the factory bolt which is the wise thing to do. Hardware store bolts are usually soft chinese recycled crappy steel.

yeah OEM fits like a glove.  Home again. Cheers again for all the help guys
Clancy

For a final definitive answer, I just ordered a set of metal metric bolt & nut guages. Gives size and thread pitch.
No more guessing or using plastic guages.
Next on the list is a complete metric tap & die set.