aluminium Engine Case Bolts...Opinions?

Good, adequate, bad, or the death of my bike? I'm considering installing an orange aluminium engine bolt kit, but after reading various opinions about aluminium bolts, I'm unsure of whether the small amount of color accent is worth the potential risk? I'd hate to create an oil leak just because I wanted some more orange bling.

I've seen one member here using orange bolts while on the track, so if properly installed, torqued and lubed, are they safe after all?

Won't improve your lap times, so what's the point?

You'd be creating a lot of potential headaches for yourself for a little bit of decor.

More or less as a rule, I avoid the use of aluminium fasteners except for maybe pop-rivets. If there's a real strength/weight issue to consider, I go to Ti.

aluminium is a poor choice of fastener wherever there is a lot of thermal cycling and sealing is involved. While all those engine cover bolts are fairly low load and torque applied, the OE ferrous ones don't expand as much for a given change in temperature as Al ones. Sure you could instead go bonkers with sealants on the case gaskets, but that opens up other cans of worms.

Then there's the matter of installing them - no matter the series of the alloy - small Al screw/bolts are going to be particularly susceptible to shear and over-torquing. And while not a big concern for most, they are not tolerant of repeated use (that is, frequent installation/removal will cause nothing but grief). Al yields so easily. I don't know about you, but I'm not a fan of having to fix threads or remove broken bolts.

I do have a 1/4" digital torque wrench that allows very low torque settings, and the manufacturer assures they are safe for engine case use. Of course they wouldn't be the ones dealing with it if I experienced problems either.

I installed em,,,no problem,,,I agree on repeated use would weaken them some,,,they come with never seize, and , gooping the stuff on,,again no problem,,,,just don't over torque them,,,,never broke one installing or removing,,,,,,,I've seen the stockers coroding more to the point of snapping off,,,,,,,,

Appreciate everyone's replies, think I'll pass on this cosmetic mod.

I would not use aluminium.

Why not paint the bolts?

Just go stainless, looks better than orange, relatively cheap, they don't break too easy and they're shiny.

I have used them and would say stay clear. The anodise fades over time, especially if you use degreasing products to clean the engine. Also I had 2 shear off for no good reason.id stick to standard bolts if I were you.

You could go stainless,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
http://www.ebay.ch/itm/Stainless-Steel- ... 2c5e00275e

Having colourful anodised bolts all over your bike is a matter of personal taste and aesthetics.

Everyone has the right to decide what is right for them and orange bits are fine.........

...if you are a chav living on a council estate with the mental age of 8, an ASBO and a purple/green flip-paint Vauxhall Corsa with a blown sub woofer and blue LED lights glued behind the grill.

No.

Titanium or Stainless yes.

When I was 17 I used to paint all the nasty cross head screws on my engine with gold paint. And all the letters on my tyres white. Every Sunday morning before I went down to the bike meet at the pub. I had too much time on my hands!!