Nuts on 68 Shovelhead

What did the factory use?

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Mongrel505558
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Nuts on 68 Shovelhead

#1

Post by Mongrel505558 »

When I put my 68 FLH together from the boxes of parts most of the engine fasteners and assorted other nuts were the nylon insert type. They appear to be as old as the rest of the bike. No chrome. They look like they belong there, and they work just fine, but I'm just curious if that's what the factory used then. I can find tons of restoration, etc. information on pans, but not so much for early shovels.

Jim
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Re: Nuts on 68 Shovelhead

#2

Post by RUBONE »

By your time frame the factory was using a few Nyloc nuts. Do you have a correct '68 parts book? It has all the hardware in it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/222625703384?h ... Sw94JdUNyM
Mongrel505558
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Re: Nuts on 68 Shovelhead

#3

Post by Mongrel505558 »

RUBONE wrote: Wed Jul 14, 2021 12:44 am By your time frame the factory was using a few Nyloc nuts. Do you have a correct '68 parts book? It has all the hardware in it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/222625703384?h ... Sw94JdUNyM
Thanks, Robbie,

I do have that book, plus a different one that goes from 48-84, but the descriptions of the hardware provide the size, thread pitch and length. I could look up each part number on the net and hope to land on some good pictures or complete descriptions, but since I don't plan on replacing these fasteners I thought I'd just put out the general question to the brain trust on this forum. There's none other like it.

Jim
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Re: Nuts on 68 Shovelhead

#4

Post by FL54 »

Jim,
I’ve got a 67,68 and 69 but I’m not home right now. The 67 and 68 had been stepped on a bit in their pasts but the ‘69 is bone stock. If nobody has chimed in, I’ll check when I get back Friday.
Mongrel505558
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Re: Nuts on 68 Shovelhead

#5

Post by Mongrel505558 »

FL54 wrote: Wed Jul 14, 2021 3:20 pm Jim,
I’ve got a 67,68 and 69 but I’m not home right now. The 67 and 68 had been stepped on a bit in their pasts but the ‘69 is bone stock. If nobody has chimed in, I’ll check when I get back Friday.
Thanks!
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Re: Nuts on 68 Shovelhead

#6

Post by FL54 »

Specifically, which fasteners are you interested in?
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Re: Nuts on 68 Shovelhead

#7

Post by RUBONE »

Front and rear motor mounts use them, so do rear foot board mounts, I believe fronts also, and tranny front bolts. And the exhaust support bolts too. All those are 3/8. As for 5/16 all I can think of is the S-pipe tab and the muffler clamp to support bolts. I suspect there are a few more but I haven't messed with one of them in about 25 years. :D
Mongrel505558
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Re: Nuts on 68 Shovelhead

#8

Post by Mongrel505558 »

FL54 wrote: Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:09 pm Specifically, which fasteners are you interested in?
Not one area in particular - there just seems to be a proliferation of them on the bike. For example the kicker cover, the ignition timer hold down clamp stud nut, battery tray and oil tank hardware, etc.
Last edited by Mongrel505558 on Thu Jul 15, 2021 7:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Nuts on 68 Shovelhead

#9

Post by Mongrel505558 »

RUBONE wrote: Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:34 pm Front and rear motor mounts use them, so do rear foot board mounts, I believe fronts also, and tranny front bolts. And the exhaust support bolts too. All those are 3/8. As for 5/16 all I can think of is the S-pipe tab and the muffler clamp to support bolts. I suspect there are a few more but I haven't messed with one of them in about 25 years. :D
Yep. Motor mounts have them - all that you mention in fact.
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Re: Nuts on 68 Shovelhead

#10

Post by FL54 »

Kicker cover and circuit breaker hold down all hex head nuts.
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Mongrel505558
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Re: Nuts on 68 Shovelhead

#11

Post by Mongrel505558 »

Makes me wonder how all these nyloc nuts ended up on here. While I'd like to make this bike as original as possible, I also want it to be a rider - not a show bike, so I'll probably leave these nuts on at least for now.
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Re: Nuts on 68 Shovelhead

#12

Post by FL54 »

PO probably just thought they were less likely to loosen and replaced the OEM when ever he changed something. Function over originality. I wouldn’t replace them.
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