Safety Wiring Basics

If you're worried about critical nuts on your bike loosening up or brake lines being torn loose, you can always wire tie them as cheap insurance.

Materials need:

- 1/16th" (.5mm) drill bit

- Drill motor

- Stainless steel safety wire

- Pliers (specialty wire tie pliers are sweet)

Mark the nut you plan to drill with sharp punch to keep the drill bit from walking on you. Depending upon the material, you may need to carefully drill towards the threads initially to start the hole, but reorient the bit to be on target for the exit hole. Make sure to leave at least 2mm of material left to avoid the hole breaking through. If you're unsure on your abilities, put an old nut in a bench vice and practice before you drill on your scoot.

Areas of your bike to consider for safety wire:

- rear axle nut (tied off to adjuster bolt)

- front axle nut (tied off to axle pinch bolts)

- rear hanger bolt of your exhaust system (tied off to another subframe bolt)

- steering stem nut (tied off to triple clamp)

- brake calper bolts (tied off to each other)

- brake lines (tied off to banjo bolt body)

- Oil drain plug

When you tie any of these off, think about the direction the fastener turns when it backs out. Obviously the fastener needs to pull on the wire when this happens, not allowing it to back out.

If you have additions to this article, pm me and I'll add them. I'd like to hear about what else people wire tie.

Addition from TT Member Mythic:

grips - use instead of, or in addition to glue - works quite nicely in sloppy conditions instead of glue - be sure to turn the ends of the twist into the grip & you're golden.

spokes - old school race tech here - stiffens wheel assy slightly & keeps any broken spokes from flopping around & causeing havoc

just a few thoughts there.

Once you have the tools & start using them it really becomes addictive - I do all the key bolts on my XR (ie oil filter/oil pump cover, clutch cover & ign/magneto cover - all tied off one to another aircraft style) as well as anything that consistantly backs out & I don't want loc-tite anywhere near for fear of stripping (ie rear fender/sub-frame/brace interface)