748/916/996/998 Titanium Wheel Nuts on ebay
 

I have just bought a set of these,
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ducati-748-916...QQcmdZViewItem
Arrived next day, nice item ,good price.

Titanium Substitution for Steel Fasteners

The selection of a fastener size, material and preload for a given design application is based on a number of considerations - mechanical stress, vibration, temperature fluctuations and corrosive environments to name just a few. Consequently, improper material substitution or an incorrect tightening force on a bolted connection can result in failure, reduced performance, warranty problems, or even unintended disassembly of a vital component.

Titanium has half the density/weight of steel, but also 50 - 60% of steel’s shear and Young’s modulus. So you’ll often need bigger fasteners, which negates the 40% weight advantage of titanium.

Direct substitution for steel parts, size for size, with titanium replacements is rarely the best way to proceed when dealing with safety-related fasteners such as brake parts or wheel attachments.

[Edited on 12-1-2005 by Shazaam!]

must admit i wondered about titanium wheel nuts but worried re shearing resistance?

:o Shazaam :o

Glad i didn't get any then

Still if I wanted to cut weight on my bike I'd eat less pies:lol::lol:

So what about the vast quantity of alloy wheel nuts available for numerous other bikes . Even ducati used alloy for the front one on the 916 series. I've not heard of any failures , but are there?

Also do not most manufacturers use steel fasteners due to cost ?!!!

i freely admit that i dont know what i am talking about but would imagine the forces on the single sided wheel nut are pretty massive not least because it tends to tighten itself up to mega tight

btw dont dp sell a titanium rear wheel nut?

I think you'll find that both Ebay links above are for DP items. Plus the race bikes have titanium nuts front and rear, including titanium rear hub and front wheel spindle.

the links are not for dp items - the second states this is the case - the first doesnt say that they are so one can assume they are not?

You are correct, of course. I was mislead by the DP background packaging.

i do think dp do them though dont they? which probably means they are ok?

i have been thinking of the same myself but havent found any dp ones to buy

Can't say that I've ever come across this, if anything I find that the wheel nut tends to loosen rather than tighten.

couple of people have mentioned this to me (on this board i think) and suggested the nuts were so tight thatthey snapped a breaker bar trying to get the thing undone
i have not found mine to that tight

The race hub are reverse thread and they get fukcing tight!

lol
that explains it then!
reverse thread = mondo torque !

Ducati Performance do sell Titanium wheel nuts, would not like to hazard a guess at the sort of price they charge though. A pair sold on ebay last week for £73 plus postage.

I find that my Standard wheel nut tightens itself while the sprocket side slackens itself. Need to check and re-torque both every 1000 miles else sprocket is finger tight and wheel side virtually impossible to remove.

You might want to check out what pro bolt say about titanium fastenings. Would not think that they would be keen on the statement that replacement of steel with titanium is not the way to proceed.

Notice you are in west yorkshire neil - whereabouts? I am based in Guiseley

There are a couple of points here, the strength issue mentioned by Shazaam is the reason certain areas of the bike (brakes mainly) are included in the ACU Handbook where it is classed as unsafe to use Titanium fittings and is therefore against the rules.
Then there is the point of Production costs which is often the reason why less exspensive materials are used although more exotic materials would work just as well.
I have always taken note of the ACU ruling on Titanium fittings and use it as a guide.
For that matter I have had a alloy rear wheel nut on my 998 for the past 6 months without any problems.

I bought a set off the 'bay' the other day...brand new, front, sprocket and wheel side.

Superb quality and look the bizz.

I have no problems with fitting them to my machine...I mean I've got a cable tie holding the safety 'C' clip on:borg:...what can go wrong:frog:

I'm sure if there had been lots of failures due to the fitting of these nuts then DP would not sell them, BSB, WSB and motoGP teams would not use them and we would have heard about it.

[Edited on 2-12-2005 by Harv748]

[quote
I have no problems with fitting them to my machine...I mean I've got a cable tie holding the safety 'C' clip on:borg:...what can go wrong:frog:

[/quote]

I wouldn't like to say:devil:

BSB, WSB and moto GP teams probably change them every race though!

So? given the chance would you prefer to run with alloy nuts and fasteners or titanium, I would have quite happily used original is the finnish didn't deteriorate before your eyes.
I'm going with titanium.

I have Black anodised alloy on the 998 Hybrid and Stainless on the 996 Winter hack. I would happily run Ti but the others came along at the right price 2nd hand

ok guys now has the debate on ur NUTZ finished?!!:rolleye::rolleye::rolleye::rolleye::ro lleye::rolleye:

i am happy to discuss my nuts all day long :lol: