Robert Hawkes wrote: I see chrome swing arm nuts for sale on Ebay (kinda expensive too). Sure look nice but how does one get those babies on the bike without knocking chrome off them in the process. Seems like the socket or box-end would ineviably scrape off some chrome. Bob
Bob, A guy I know who is into motorcycle restoration uses a thin but tight weave fabric (say T-shirt material as a minimum, or some scraps of some good material from one of your wife's sewing projects), and puts that over the socket. Then presses the socket on the nut with the cloth between the two, and tightens. The cloth provides enough of a buffer between the metal to metal contact to keep there from being any problem. Remember, these nuts are essentially "beauty" pleces. Only use enough torque to keep them from vibrating loose and losing them. Not a structural part. Dennis