Exhaust stud bolt

[Greg65]

While working on my eBay special and trying to get the carb's sorted I found that after 10-15 minutes riding that the bike is inclined to turn into a 3 cylinder 750. I noticed that the number 3 pipe is considerably less blue than the rest. On inspection I found one of the replacement stainless steel exhaust bolts missing, somewhere on the road. Using the remaining bolt I have found the cylinder thread completely stripped. Is there any problem with using a Helicol thread repair kit.

GS 1000 1978

Thanks, Greg

PS. Would the loose exhaust cause a weakening of the mixture?

[steve murdoch]

Heli-coil will work, some info in this thread.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?160528-Exhaust-Bolt-holes-on-78GS1000

It would cause not a change in the mixture but the leak might change the back pressure causing some noise or popping.

[Greg65]

Thanks Steve. Will pick up a kit in the morning. Definitely suffering a bit of popping.

Cheers, Greg

[londonboards]

I've rethreaded numerous exhaust bolts, sometimes because they had sheared off and needed drilling out. The problem is the frame usually gets in the way. Especially if you want to use a Time-Sert or Heli-Coil. The drilling needs to be pretty spot on. If you haven't done it before, I would sincerely suggest practicing on some scrap.

If you can't get at it properly, it's head off I'm afraid but then you would be able to do a number of other jobs at the same time.

I always tap out exhaust threads on any new (old) bike I get. They are the most often abused bolts on any bike. Then use copper grease when putting in new clean bolts. Also, do not overtighten and count (when the exhaust is off) how many turns each one takes to bottom out. Then you know how many turns you can safely do. Sometimes washers are required or additional exhaust gaskets or different length bolts, just to get them in the sweet spot where they "bite" well but are not bottomed out.

Alternatively, replace with studs and never have to worry about them again.

My exhaust bolt shnanigans: Exhaust Bolts Out

[Cyrano]

Helicoils work best through an open hole. There are other methods for retapping a blind hole.

Have a look at Time Serts to see if it helps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHX6jLlxDmU

[Hinermad]

Alternatively, replace with studs and never have to worry about them again.

How would one go about doing that?

I've got a few leaky exhaust connections, and I want to know what my options are if I decide to work on them and things go south.

(Your "Exhaust Bolts Out" link is blocked for me. Blogger says I don't have permission.)