head bolt torque

[jdfet1]

Ok, so how is this done? Motor cold? Hot?
To what poundage? All the same? A certain patern?
Thanks!!

[Zook]

STONE cold.

Now, which bike?

Go to Basscliff's site and download a manual!

[bonanzadave]

I dont see a manual for my bike at Bikecliff and would like to re-torque my head to see if it might help with a small oil leak. Whats the skinny on re-torquing a head ?

[hampshirehog]

The manual for your bike is listed here - download for free:

http://search.ebscohost.com/

User ID: library
Password: library

Always a bit hit and miss re-torquing your head - in theory you should never do it though some manuals suggest that you should check it regularly (?). To get an accurate reading you need to have good lubrication on the threads (3 in 1 or similar oil suits) and this poses the difficulty as you can't really lube (and clean) the threads without removing the nuts.

When I've done this on the past I've got away with undoing the nut 1/4 - 1/2 turn, squirting in some WD40 and re-torquing. Only do one nut at a time and I'd suggest following the pattern shown in the manual. Don't be tempted to over-torque.

Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.

[salty_monk]

Wally did the leak become worse in any of the times you tried or did didn't work just mean it was no improvement?

Dan

[hampshirehog]

Dan,
never made it worse immediately though I wouldn't right it off from helping speed up it getting worse on a couple of occasions - guessing as I can't be sure.

Never worked at all for bad leaks (well, might have made them 'less bad' but it's all relative) and I'd guess around a 50% success rate out of around 50 times for minor leaks. (Though some of those times would, I'm sure, have been where the head was incorrectly torqued in the first place).

[psyguy]

the head-nut torque order is stamped on the head, in some cases at least