Header nut torque

[arthureld]

I ordered an inch pound torque wrench from Amazon for $28 delivered. It'll be here next weekend.

[Nitram_b4]

never used a torque wrench for exhaust...and it is normal for them to loosen up after a few heat cycles and everything seats in.
I do use a torque wrench every time I re-install my axles tho

[arthureld]

Yea, most people probably just tighten them down. But, $28 isn't going to kill me.
You can tell by the flange that you shouldn't tighten it very tight.

[blkfalc4]

I just use a 1/4" ratchet and w/SE gaskets gettem as tight as I can get em. Never leak and never had one come loose on any bike.

[CoolMaker]

Whew, much ado about nothing. Tighten them with a 1/4 ratchet, ride it a few days and retighten. SE gaskets of course. As above, never broken one, never stripped one, never had one come loose either. Such a simple task.

[arthureld]

much ado about nothing.

lol, funny how many different answers you get about this simple task.

But us lifeless humans have nothing better to do than sit around bs'n about nuthin.

The manual gives odd instructions too.

Since I ordered the $28 torq wrench, I'll redo it per the manual's instructions.

Thanks for the input guys.

I wonder why they were so loose. I think I turned them all a couple turns just to get them snug.

Heat expansion. Snug -- no more. I always use anti-seize compound.

I own a couple of short-handle, stubby ratchet wrenches that make it more difficult to accidentally over-tighten stuff.

[Horse]

Thanks bud. I wonder why they were so loose. I think I turned them all a couple turns just to get them snug.

Hey Roger,,,,,,, Man I would let the shop (Rosa's ?) know what happened. Kinda loose faith when simple things go wrong.

Second time, happened on your rinehart's (Ocean Shore run)

Good idea to get a inch pound torque wrench. It is always best to know and use the suggested torques.

When installing / re-torque exhaust systems I believe it to be critical that the mount flanges be as square with the head as possible. Take each nut and run them down as equal as possible, and torque in, at small increments. It is also good to seat the pipes as you go, a good shake on the exhaust helps set them.

Re check the torque after a couple of runs. (heating cycles) and it's good to check the torque every 3 to 5 K (at oil changes works for me).

[arthureld]

Hey Horse, I forgot about that time my exhaust came loose in WA.
This seems to be a common problem so, I will just go ahead and torq it right with my inch pound torq wrench.
The book says (I'm going from memory) to tighten one side to about 15 inch pounds then tighten the other side to 115. Then do the 1st one to 115. Seems a bit odd, but there's probably a reason to do it that way.

Everything needs to heat up and settle in. I'll get it. If not, Rosa gave me a 3 year warranty on his work so .....

When I used to rebuild VWs, I always retorqed the heads after a few hundred miles. I guess they don't do that anymore. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt though.