Torquing heads

[wilcoy02]

I have put head back on and have ridden it about 150 miles on both bikes.
Do I need to recheck the torque to 40 ft #? If so do I check to see if they are still 40 ft,#'s or do I loosen up the bolts and torque to 40ft #?

The one I checked was still good at 40#s.

Is it necessary to check it at all?

 

[desertrefugee]

If they were torqued correctly, threads were clean and lubed (as well as under bolt/washer head) you should be good to go. I never retorque and haven't had a problem yet...knock wood. Just bolted my heads back on...

 

[wilcoy02]

Thanks for the answer.

as well as under bolt/washer head-------Yes I did that.

 

[joedrum]

always a debater here but i never do retorque the heads ....

 

[dan filipi]

Yes certainly debatable.

I have retorqued after a hundred miles or so and gotten maybe 1/2 a turn on most of the bolts. Whether or not it’s actually needed, I couldn’t say.

 

[Rednaxs60]

Having to take the valve cylinder covers off would be a PITA in my case, and for anyone having to do the same. No mention of retorquing the head bolts in the manual.

 

[chilidawg]

I think that the consensus in this thread has been reached. That it ain't exactly necessary to re-torque heads. But.

I've just got to say that I loved the original posters inference in the title.

Cos' ain't that just what we all are?

Talking heads?

 

[pidjones]

Having to take the valve cylinder covers off would be a PITA in my case, and for anyone having to do the same. No mention of retorquing the head bolts in the manual.

Please explain. On center stand, drain pan under, four bolts, bump with hand or rubber mallet. Set cover down in drain pan (I use my normal plastic pan on one side and an old disposable aluminum roaster on the other) along with bolts. Make sure gasket is still good and positioned properly in cover groove (I haven't needed sealant yet, and still have several spares left from rebuild kits). Do the torquing and check valve clearances. Reverse order and clean up. Make sure gasket and sealing face is wiped before placing valve cover on. Don't overtighten the cover bolts - they just need to compress the gasket and stop as the flange on them hit the head. It's pretty much the same on GL1000 and 1800 except for a few extra cover bolts, a plastic cover, and the cover bolt inserts that I pulled out the first time and put in a drawer, never to put back in. Don't remember if I ever did it on my SEi, but can't imagine it being much different unless someone had installed a crash guard that made it harder to get the cover off.

 

[AApple]

unless someone had installed a crash guard that made it harder to get the cover off.

And there you have it.... :yes: