Exhaust Nuts

[Forge]

Has anyone tried using lock washers or star washers to keep the exhaust stud nuts from loosening and backing off? It’s a pain in the ass to have to keep retightening them back up. 7 foot pounds is a little light, but I don’t want to snap a stud. I’m about to change out my exhaust gaskets and don’t want to loose a nut on the road somewhere.

[Dusty]

 I think it is more the gaskets compressing than the bolts backing off. I have worked with those style of gaskets for a lot of years and snug  is a lot better than tight to get a good seal.  Give the washers a try. Let us know how it works. 

Dusty

[Jess from VA]

The acorns look nicer, but I lost two of them, and replaced them (each) with two normal nuts, sistered up and locked together.  They don't look as nice as acorns, but they work better.

What I've read is after changing gaskets, you probably need to tighten about three times (gaskets keep compressing), and then you're all set.

[flash2002]

I installed stainless lock washers on my bike and, the nuts never came loose and the washers don't rust. I've been doing this on all my bikes and never lost a nut.

[Forge]

I installed stainless lock washers on my bike and, the nuts never came loose and the washers don't rust. I've been doing this on all my bikes and never lost a nut.

Thanks, Flash!

[Kunkies]

good thread, has anyone gone beyond 7ft.lbs torque, say 10 or 12 ft.lbs? 

I find 7ft.lbs, doesn't even crush the exhaust gaskets. . .

[Bighead]

good thread, has anyone gone beyond 7ft.lbs torque, say 10 or 12 ft.lbs? 

I find 7ft.lbs, doesn't even crush the exhaust gaskets. . .

Some have and also snapped off the bolt.

[DGS65]

Would lock tight work?

[Hook#3287]

Would lock tight work?

Not really.  The proper procedure with the nuts, is to tighten them to the 7 lbs or whatever your comfortable with, ride her, let her cool, and check them, repeat.

Not sure how long it takes for Lock Tight to cure, but you'd be breaking any seal, every time you re-tighten.

I like the SS lock washer idea, might try that next time.

[Valkyrie0002]

I don't have a wrench that would be accurate at 7 lbs so I just snugged them by feel which I'm sure was more than 7lbs but not so tight I'd break a bolt that size.

[Chrisj CMA]

Would lock tight work?

Not really.  The proper procedure with the nuts, is to tighten them to the 7 lbs or whatever your comfortable with, ride her, let her cool, and check them, repeat.

Not sure how long it takes for Lock Tight to cure, but you'd be breaking any seal, every time you re-tighten.

I like the SS lock washer idea, might try that next time.

For when you are compressing brand new copper gaskets, it wouldn't be wise to apply locktite until you get them completely compressed.  The thing is, by then you really don't need locktite unless it just makes you feel better.  The first tightening on new gaskets you dont even need to go for a ride.  Just wait an hour and it will be loose.  Re tighten and wait again it will be loose.  Each time it will take longer to get loose and will get less loose until it stops getting loose.  My thought is some people don't stick with it enough to get them all the way compressed and then nuts are lost when they get loose from further gasket compression.

Once fully tight and compressed I check them a couple times a year and some need a tweak but never lost one in 16 years.

[98valk]

these are the ones I used for my viking pipes. 35k miles later and the exhaust nuts have never loosen.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-Exhaust-Gaskets-for-all-GL1500-GL1800-GoldWing-Valkyrie-18291-216-000/292188893140?hash=item4407d0afd4:g:iKEAAOSwcj5ZSDt8:sc:USPSFirstClass!08012!US!-1

[Hook#3287]

The first tightening on new gaskets you dont even need to go for a ride.  Just wait an hour and it will be loose.  Re tighten and wait again it will be loose.  Each time it will take longer to get loose and will get less loose until it stops getting loose.

That sounds right, but my way, you get to go for two rides.

[slythern12]

I accidently broke one off a while back and thats the way i've had to run it since then. Is there anyway to fix it?

[Chrisj CMA]

The first tightening on new gaskets you dont even need to go for a ride.  Just wait an hour and it will be loose.  Re tighten and wait again it will be loose.  Each time it will take longer to get loose and will get less loose until it stops getting loose.

That sounds right, but my way, you get to go for two rides.

 

[Chrisj CMA]

I accidently broke one off a while back and thats the way i've had to run it since then. Is there anyway to fix it?

If it's an exhaust stud that you broke.  Just order a couple of them. You will have to remove the exhaust on that side to get to what's left of the broken stud. Remove it and thread in the new one using some antisieze

[slythern12]

The bolt broke off about even with the exhaust. Yes my own stupidity, I over tightened but it didn't feel like it at all and then boom. I was sooooo pissed at myself.

[Bighead]

When you remove the exhaust there will be more to get ahold of to back it out.

[Forge]

Installed stainless M6 lock washers with new exhaust gaskets. I’ll report back in another thread in the future about if it works.

[slythern12]

Thanks Bighead, I didn't know they are removable.

[Dusty]

good thread, has anyone gone beyond 7ft.lbs torque, say 10 or 12 ft.lbs? 

I find 7ft.lbs, doesn't even crush the exhaust gaskets. . .

The gaskets are DESIGNED to seal at 7  ft lbs.

The inside of the gasket is V shaped and the pressure of the gas pushes the  tips of the V  to seal. The tighter  you torque the nuts crushes the V and the gas cannot apply enough pressure to get a seal.

 I have installed a couple of thousand of these gaskets on  steam and air systems over my career. Tighten the bolts and the gasket will leak. Snug the bolts and the gasket will seal.

My $.02

Dusty

[Jess from VA]

My nuts aren't exhausted.... but they've seen better days.   

[knockdolian]

Just for information. We use heat to release locktight at work so no good for exhaust bolts

[mello dude]

these are the ones I used for my viking pipes. 35k miles later and the exhaust nuts have never loosen.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-Exhaust-Gaskets-for-all-GL1500-GL1800-GoldWing-Valkyrie-18291-216-000/292188893140?hash=item4407d0afd4:g:iKEAAOSwcj5ZSDt8:sc:USPSFirstClass!08012!US!-1

Anybody else try these gaskets?

Thanks

[Jonesz]

My nuts aren't exhausted.... but they've seen better days.   

My sentiments exactly! Better days indeed.

[Forge]

these are the ones I used for my viking pipes. 35k miles later and the exhaust nuts have never loosen.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-Exhaust-Gaskets-for-all-GL1500-GL1800-GoldWing-Valkyrie-18291-216-000/292188893140?hash=item4407d0afd4:g:iKEAAOSwcj5ZSDt8:sc:USPSFirstClass!08012!US!-1

Anybody else try these gaskets?

Thanks

I used those on my Intruder 1400. The Intruder has beefy exhaust studs that you can really crank down on and get good sealing from those all metal gaskets. I would be hesitant on the Valks because of the tiny studs that you can’t really crank down on. Just my opinion.

[LB]

Star away from them. You will break the studs before you can crush them to seal. I tried to crush one with a pair of pliers just to compare to an original, and that was not going to happen. It took a hammer to crush it. Also, if you do use it you will only be able to grab 2 or 3 threads on the stud because it won't crush. Like Forge said,they may work on bikes with heavier studs, but not the Valk.

[davit]

My nuts aren't exhausted.... but they've seen better days.   

At least you still have nuts.  Yesterday was my 27th wedding anniversary.

[98valk]

Star away from them. You will break the studs before you can crush them to seal. I tried to crush one with a pair of pliers just to compare to an original, and that was not going to happen. It took a hammer to crush it. Also, if you do use it you will only be able to grab 2 or 3 threads on the stud because it won't crush. Like Forge said,they may work on bikes with heavier studs, but not the Valk.

really u need pliers to crush the fiber ones I posted? it took a hammer to crush the fiber ones? 

[Forge]

Star away from them. You will break the studs before you can crush them to seal. I tried to crush one with a pair of pliers just to compare to an original, and that was not going to happen. It took a hammer to crush it. Also, if you do use it you will only be able to grab 2 or 3 threads on the stud because it won't crush. Like Forge said,they may work on bikes with heavier studs, but not the Valk.

really u need pliers to crush the fiber ones I posted? it took a hammer to crush the fiber ones? 

98Valk, the pic you posted looks like the metal gaskets that are wound in a circle with the green sealant on them. Those are not fiber.

[LB]

Star away from them. You will break the studs before you can crush them to seal. I tried to crush one with a pair of pliers just to compare to an original, and that was not going to happen. It took a hammer to crush it. Also, if you do use it you will only be able to grab 2 or 3 threads on the stud because it won't crush. Like Forge said,they may work on bikes with heavier studs, but not the Valk.

really u need pliers to crush the fiber ones I posted? it took a hammer to crush the fiber ones?  

Yes, that was not a joke. Could not crush them with any type of pliers. Got them off eBay, now there in the trash. I had extra so I tested one just for that reason, so I wouldn't break a stud. I could crush a factory stock with my hands but it took a hammer for those.

[98valk]

Star away from them. You will break the studs before you can crush them to seal. I tried to crush one with a pair of pliers just to compare to an original, and that was not going to happen. It took a hammer to crush it. Also, if you do use it you will only be able to grab 2 or 3 threads on the stud because it won't crush. Like Forge said,they may work on bikes with heavier studs, but not the Valk.

really u need pliers to crush the fiber ones I posted? it took a hammer to crush the fiber ones?  

98Valk, the pic you posted looks like the metal gaskets that are wound in a circle with the green sealant on them. Those are not fiber.

here are better closeups, https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-Of-6-Honda-New-K-L-Exhaust-Pipe-Muffler-Header-Gasket-Seal-0133-015X6/401503279064?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D52973%26meid%3Dcc4ee36312b14d1aaff3319588629bd6%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D161443821587%26itm%3D401503279064&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A34bc2b89-8784-11e8-a9d4-74dbd1804cdd%7Cparentrq%3A99a78ea51640aa4799ff9abdfffcd04e%7Ciid%3A1

 the green is a fibrous material which can be flexed with a finger. they seal very well and easily.  the 7 lbsft had no problem creating a seal.

[h13man]

Would lock tight work?

Heat is used to free loctited components.  As mentioned SS steel fasteners are they way to go especially exposed to the elements. Anti sieze  is also another component I use but I've heard there suppose to be 10% torque factor added. Like most of the ole' time wrenchers  one gets the feel for these "nut n' flange" exhaust fasteners. What the hell is a inch # torque wrench?  BTW I got one but never have used it yet.