Head bolt not torquing

TiffanySpree · Post by **TiffanySpree** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:28 pm

Just finished assembling my first af16 motor! But. One of the head bolts is not torquing correctly. You know that sickening feeling of a bolt that just keeps on turning and not stopping. I stopped short of hopefully any permanent thread damage but a little short of the 7 ft-lbs click. Any tips on saving the case threading? Can I remove the bolt, coat the threads with some magic stuff (Hondabond, Threadlocker, etc.) and re-insert?

Majourlittle · Post by **Majourlittle** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:41 pm

Best thing to do is the right thing to do. Need to drill, re-tap and put in a heli-coil. Luckily a kit can be found at your local auto parts store and done with little dissasembly.

TiffanySpree · Post by **TiffanySpree** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 3:11 pm

I'll do that when the bolt pops loose. For now, the motor is running and I'm starting my heat cycles on the new Nikasil kit. I'm just wondering if I should just keep torqueing it or just leave it alone. Maybe, it's still compressing the gasket. It's at about a full turn or less of not stopping (constant torque). Should I keep going until my wrench clicks? I'm turning it really slow. Does it need a washer? I don't think the manual calls for one and I think it stops short of bottoming out.

Majourlittle · Post by **Majourlittle** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:40 pm

if the head ins't torqued down correctly, or if it is stripped, then running heat cycles will only warp the head.

I would stop and do what I stated in my previous post. If not, you might as well just throw away all of your hard work you did.

Do it right the first time or spend a lot of money to do it right the second time.

evilone · Post by **evilone** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:55 pm

Majourlittle wrote:Do it right the first time or spend a lot of money to do it right the second time.

X2 especially with a head bolt.

TiffanySpree · Post by **TiffanySpree** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 6:10 pm

Picking up a Helicoil kit on my way home. I'm going to go ahead and torque it more. It will either stop at the correct torque or pop the threads loose. This way I'll know. Right now, it's neither broken or tight. I'll update later.

Munstah666 · Post by **Munstah666** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 7:46 pm

Sickening feeling indeed, I HATE that. GL, hopefully it will torque. just a tip check settings on you torque wrench didnt move.

TiffanySpree · Post by **TiffanySpree** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:53 pm

You hit the nail on the head!!! It was that and probably a weak bolt. The bolt snapped and the broken part came out of the case easily. The case is new and so the threads couldn't be bad. I think the bolts are made to snap if over-torqued. The wrench was only off a pound. It must have turned as I used it. I forgot to lock the handle. I rechecked it with a weight and it was still dead on. So I put another bolt in and it torqued fine after I locked the wrench at 7 ft lbs. Need to order a new bolt and be done with it. I can return the helicoil kit. I may buy a 1/4" torque wrench as the one I'm using is a 3/8". Thanks all.

Mystic · Post by **Mystic** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 9:08 pm

Very glad to hear it man, that would have been some BS to have a stripped head bolt hole

Wheelman-111 · Post by **Wheelman-111** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 9:47 pm

Greetings:

With all those Honda bikes, why return the Heli-Coil kit? Surely another bolt hole will need attention down the road.

TiffanySpree · Post by **TiffanySpree** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 10:17 pm

True! I'll just keep it. If any size will strip, maybe just maybe it's the 6mm. Not sure if it matters but it's not a Helicoil brand. In the 20 plus years of working on vintage Hondas, the only holes I used thread repair kits were spark plug holes.

lilredspree · Post by **lilredspree** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:30 pm

I had the same problem with a head bolt. Took the bolt out after i felt it had turned wayyy too many times. Took a look at it and it was visibly stretched. Glad everything worked out well.

veedubh20 · Post by **veedubh20** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:51 pm

Dont waste money on heli coil. Get a time-sert is the best one!

TiffanySpree · Post by **TiffanySpree** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 6:49 am

veedubh20 wrote:Dont waste money on heli coil. Get a time-sert is the best one!

For the spark plug holes, I use Perma-Coil. I can return this cheaper kit and get a Time Sert. I've heard that brand recommended a couple times. Thanks.

lilredspree wrote:I had the same problem with a head bolt. Took the bolt out after i felt it had turned wayyy too many times. Took a look at it and it was visibly stretched. Glad everything worked out well.

I could of done the same but I just went too far. I was thinking the case was wasted because the bolts are steel and the case aluminum. Glad I was wrong!

I ordered 2 head bolts and 2 exhaust studs. I can't wait a week though. Nice days are now getting precious here in Michigan! For a temporary bolt, I epoxied a nut on top of a 100mm stud. Worked just fine. Then, I thought why is there bolts instead of studs and nuts like most other older Honda motors? Anyone tried to convert theirs? Just curious. Bolts are easier for assembly.

lilredspree · Post by **lilredspree** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 1:15 pm

some people do use studs on their bbks. i used studs on my last bbk, but opted for the bolts on my corsa

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Head bolt not torquing

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