Header nut torque

Does anyone know what the torque specs are for the headers on 81 650 maxim? I am running open headers and guessed the torque and one fell off after about 6 mos. HEHEHE!

Thanks.

 

Flat, you should have a fresh set of lock nuts and run them down at 7.4 ft/lbs.

 

Thanks!! I appreciate the info.

 

Bobby are you talking about the flange nuts? Those are 5.4 ft/lbs

 

I was referring to the Exhaust Port nuts (securing the header pipes to the head). The Haynes has them at 7.2 ft/lbs (pg 111 section 8) while the factory manual only mentions a general torque for an M6 at 4.5 ft/lbs. I pulled my number down off the top of my head but I would use the 7.2 ft/lb.
Use a German torque wrench, gut und tight.

 

Interesting - look at page 43 in the table and it says 5.4 Page 111 does indeed say 7.2. I had just looked it up the night before because I replaced my exhaust seals. I always look in the chart. Another Haynes inconsistency!

 

Somehow that error doesn't make me like my Haynes any less (I'm a sentimental fool, I know).
A quandary for sure. Since there seems to be consistency between the factory manual and the Haynes general fastener chart, I'm starting to think that a the general chart for fasteners should take precedence.
What are your thoughts?

 

I love my haynes too - use it all the time. I'd have to agree with you on the chart 7.2 is usually the minimum I see.

 

Well now, I've run mine at 7.2 all these years without a single issue. What has been your experience with 5.4 ft/lbs? I would think that if you could get the same reliability from a lower torque value, you ought to use it. Any troubles? Find anything loose on your annual torque check?

 

Well they came off easy when I changed the seals last week. I had them off this summer. But at 5.4 they would loosen easy - that and anti-seize

 

Maybe the difference is between a regular fastener, and a locking fastener?
Hey, my torque wrenches don't even accurately register below 20 LB,
What torque wrenches do you guys prefer?
I can sneeze harder than 5.4 8O

 

my hand does a excellent job...

just drill a hole in the end of your ratchet and use a pull scale redneck ingenuity

6" away from axis X scale readout by 2 to get foot pounds
12" give you total ft-lbs.

 

I have a set of...yer gonna laugh at this one...Harbor Freight specials. 3/8" and 1/2". I do have a beam inch pound 1/4" Snap-On but I only use that for setting steering shaft bearing preload and wheel bearing preload. I also own a set of Craftsman and a set of Sturtevant Richmont (they are super nice!). I had the Harbor Freight specials checked at a calibration lab I was working at at the time and they spec'd in within 5%. Not bad at $18 for the set! They get me down to 5ft/lbs but I'm always leery of anything towards the ends of the scale. For what I do, my Harbor Freight specials have served me well at a fraction of the cost of my "cadillacs" and I've not had a torque related failure yet. Now keep in mind that I excersize caution when reusing fasteners and will replace anything that even looks the slightest bit funny. No sense taking chances.

 

+1 with Robert - I have the 3/8 and 1/2 Harbor freight specials....

 

I appreciate all the info!!

 

Bobby your bike is looking great. Keep us up to date ...