Hi, I have just taken out bolt in the picture to clean as it was all rusty , I went to put it back in and it it just kept turning,seems to be stripped at end? Are these soft bolts or maybe ive just overtightened it? Will a brand new one sort the issue as getting blow back through the hole as not seated properly.Thank You
Rocker Cover Bolt Help
- Thread starter mussie012
- Start date
You might have to pull the valve cover to tell for certain if the hole is really stripped. Other posters have said that getting the screw in the original hole is difficult and frustrating. Might you be missing the right spot? They also invariably cautioned against over tightening these bolts.
I doubt the bolt is soft and stripped. You are screwing into an aluminum cylinder head, and aluminum is softer than steel.
I doubt the bolt is soft and stripped. You are screwing into an aluminum cylinder head, and aluminum is softer than steel.
jfheath
John Heath
It is more likely that the bolt isn't mating with the hole, and you are actually trying to screw it into thin air own one side of the casting.
One of them in particular feels as though it is in the correct place, but is actually to one side. Logic tells you that you would know if this was happening - but I couldn't tell - apart from the fact that it wasn't tightening.
One of them in particular feels as though it is in the correct place, but is actually to one side. Logic tells you that you would know if this was happening - but I couldn't tell - apart from the fact that it wasn't tightening.
- Joined
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The rubber seal "mounting rubbers" set in the valve cover compress over time and coupled with the low torque value of 7 ft/lbs make it easy to strip or snap these bolts. They have little feel of tightening up and suddenly stop taking torque right before stripping out the threads in the head or snapping the bolt. Hopefully the bolt is simply not threaded into the head as others pointed out - it's easy to miss the threaded hole in the cylinder head. However, if the bolt is not sitting slightly crooked in the valve cover you didn't miss the hole but stripped the threads out of the head. Easy repair with a helicoil or other thread repair tool.
i think this is what I have done,I will get a new bolt tomorrow and be more careful
You should replace the rubber washers with new ones as well, these are supposed to be a one time use item, and you'll notice a small rib or raised line around the sealing surface, as well as the this side up marking.
Before folks start flaming me, telling everyone how they've used them over and over without issues, I follow the manual's instructions, and don't cut corners.
If you can't find time to do something right the first time, how will you find the time to do it over the second time?
Before folks start flaming me, telling everyone how they've used them over and over without issues, I follow the manual's instructions, and don't cut corners.
If you can't find time to do something right the first time, how will you find the time to do it over the second time?
Sadlsor
Site Supporter
I second @Igofar .
I've argued with him in the past.
Trust me -- it's NEVER worked out in my favor.
Just buck up and do what he says, you'll save time, effort, frustration, money, and you won't have to eat that slimey, atrocious, lousy Humble Pie.
More time for riding, and your bike will thank you for it.
I've argued with him in the past.
Trust me -- it's NEVER worked out in my favor.
Just buck up and do what he says, you'll save time, effort, frustration, money, and you won't have to eat that slimey, atrocious, lousy Humble Pie.
More time for riding, and your bike will thank you for it.
wjbertrand
Ventura Highway
If the bolt looks even the slightest bit crooked, you've missed the hole and are likely screwing it between the boss and against part of the camshaft. The steel camshaft is what damages that bolt. The bolt is designed to seat hard against that boss, providing a calibrated amount of compression on the valve cover gasket and those sealing washers. Tightening it past that hard seating will break the bolt every time.
diferg
Dan & Ingrid
that bolt looks like it was once installed and missed the threaded hole, but wound up against camshaft or valve spring. possibly will not tighten up because of damaged / tapered threads. suggest you replace bolt with one that is not damaged while cover is off to prove the hole is good or bad. at any rate the bolt needs to be replaced, as well as any others showing similar defects. edit: : +1 on igofar suggestion on rubber washers.