Hitchcocks Forum

Hey guys, Can I reuse a composite head gasket once it has been torqued dowm - the bike wasn't run - I had to remove the head after I torqued it down and am now getting ready to put it back on. One of the rocker studs stripped out at 10 pounds torque - also,any ideas on why that would happen? I can't seem to catch a break on this one.

I would guess that the gasket fill be fine, if it was assembled dry. Iron rocker bearing or box stud? Likely been overtightened in the past, from my experience neither need much torque. Remember the max value for alloy rockers is 5FtLb, any more and the alloy will likely distort and gall. Sounds like Mr DIY has been in there before you.

Hello DEAN--------- YES, you can !!....my bike is currently running with the cyl. base gasket on its' 3rd time around and the composite gasket on its' 2nd. time of asking and after half a season's use last year---- (just put in 8hrs to-day in and around the Welsh borderlands)...With the pair of them I firmly massaged a small amount of lithium grease using thumb and forefinger, just enough to keep them supple and help to part the joint when the time comes....As per MIDGE for the rocker stud...Keep the faith, brother !!!

Thanks all, the maunual lists 10ft pounds for the box stud nut torque - is that too much?

Sorry for the confusion - the terminology is a bit confusing, but the stud that I stripped out was the rocker bearing stud, which I was torquing the nut to 10ft pounds when it gave way. Various manuals have this nut being torqued anywhere from 9.4ft pounds to 12ft pounds. What do I need to torque it to - preferrably on the low end, to avoid stripping any more.

I made that mistake with the rocker studs , 5-6 foot pounds is the correct value .

5 to 6 pounds it is. wish the manuals relcted that, would have saved me $ at the machine shop as well as a bit of aggravation.
thanks all,