Hitchcocks Forum

500 Classic Bullet 2003. Just got my head and barrel back. Barrel has been honed for new forged piston and new guides have been fitted with new valves lapped in. Can I use the torque settings in the Hitchcock catalogue for the head bolts? Also do I need to use Wellseal on the base and rocker box gaskets. I have the composite gasket for the head so, I`m told, it needs no sealant. I`m quite clear on the running in procedure but do I have to re-torque the head bolts after so many miles?

Out of interest Ivor how many miles had the bike done and did it need a rebuild or was it done for reliability/power

When I did My "Old 350" standard I used "Blue Halamyar" on the Bottom and a Wipe of CopperGrease on the Top "Comp Gasget" a Few Thousand Later No Prob's..At the Time I used Just My spanners and Tightend to 1st squeak..Again No Probs 4000 miles down the Line....All IMHO of Course.

I didn't use anything on a composite gasket and no problems. I applied wellseal to other gaskets. Just a thin coat and let it "dry" before assembly. Torque figure is 21ft/lbs is I recall. Better head stud washerrs are a good idea.

Not sure how many miles this bike had done. Speedo said 1075 when I got it but it was an aftermarket speedo not standard. However, when bore was measured it had hardly any wear from new so I guess it`s low mileage. The reason for the strip down was because the head gasket was leaking and I wanted to check condition of internals. I have the better washers for the head studs. So, do I need to re-torque the head nuts after it`s run in?

Don't forget to gap the rings before assembly. 4thou per inch of bore I think.

I have never used any gasket gooooo on any joint, and never had a problem.

If you have an iron barrel, or a Hitchcocks alloy, the torque settings mentioned above will be fine. If you have an Indian market alloy barrel, beware of the push-rod tunnel thread. It 21lb will pull the stud out of the thread.

TRFKALR is dead right. 21 ft Lbs pulled my short stud out so I had to make a new one with 9/16 bottom with Whitworth thread and a 5/16 top. The aluminium is extremely soft and porous in my experience although I did go for the cheaper unchecked barrel. I now only talk it down to 18 ft Lbs and have had no further issues.

Under 20 always

On advise I didn't bother re-torquing the composite gadket and had no problems

I see Simon uses "the force" to "talk" his nuts down! 😉. And Craig uses "Halamyar"! Is that some ancient Indian voodoo force? May I recommend Hylamar, or my favourite, Wellseal. 😉😬