Hitchcocks Forum

Hi
Can anyone advise as the the correct torque I should use on tightening down the head on my 1951 350 Bullet? The workshop manual just says tighten nuts diagonally with no torque stated.

Dave

Hi I take my 500 bullet down to 24 foot pounds in3 to 4 stages I also use a non setting gasket cement both sides of the gasket.dont leak.

Likewise but grease only for gasket

I believe the book says 21 ft/lb. This is with dry threads - any lube will throw the figure out. I use Welseal - just a smear.

As with all manuals, the torque figure will not be in the text but on a separate table somewhere. Never understand why they do it like this.

Useful tables:-

http://www.engineershandbook.com/Tables/torque.htm

http://www.fastenal.com/content/feds/pd ... Torque.pdf

Thanks for all your replies. There's nowt in the manual, including the tech specs page. My worry is that the studs screw into the top of the crankcase so I need to be careful not to strip the threads. I've used a smear of Wellseal on the joints.

In 1951 even the factory didn't use torque wrenches but 22 lbs foot is about right. Most mechanics of the time did and still do work on feel. Can't get on with these new tangled things.

I agree with you, Dennis. I just thought someone would have a figure to work to. When I worked on my first bikes in my teens, I didn't know what a torque wrench was and I still managed to tighten cylinder heads without any issues. I also never heard of reaming swinging arm bushes but that's another story!

Dave

I need to go to my garage to check the exact ft/lbs as given to me by Hitchcock many years ago. Just that Papa's number seemed to be right one.