We limit access by GUESTS to protect our members from spam, hacks and trolls. Please register to gain access to all our resources.
Posted by kw-retrorider
- October 22, 2017, 20:08:35 PMGood info guys...thanks
Posted by Pilgrim
- October 22, 2017, 19:37:21 PMI torqued mine and have had no problems...after a good ride and they have cooled off again retorque. I think the torque is only like 12 ft. lbs. I also have acorn nuts.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- October 22, 2017, 19:27:18 PMKw; any time I can mess with you I will take the opportunity. Because it does not come often.....lol....I know that acorn nuts are really deep, and metric, but where I got them I can not say. I think honest they are from a long forgotten project and just happen to be in a bin. I will check the normal places I shop at and see if I can perhaps find them. On Pearl the exhaust flange bolts are really different than the ones that were on Red. And they are both 99's but Red has a Roadhouse exhaust and Pearl has a stock setup......
Yes KW never used any locktite or anything on the nuts.
Posted by Tfrank59
- October 22, 2017, 16:59:13 PMyep, just let the bike warm up and in minutes it's shrunk on there. Seems to last for a few months (over the whole summer) without degrading to the point where it won't keep the nut from backing off--again, a guy should be checking those maybe once a month or so...
Posted by kw-retrorider
- October 22, 2017, 16:27:54 PMRatman....Guilty as charged!....but that won't make me by WWW. So yours are on their dry, but tight.
Assume you are using the stock studs...acorn nuts would have to be deep....do you have a source for those acorn nuts...like that idea.
TFrank: Are you putting a piece on and shrinking it in place with an external heat source....or just wrapping a stray piece around it and running the nut up on it, then running the engine to shrink it?
Posted by CDNRatMan
- October 22, 2017, 15:07:23 PM 
Well if you had WWW's and a chain drive you would have to check those and clean them every so often and that would be a prime time to check the exhaust bolts at the same time........I replaced my allen key ones with nice acorn nuts and I carry a small 1/4" ratchet set in my travel trunk, and it covers that issue.......on a long trip I check them about every 4 days or so, never have had to tighten them yet.
Posted by Tfrank59
- October 22, 2017, 11:05:48 AMwhat I did with mine is to take a piece of shrink wrap and slip it on the stud, which when it heats and shrinks will keep a nut from coming off. If you need to get the nut off you can simply wrench it off. BTW even high-strength locktite will melt under temps like those at your exhaust flanges. Shrink wrap won't keep a nut from loosening but at least it won't fall off the bike. I go around periodically checking nuts and bolts--it's recommended not just for exhaust stuff.
Posted by kw-retrorider
- October 22, 2017, 05:25:30 AMNot used to having issues on road with my 800, so thought I'd share what happened during a routine ride yesterday....
Running along fine, when the sound of the engine started to change and I began hearing more engine exhaust sound from the front of the bike instead of just behind me. Didn't think much of it as the change was gradual....until the first deceleration for a traffic light, when the exhaust popped audibly. Was just a few miles from my destination, so continued.
When I stopped I found both exhaust flange nuts gone off the front downpipe at the engine....and one still sitting on the engine. Let the bike cool down while I had lunch. I have the factory tool kit on the bike, but of course it does not include the large allen wrench for those nuts...which are also round on the outside and not hex, because of the tight fit. Used the baby pliers in the tool kit to put the one nut on the front stud and got home.
These nuts, although special seem to be easy enough to find. Don't know what size they are.
Although I have British machinery in my background, I have not been as religious going around the bike periodically to tighten bolts and nuts. These have been on since 2014 when I put a roadhouse exhaust on, and it's been over 20K miles since then. So, my bad on maintenance.
Question for the group....What's the magic juice of choice on making these up....one of the many locktites?...something else? Any other words of wisdom....except routinely check tightness and carry the allen wrench you need?