Tricky Exhaust Header Screws

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Prince Rapopy

Prince Rapopy

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Greene County, NY
Hi gang,

I recently got a Victory RC pipe for my 30DNT and it's been wonderful, except for the part where I can't tighten one of the exhaust header bolts enough to seal the space between the gasket and pipe. I've burned out one gasket already, and I'm hoping to figure this out before more end up being cooked.

Does anyone have recommendations or favored methods for torquing bolts that don't have enough room for your tools? I'm not sure what to do beyond fussing at it with some needle-nose pliers over and over.

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Use a stud and a nut setup on that side. When you tighten everything. Tighten the stud nut assembly first than the socket head cap screw on the other side. Tightening the stud and nut side first and than the socket head cap screw as final. This will put more pressure across the gasket area on the stud nut side as you tighten the socket head side.
 
Thanks for the tips, folks. So far I believe that clever application of a vise grip has done the trick, but I'll be picking up a set of sacrificial Allen keys soon to dremel short just in case. I also ordered some hex-head bolts with locking wire as well, although the wire sounds a bit too extra for me.
 
The locking wire is actually recommended. I can't count how many times I've lost my exhaust or blown out a gasket before using safety wire bolts. Now it's set and forget.
 
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