Is it neccessary to retorque head bolts?

samc88 · Jan 6, 2015

As above, is it really neccessary to retorque head bolts after a while after rebuild. Mine has a composite gasket and my granddads never bothered and had no trouble but some say you have to? My engines running in at the minute and just wondering really

jamesmartin · Jan 6, 2015

not necessary to retorque but you should do it twice when fitting the head as first bolts wont be as tight once youve done the last bolts

samc88 · Jan 6, 2015

Thanks James

Yes, went round it a couple of times to check all was correctly fitted

dominicbeesley · Jan 6, 2015

I've had bother with one straight six diesel engine in the past but that was 6 litres and a turbo. On petrol landy just do as James says and go round twice

divie · Jan 6, 2015

Not required with composite gaskets but something I always do. Goes back to the way we did them 50 years ago and I have never had a gasket fail.

samc88 · Jan 6, 2015

So is it mainly with copper gaskets where its required?

SpringDon · Jan 7, 2015

Erm, with my bike engines (aluminium heads if that makes a difference) composite gaskets always require a retorque and sometimes two if the motor had not done enough work.
Copper gaskets never require retorqueing (but didn't seal as well)

samc88 · Jan 7, 2015

Aluminium might as I thought its more reactive to temperature than cast iron which takes forever to warm up? I dunno, probably wrong

I was only asking as I'd never come across the practise until I'd seen a few posts on here of people doing it

Is it neccessary to retorque head bolts?

samc88

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jamesmartin

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samc88

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dominicbeesley

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divie

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samc88

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SpringDon

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samc88

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