Cylinder head nuts

[James England]

Hi All. I'd like to replace the four outer cylinder head nuts/washers on my engine. The original ones are unattractive and a bit rusty. I was considering undoing one nut fully, immediately putting on the replacement nut and washer and tightening up to 23 foor pounds torque, then moving on to the next nut.

I realise that, when removing a cylinder head or tightening it back down, a gradual loosening in specific order is needed in order to avoid buckling the head. But, what do people think of removing just one nut completely as per above? I really don't want to unbolt the entire head in sequence, just to replace two nuts per side. Is there a risk of buckling the head, do you think? Has anyone already done anything like this already??

[DAVINCI]

Done it, no problems. Manual says to use oil on the threads.

[DGXSER]

Agree, no problem. The issue with tightening in sequence is to ensure the head is evenly torqued form inside to outside edges. Kind of like putting a tint film on your window and squeezing the water out of it. You work from the center out to get all the air and water out. Basically the same with your head. In fact, for larger torque heads like on V8s, you torque them down in sequence, in steps. As in go through the sequence two or three stages up to max torque so the head surface stays flat and even as it gets pulled down.

As your only loosening one spot, the others are still holding everything in place so should be no movement. I'd bet you could even run the engine with that nut off and no harm would occur, not recommending anyone do it, just saying there is enough torque from the other nuts to hold it in place.

[James England]

Thanks folks. I went ahead and changed the outer four head nuts and torqued them correctly. Since I had spare nuts, I changed all the others, one at a time, tightening fully to the correct torque each time.

The inner four nuts were really badly corroded and I thought one of them wasn't going to move as the corners began crumbling off! Luckily, I managed to get it off along with all the others.

Thanks for your input everyone...

[petejw]

hi james,
if u ended up replacing all the nuts on the head
might not hurt to give the cam chain an adjustment.

[James England]

hi james,
if u ended up replacing all the nuts on the head
might not hurt to give the cam chain an adjustment.

Yes, good idea. I wanted to make sure all the nuts had the same torque reading. I did the four outer ones to the correct torque and then it occurred to me that the inner ones might be a different torque, so I did the lot...... so yes,, I'd better do that camchain,,,,

[MaximPhil]

James,
Might be a good idea to put the torque wrench on them again after a couple of hundred miles / heat cycles. Just to be sure.
Phil

[79XS11F]

Just make sure the engine is COLD to be safe and if replacing all them, do so one at a time in the order that is described in the manual for head re & re.
Rob