Midnight Reign
Active Member
I'd bet that if you got that much movement out of them (2 1/2 ) turns after torqueing them correctly they are probably not reuseable at this point, and the possibility exists that the retaining ring under the flange is now deformed. This is one of those fasteners that probably is not really torque critical even though there is a listed spec in the manual. More often than not, like your Harley tech, I wont use a torque wrench on these fasteners. What I normally do however is use a 1/4" drive ratchet for these nuts, not only does the 1/4" stuff fit much better in that confined space but it also has much less leverage so the possibility for over torqueing is greatly reduced.
I know that on my softail I must have had the exhaust off no less than a dozen times and still have the original gaskets in it from when I put it together 8 yrs ago, and obviously never an exhaust leak.
Another thing I do that I have'nt seen anyone else do, is to use Ny-Lock nuts on the exhaust. They seem to stand up to the heat OK. I think I have replaced them only once, maybe twice over the last 8 yrs.
I know that on my softail I must have had the exhaust off no less than a dozen times and still have the original gaskets in it from when I put it together 8 yrs ago, and obviously never an exhaust leak.
Another thing I do that I have'nt seen anyone else do, is to use Ny-Lock nuts on the exhaust. They seem to stand up to the heat OK. I think I have replaced them only once, maybe twice over the last 8 yrs.
