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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Bolts and nuts loosening over time
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Message started by rong on 06/06/21 at 13:45:00

Title: Bolts and nuts loosening over time
Post by rong on 06/06/21 at 13:45:00

I have a 2105 S40 with a little under 8000 miles on it.

Last year this forum solved a lot of my exhaust backfiring by suggesting that I check the two exhaust bolts (that attach the exhaust pipe to the engine) for looseness. It worked! Thanks! They were looser than they should have been. I then resolved to check them about every 1000 miles of additional riding.

I checked them again this year after about 1000 additional miles, and they were somewhat loose again.

So based on this I have two questions:
1. Is there some way to solve the problem of the bolts loosening over time?
2. Are there other bolts/nuts on the bike that are known to loosen over time?

Thanks in advance for your help.
Ron G

Title: Re: Bolts and nuts loosening over time
Post by DragBikeMike on 06/06/21 at 15:20:44

The header fasteners loosen over time because the thermal cycles work at the thick spiral-wound gasket. Each heat-up and cool-down cycle alters the stress on the gasket. Over time, the joint stress relaxes a bit. It's normal.

You might want to keep an eye on the 8mm cylinder head nut directly below the exhaust port. That one also tends to loosen up.

Title: Re: Bolts and nuts loosening over time
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/06/21 at 18:34:20

It's Much Better to tighten occasionally than decide to get it TIGHT and not worry about it again.
Snugging something once in a while is a Lot easier than fixing broken volume stripped threads.

Snug them cold..

Title: Re: Bolts and nuts loosening over time
Post by Keifer on 06/09/21 at 05:51:50

Yep I'm scared to over-tighten and strip something in the soft aluminum - as a newb wrencher there's nothing worse than that! I periodically just snug them up. Same with the head cover and side cover bolts all around... as advised on this forum ;)

Title: Re: Bolts and nuts loosening over time
Post by Mavigogun on 06/14/21 at 09:58:40

Ideally, the Savage is to be ridden towing a trailer featuring a foam cut-out of the entire parts catalogue; as things inevitably fall off, having a convenient place to store and reference the missing parts is invaluable.

Title: Re: Bolts and nuts loosening over time
Post by Serowbot on 06/14/21 at 10:34:22

;D ;D ;D