[chrisf]

Hi:

Have any of you replaced the exhaust studs on you CB350? If so, did you just wander down to your local metric fastener specialist and buy a new one? Or are these available from Honda?

Finally, what's the process? Just double-bolt it and torque it in?

--Cheers, Chris

 

[midge]

you can change to bolts, they don't have to be studs, and you can get the metric bolt anywhere

 

[chrisf]

That's a great idea. Thanks for that suggestion. Is hardened bolts prefered over stainless?

--Cheers, Chris

 

[joe c]

you should use studs. theres a reason they didnt use bolts ya know. yeah, double nut em, and back em out. you can probably find them at an autoparts store. i got mine from the local metric shop. mcmaster will have em too.

j

 

[manxman]

you should use studs. theres a reason they didnt use bolts ya know

Why?

 

[kawtoy]

If you have to take your exhaust off often (oil changes, painting pipes, cleaning engine) you have a greater chance to stripping out cross threading the botl and messing up your head.

 

[joe c]

youre relying on the bolt to thread in and grab the alum to seal the exhaust. with the stud, youre only pulling on the stud to seat the gasket. plus, when you pull the pipes, its easy to strip them putting them back in, and, they are more likely to stick or seize into the head. creating another issue. use studs. just my opinion. ive seen bolts used but dont like the idea.

jc

 

[snorkelfork]

just playing devils advocate, could you install healacoils to avoid stripping out the threads?

 

[chrisf]

OK, I grabbed the exhaust stud and I'm off to the specialty metric hardware store. When I reinsert these, do i oil them first or use some sort of thread locker?

Also, is there a specific torque spec I should use to tighten?

--Thanks, Chris

 

[craig641]

I've got to believe if you guys are using studs because you're worried that you could cross thread a bolt when you remove the pipes wouldn't you also be worried that you could cross thread the oil drain bolt and ruin the bottom case? Or cross thread a side cover bolt and ruin the case? And if you screw up an exhaust stud thread and have to remove the stud isn't the likelyhood much greater that thing will be stuck in the head if it's been in there since the dawn of time? There may be a valid reason to use studs instead of bolts but I'm not sure these are the reasons. Bolts have worked for me.

Craig

 

[ROSKO]

there is the issue of folks switching from the low grade stud to hardened bolts and stripping anything threaded. Just have to use that 'feel' right? When will they come out with a nice pre-drilled hardened magnetic drain plug for my 350 eh??

 

[chrisf]

Ok, I found the stud. However, I have one more question:

How tight should the exhaust be bolted to the head? If I shake the exhaust, should I be able to wiggle it about? I've been really tightening it down--hence why the stud backed out.

--thanks, chris