spinning exhaust stud

[Rrrockhound]

Adjusting my valves yesterday, I removed the HE's and couldn't believe my luck...all the nuts came off with very little futzing. One stud backed out rather than the nut coming loose. I figured this was no big deal until reinstalling, when I noticed it seemed to be taking a long time to tighten. I quit trying for fear of stripping the hole, if I haven't already. At any rate, I now think I have a leak.

I did a search and read something about JB Weld and red loctite. Would these help, or should I just figure on tapping the hole and starting over? If so, is this something that I might be able to tap out to the original size, or should I just tap it to the next size up?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Pull it, and check the threads. Both on the stud and in the hole. You'll probably find some of the ones from the hole stuck in the ones on the stud.

Tap oversize, and get a "step down stud" from your favorite VW Bug specialty shop. (I'm not sure if we stock them or not...) They are 9mm on the one end and 8mm on the other.

The alternatives are inserts, like Helicoil or TimeSert. Of those, the Helicoil (or equivalent) are considered second-best, particularly for this application. Or you can pull the head, have the hole welded up and re-drilled, and have the valve job re-done. (Usually the heads move around when you heat them up enough to weld them so you have to re-do the valve job.)

--DD

[Rrrockhound]

Thanks, Dave. Any chance I can tap it with a T-handle rather than a drill? Otherwise I'd probably have to pull the head if I want to be sure the tap goes in square.

[NOTASIX]

I carry the 9mm as well as a special 10mm oversize thats made to solve the issues.. That is IF Pelican don't have them :-)