I've stepped away from it for the night...before I smash something important with my BFH. Now enjoying Smithwicks and pizza and an Alfred Hitchcock film.
I hit it with Kroil and will try again. Tomorrow maybe, if I can get up the gumption. Interesting idea using a grinder to make flats instead of double nutting. The studs are not very big and I would be afraid of rounding the flats and then you're totally SOL.
The Ducati shop where I get my parts warned me that the vertical cylinder headstuds could be a PITA. Moisture can sit and work its way into the threads with gravity. Doesn't happen on the horizontal cylinder. Those came out easily, except for the broken one.
Happier days:
