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Head bolt retorque

PostPosted: Fri Mar 15, 2019 7:23 pm
by oldelanman
What procedure do you use to retorque the head bolts ... back off and retorque each bolt in the sequence or loosen them all and then retorque in sequence ?

Re: Head bolt retorque

PostPosted: Fri Mar 15, 2019 7:33 pm
by types26/36
oldelanman wrote: "back off and retorque each bolt in the sequence"
This!
------------------------------------------------------------------
Definitely NOT this!
"loosen them all and then retorque in sequence ?"

Re: Head bolt retorque

PostPosted: Sat Mar 16, 2019 7:02 am
by oldelanman
Thanks Brian.

Re: Head bolt retorque

PostPosted: Sat Mar 16, 2019 7:09 am
by alan.barker
In 45 years of tinkering on Twinks when fitting the Head i have always Torqued down in 3 stages.
I have never ever retorqued a Head and have had no problems.
Maybe i have been very lucky :roll: who knows :?
For sure many people like to retorque and it could be a personal choice.
Did Lotus retorque Heads or call Cars back to the Dealers to retorque after a few miles :?:
Imho i can't remember them doing that.
Alan
ps For sure Twinks used in Competition is a different ball game :mrgreen:

Re: Head bolt retorque

PostPosted: Sat Mar 16, 2019 8:14 am
by oldelanman
I've never re-torqued before either ... hence my question on how to go about it.
Only considering doing it now as I have a small oil leak appeared on the LHS where the head, block and front cover join.
It's most likely the cork gasket I suspect so pulling down the head probably wouldn't help anyway but I thought it may be worth a try.
I used RTV on the cork gasket last time and it has squeezed out a fair bit .. have always used Hylomar in the past and not had this problem.

Re: Head bolt retorque

PostPosted: Sat Mar 16, 2019 8:43 am
by alan.barker
I have always found that the Cork Gaskets seem to move after a while.
Maybe Glueing the Cork Gasket in place before fitting the Head would help.
Rohan is the Expert for this.
Alan

Re: Head bolt retorque

PostPosted: Sat Mar 16, 2019 10:23 am
by types26/36
Lotus said to check the head bolts on the initial 500 mile service, I can only presume that meant to re-torque them.
I have always done it on lots of engines I have worked on and never had a blown gasket.
I normally loose them approx a quarter of a turn just enough to ?break the torque lock? then retighten to specs.
This is done ONE AT A TIME in the tightening sequence.

Re: Head bolt retorque

PostPosted: Sat Mar 16, 2019 10:41 am
by alan.barker
Thanks Brian,
is that just an internal Doc because printed on the left is " not to be redistributed" :?
Could you say what Doc that is please
Alan

Re: Head bolt retorque

PostPosted: Sat Mar 16, 2019 1:01 pm
by types26/36
alan.barker wrote: is that just an internal Doc because printed on the left is " not to be redistributed" :? Could you say what Doc that is please Alan

No its not an internal document, it?s the original S1/2 official workshop manual supplied by Lotus.
The ?not to be redistributed? warning is on every page presumably to stop people coping and selling it.

Re: Head bolt retorque

PostPosted: Sat Mar 16, 2019 1:41 pm
by oldelanman
It's also in the later Workshop Manual ... never noticed that before :oops:

I will be checking mine then - if ever I reach 500ml since the last time the head was off :roll:

Thanks again Brian.


extract-from-manual.jpg and

Re: Head bolt retorque

PostPosted: Sat Mar 16, 2019 2:58 pm
by alan.barker
Thanks again Brian,
for pointing that out Workshop Manuel Section "O" page 3. O.2 FREE SERVICE (500 miles). :oops:
Maybe it was a little late when i bought my Sprint as it had already 69,500 miles on the clock :lol: .
I hope the first owner Terry Tozer at Tollgate Engineering (Lotus Dealer) followed the Lotus Elan Workshop Manual :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Also Saint Miles who changed the Chassis and used to service the Sprint :wink: :wink:
Alan

Re: Head bolt retorque

PostPosted: Sat Mar 16, 2019 5:11 pm
by types26/36
types26/36 wrote:I normally loose them approx a quarter of a turn just enough to ?break the torque lock? then retighten to specs.This is done ONE AT A TIME in the tightening sequence.

Oh :roll: and forgot to mention only do the retighting when the engine is stone cold although I'm sure you already know that Roger........................grandmother sucking eggs blah blah blah.......