header nuts

[scooter]

did a search on this and found some have found them loose as soon as 3000 miles. is this something i should be worried about? do they ever come off? i would think that it would be covered under warranty.or is it as simple as just checking them every so often,they look like a pain to get too some say you can get to them from the bottom of the bike without taking the plastic off , this seems impossible to me.i looked at mine and there alot of stuff in the way. any body come up with any neat tricks to make this a easier thing to check. my bike is new and i want to take care of it.thanks

[koval68]

Install Fuji lock nuts In place of the OEM and problem solved...
http://www.jpcycles.com/product/ZZ91133?N=0&Ntt=fuji+lok&Ntk=All&Ne=&fitment=1&brand=0&results=100&refinement_search=1

[scooter]

yeah i can get lock nuts at work not a big deal getting them just a pain to put them on. im planning on a trip this coming weekend and now im a little paranoid,i know some say they have had no problem.how loose is loose i mean like a 1/4 turn or real loose

[koval68]

yeah i can get lock nuts at work not a big deal getting them just a pain to put them on. im planning on a trip this coming weekend and now im a little paranoid,i know some say they have had no problem.how loose is loose i mean like a 1/4 turn or real loose

Don't be! Go on your trip and enjoy it. Nuts will be loose but not falling out.

[gPink]

You should take the man's advice. It's offered in good spirit. Why ask If you don't want to know?

Oh, and and loose is like.. loose and falling by the roadside where a pain becomes a PAIN.

[scooter]

i am taking his advice, and thanks just wanted some input. so far ive never heard of them coming off.so i guess just ride it and if theres a problem ill take it in under warranty and have the dealer install some lock nuts.

[Pokey]

i am taking his advice, and thanks just wanted some input. so far ive never heard of them coming off.so i guess just ride it and if theres a problem ill take it in under warranty and have the dealer install some lock nuts.

Doubt they will do that under warranty, I wish you the best of luck however. Taking the plastic off is not hard at all, do it yourself and get to know your bike. Replaced all of mine a while ago, fuji-lock nuts are still tight and haven't loosened a bit. And locking nuts are not all the same, go with the fuji-lock style and be done with it. Although I think you are worrying too much about it already, take it into the dealer or check/replace them yourself.

[rcannon409]

You can reach all of these without removing anythign from the bike.  Its not easy, but its possible. I did mine tonight. I used two 6 inch extensions,  a 1/4 t handle, and most importantly a 1/4 wobbly extension added to my 12mm socket.

[scooter]

did you come in from the side or from the bottom? i have plenty of tools so thats not a problem

[VirginiaJim]

To the OP, yes they get loose and some have had them fall off.  I had to take plastic off and loosen the rad to get to all of mine.  Different strokes for different people I guess.

[scooter]

are you guys torquing them or just running them in tight

[rcannon409]

It would be a thousand times easier to remove the plastic, but I was stuck at home with nothing better to do.  The best idea would be to tighten them along with other work.  It did not take THAT long, and I hate dealing with radiators and coolant.

I went through the triangular cut-out on each side of the lower fairing.  For the center nuts it was necessary to assemble the tool with half of it inside the bike and half outside.  1/4" drive stuff was a must have as 3/8" will probably be too large to fit anywhere.  I did nto even attempt to torque them as the angles were too crazy to get an accurate value. Several were finger tight, though, so I'm sure I helped them.

Heres what I built up to get to them:

[Pokey]

I never touched my radiator, Jim must have had a bit too much scotch while doing that? I took the plastic of both sides, and had no issues getting to the header bolts. I never used a torque wrench, not sure how you could anyways? The fuji-lock nuts were snugged down real good, would guess around 8/10 ftlbs with the hand torqueometer.

[scooter]

cool thanks guys. is this a one time deal or do you have to check them every so many miles?

[Pokey]

cool thanks guys. is this a one time deal or do you have to check them every so many miles?

Wow you are paranoid!!!!! If you install some fuji-lock nuts you are more than likely done, otherwise it wouldn't hurt to check them every so often. Some have tightened them and they stayed tight, others have found them to work loose after many miles "can't give exact amount". I think you should just go ride and not worry about it, otherwise check them after about 3k and be done with it.

[scooter]

thanks

[texrider]

Go nuts! 
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=4544.msg54018#msg54018

[VirginiaJim]

I never touched my radiator, Jim must have had a bit too much scotch while doing that? I took the plastic of both sides, and had no issues getting to the header bolts. I never used a torque wrench, not sure how you could anyways? The fuji-lock nuts were snugged down real good, would guess around 8/10 ftlbs with the hand torqueometer.

Possibly....    Is there any other way to do maintenance work?  BTW, you know Kiwi Graham?  You guys have something in common although you are a bit more animated.

[Conrad]

As Jim said, some have lost their nuts...

You can get to them without the plastic being taken off but you'll find it WAY easier to remove it to get to the two inside nuts. You can get to some of them easy enough, not so others.

[Reid]

During the valve check on my 08, I had the shop look at the header nuts.  They were all loose.  Good to go now.