One of my nuts is oily

[vaclav]

I have noticed some engine oil accumulating on one of the the "polygonal" nuts that fasten the head on my vertical cylinder (2007 S2R 1000). I was wondering if the head studs go through an oil passage or not. I have also noticed some oil leaking around the cam cover on that same (left) side so it may be wicking up on to that nut from that other location. It doesn't look like it though. I know I need to take that cover off and check the o-ring but either way I am still curious if that stud goes through an oil passage.

I was also wondering if there is an alternative to the Ducati tool for tightening those polygonal nuts. I would like to check the torque if that turns out to be the source of the oil.

I searched "polygonal nuts" but no dice.

[zooom]

title sounds porny...sorry...but I had to say it!

[DarkStaR]

Eww

[Slide Panda]

Well, all nuts are polygons... so yeah that's going no where. You're you're looking at is 12 pointed nuts. 12 point sockets are easy enough to find. But to get to the ones on the head you'll need a special tool - like this:
http://www.motoreva.com/item.cfm?itemid=102&categoryid=171

Be aware that there are specific torque instructions for torquing down the head

[vaclav]

Well, all nuts are polygons... so yeah that's going no where.

The Ducati service manual refers to those particular nuts that go on the head studs specifically as "polygonal nuts". That is why I used the term. Thank you for the link and warning.

Does anyone know if the studs go through an oil passage?

[uglyducky]

title sounds porny...sorry...but I had to say it!

damn.  you beat me to it 

[Mr Earl]

Not meaning to second-guess here, but is it for sure oil?  The directions for torquing down the head nuts include lubing the stud threads with grease.  It sometimes squeezes out from under the flange on the nut and looks like a small oil accumulation.

If you have a buddy who's a welder, and a spare socket and 17mm combination wrench, you can make that tool (you have to straighten the slight bend in most combination wrenches, too).  There's instructions with dimensions somewhere - if you're interested I'll see if I can re-locate the web site.  The torque wrench is used at exactly 90° to the tool for the proper torque reading.