valve cover torque settings

[SeaLander]

well i managed to bust off the top of a bolt trying to torque down the valve covers to 240 inch lbs. Luckily I managed to drill the rest of the bolt out without any damage. Scary. I'm going to buy all new bolts and a new 5mm allen socket.

Am I torquing it to tight? Can I get away with anything looser?

2001 750M

[Popeye the Sailor]

Where did you get that number? That's 20ft-lbs. Seems a bit high.

[Spidey]

Personally, I wouldn't worry about the settings at all.  Just torque it so it's a bit tight w/o worrying about the numbers.  If it weeps, tighten it.  It's not like you're torquing down conrods or engine cases or anything.  They're just covers.  

[Popeye the Sailor]

So the German value-"Guudendtight" 

[Speeddog]

90 in-lb is plenty for those bolts.

[SeaLander]

Thanks for the advice.

I just messed up another bolt tighting the belt tentioners at 20ft lbs. Hopefully i can drill this one out as easily...ughhh

now i know what i did, I tried tighing the valve covers with the timing belt specs..

[Speeddog]

I'm pretty sure that the holes in the cylinders that the tensioner bolts go into are heli-coiled.

[Howie]

So the German value-"Guudendtight" 

More like "sortatight"

[yotogi]

I see you figured it out but here are some torques for an S2R 1K:

Intake/exhaust valve cover screws 10nm
Timing belt idler pulley 20nm
Timing belt tensioner pulley 26nm

[ducpainter]

I see you figured it out but here are some torques for an S2R 1K:

Intake/exhaust valve cover screws 10nm
Timing belt idler pulley 20nm
Timing belt tensioner pulley 26nm

I understand the book says that, but in my experience 10nm is a bit much for a 6mm steel screw in an aluminum casting with no helicoil or other insert.

[CairnsDuc]

Personally, I wouldn't worry about the settings at all.  Just torque it so it's a bit tight w/o worrying about the numbers.  If it weeps, tighten it.  It's not like you're torquing down conrods or engine cases or anything.  They're just covers.  

Gotta agree with Spidey here, I always did mine up to "Bit Tight" or "Nice and Tight" Settings and never had a leak/weep, mind you I always used CA Cycleworks Gaskets as well.
Was always wary of going to hard on the bolts, as Ducpainter said, they are just going into an alloy head, I didn't want to strip/break anything.

[yotogi]

I understand the book says that, but in my experience 10nm is a bit much for a 6mm steel screw in an aluminum casting with no helicoil or other insert.

And I would certainly defer to your experience. Last time I had mine off it did seem that 10nm was on the too tight side for at least one of the bolts.

[ducpainter]

And I would certainly defer to your experience. Last time I had mine off it did seem that 10nm was on the too tight side for at least one of the bolts.

I've always used 6 ft/lbs for that size screw in aluminum. There's a good chart here...http://dodgeram.org/tech/specs/bolts/M_bolts.html The limiting factor is the weakest material...being the aluminum head.

I very rarely actually torque that size fastener. Always have gone by feel.

[Howie]

My manual says 3 Nm.  which equals 2.21 ft lbs.