2013 V7 Valve Cover bolts

[tonUPRacer]

Geese,

I'm posting my recent experience with removing the valve cover bolts on my 2013 V7 Racer. It went something like this: After I did my first valve adjustment I noted the stock valve cover bolts to be a bit soft and one of them rounded a bit when taking off the cover. Fast forward another 6K miles and time for another valve adjustment. Knowing that one of my bolts was suspect I ordered the SS kit from GuzziTech in advance. Sure enough, the one bolt that was slightly buggered up, was now impossible to remove. Fortunately I have a screw extractor or easy out whatever you want to call it and 30 minutes and some cussing later I got the damaged bolt out. If you're not willing to go the GuzziTech route then at a minimum you should stock up on OEM replacements because I suspect you may wind up being in the same boat I was in. Cheers!

[Ncdan]

I have an AUTO FASTERERS store close to my house so I can get these types of bolts in stainless steel fairly easy.

[Kev m]

Him, I haven't had a problem yet, but maybe I'll add it to my stock list just in case. Thx.

[lorengo70]

Yeah, had a bit a of bad experience with those bolts as well. I recently did my first valve check on my V7 II (the previous two valve checks were done by the dealer). I had problem removing 4 out of the 8 bolts as the dealer had over torqued them and they got rounded out when I tried to remove them. I had to drill them out and I bought new screws to replace them (OEM screws, not the steel ones). The trick, is to just snug them tight. I did that and now have no problems taking them out.

[kingoffleece]

I replaced mine at the first service as I also found them to be soft.
SS purchased thru GuzziTech solved that well enough.

[waxi]

I hate such things! Why the hell would someone design something like that? Big screw, small hole. Over time they get burned in and how will you unscrew it? If they are afraid of over-tightening they should just use smaller one. Same idiotic design I found on some oil change screws (on cars). Huge head, tiny thread diameter. Is it so hard to anticipate problems??

[TimmyTheHog]

I hate such things! Why the hell would someone design something like that? Big screw, small hole. Over time they get burned in and how will you unscrew it? If they are afraid of over-tightening they should just use smaller one. Same idiotic design I found on some oil change screws (on cars). Huge head, tiny thread diameter. Is it so hard to anticipate problems??

I am going with "because big flat head looks cool and classic"...

at work here, we always tell the design team (which is my department) that make everything as smooth like a baby's bottom so it doesn't "look as bulky" as it actually is.

but ya, I agree with you...

[pyoungbl]

I have an AUTO FASTERERS store close to my house so I can get these types of bolts in stainless steel fairly easy.

Dan, when I  had this same problem I found it impossible to get a matching bolt from any of the local fastener stores.  These guys supply the Navy and lots of industrial customers so I was very surprised.  The OEM one is a really odd duck.  If you can point me to a part number I'd love to have a few more spares.

Peter Y.

[pete roper]

I've never had a problem unless they have been grossly over tightened. Using a good tool that fits the fastener is the key.

Pete

[Socalrob]

I've never had a problem unless they have been grossly over tightened. Using a good tool that fits the fastener is the key.

Pete

What brand(s) do you recommend?  I was looking at some of my torq wrenches the other day and the tools themselves look like they could be sharper.

[M0T0Geezer]

Some comments from a really old geezer (me):

• • These only hold plastic cosmetic garnish panels onto the actual metal valve covers.
  • Said garnish panels hold no oil, either liquid or vapor.  Nothing to leak, even if garnish panel is thrown away.
  • Not everything needs to be as tight as front lug nuts on the School Bus.
  • The "Allen" socket is metric, so a "close enough" American Allen wrench will "fit" just good enough to round out the socket See (3) above.
  
  
  'Geezer

[pete roper]

What brand(s) do you recommend?  I was looking at some of my torq wrenches the other day and the tools themselves look like they could be sharper.

I've got Snap On for shorty 1/4 drive stuff like this.

[kingoffleece]

I've got a fine set of metric tools.  Bolts were so tight from factory that a few of them started to give way slightly at first removal.
Off with their heads, I say................ ...

[pyoungbl]

• These only hold plastic cosmetic garnish panels onto the actual metal valve covers.
• Said garnish panels hold no oil, either liquid or vapor.  Nothing to leak, even if garnish panel is thrown away.
• Not everything needs to be as tight as front lug nuts on the School Bus.
• The "Allen" socket is metric, so a "close enough" American Allen wrench will "fit" just good enough to round out the socket See (3) above.

'Geezer[/list]

That's not completely correct.  The four bolts actually do secure the metal valve covers on the V7 (not so on the 4V or 8V CARC big blocks).  Said valve covers do contain oil.  Agree that the bolts do not have to be tightened by a gorilla and that one must use the correct metric socket.

from another old geezer with a V7

Peter Y.

[tonUPRacer]

FWIW: I have good metric tools, I don't over-torque. Other's have had this issue, if you haven't then that's great. I was just posting as warning for others. So much for trying to be helpful. And yes there is a gasket or some kind of thin bendy thing with real oily oil or something I just don't know what that smelly stuff is.

That's not completely correct.  The four bolts actually do secure the metal valve covers on the V7 (not so on the 4V or 8V CARC big blocks).  Said valve covers do contain oil.  Agree that the bolts do not have to be tightened by a gorilla and that one must use the correct metric socket.

from another old geezer with a V7

Peter Y.

[/list]

[FOG]

 
In the v9 engine manual i found the torque for the valve covers 7-9 nm This is kind of the max for plain steel screws if i can rely upon my internet search
And ofcourse the guzzi bolts are soft and normaliy sold as furniture bolts with their thin 22mm heads (carlo guzzi has bought them at ikea i think)

So maybe its an idea to use normal hex cap allen bolts? with a firm thick washer , steel or stainless(watch out with stainless because the merged with the aluminium, at leas on my ducati)

I orderded some aluminium coloured bobbins to use with a strong M6 hexcap. Hope it will work out
Bert

[malik]

When mine on the 1TB rounded out, the S/S ones were not available, so I had a set machined up in steel & nickel plated. Early days yet for long term viability assessment. I take care to use a quality tool. Hopefully going to be better than the OEM version.

[SmithSwede]

They are a bit soft, but I haven’t had trouble with mine.  Don’t use Locktite, and don’t over-torque. 

I also squirt some WD-40 into each hole and then hammer the bit into the hole.  I suspect these holes tend to fill up with dirt and crud, and if you don’t clean it out the bit doesn’t go all the way in, so you get less bearing surface. 

[Kev m]

They are a bit soft, but I haven’t had trouble with mine.  Don’t use Locktite, and don’t over-torque. 

I also (tap) the bit into the hole.

Ditto

[Bulldog9]

IMO, many of the fasteners used by Guzzi are just a bit harder than cheese. I stripped two taking them off the MGX at first valve adjust, and had issues with the 8V Norge too. To get a stripped one out, I tap/hammered a torx bit into the cheese heads and they came out. I only hand tighten these with an allen wrench, and have good quality wrenches that are not rounded. Only have to worry about the Stornello these days as the 12S, Griso and Convert don't have them.

I've been wrenching on my 1979 XS1100 for 30+ years and never rounded a fastener out, but worry about this on my Guzzi's. Have swapped quite a few out.

[TheHungarian]

I rounded one of these screws once, and it was my fault for over-tightening it. They drill out fairly easily. I'd never pay $11.25 for one of these little screws from GuzziTech even if they were made of titanium – just on principle. I think the stock ones are like $.40 from AF1.
By the way, someone once schooled me that it can't be a bolt unless it has a nut that threads onto it. Even if it's 2' long and 4" in diameter and screwed into the Golden Gate Bridge, it's a screw unless it has a removable nut attached to the end of it. Damn I'm annoying.


Best,
Mike

[jbell]

I rounded one of these screws once, and it was my fault for over-tightening it. They drill out fairly easily. I'd never pay $11.25 for one of these little screws from GuzziTech even if they were made of titanium – just on principle. I think the stock ones are like $.40 from AF1.
By the way, someone once schooled me that it can't be a bolt unless it has a nut that threads onto it. Even if it's 2' long and 4" in diameter and screwed into the Golden Gate Bridge, it's a screw unless it has a removable nut attached to the end of it. Damn I'm annoying.


Best,
Mike

Well, you've come to the right place.   

[Kev m]

Well, you've come to the right place.   

I can't argue with that.

[SmithSwede]

I'd never pay $11.25 for one of these little screws from GuzziTech even if they were made of titanium – just on principle. I think the stock ones are like $.40 from AF1.

By the way, someone once schooled me that it can't be a bolt unless it has a nut that threads onto it. Even if it's 2' long and 4" in diameter and screwed into the Golden Gate Bridge, it's a screw unless it has a removable nut attached to the end of it. Damn I'm annoying.
Best,
Mike

Yep.  Cheapskate.  Semantically obstinate and technically pendantic. 

This new Hungarian guy is going to fit right in !

Welcome aboard Mike. 

[Solorider73]

I can't argue with that.

Wait I thought this was the argument room?

Wildguzzi sometimes reminds me of Monty Python's Argument Clinic.

[mr_pacman]

Geese,

I'm posting my recent experience with removing the valve cover bolts on my 2013 V7 Racer. It went something like this: After I did my first valve adjustment I noted the stock valve cover bolts to be a bit soft and one of them rounded a bit when taking off the cover. Fast forward another 6K miles and time for another valve adjustment. Knowing that one of my bolts was suspect I ordered the SS kit from GuzziTech in advance. Sure enough, the one bolt that was slightly buggered up, was now impossible to remove. Fortunately I have a screw extractor or easy out whatever you want to call it and 30 minutes and some cussing later I got the damaged bolt out. If you're not willing to go the GuzziTech route then at a minimum you should stock up on OEM replacements because I suspect you may wind up being in the same boat I was in. Cheers!

Would you happen to have a part # handy for those bolts? I've got a 2014 North American spec V7 Racer so I suspect it would use the same part as mine would.  I'll order some as I'm planning to look at the valves in the next month or so.

Thanks
james