Head bolt removal fear....conquered

[Leewebb7]

Ah ok...I can see what your saying now.

[Dale Finch]

FYI...TM Tractors (forum sponsor at the bottom of the page) has the 2 lengths of grade 8 head bolts:
http://www.tmtractor.com/new/en/en_001newparts.htm

[dgrapes59]

Hamilton Bob's, also a site sponsor, has them as well.
https://hamiltonbobs.com/cart/251230R1- ... 8a749a0563

[Gary Dotson]

Do not use stainless steel for your head bolts.

[staninlowerAL]

Do not use stainless steel for your head bolts.

Agree 100%. Achieving proper torque will probably be a problem and SS bolts in a cast iron block threads will have a greater chance of galling. You don't want that to happen!!!! JMHO Stan

[Denny Clayton]

Do not use stainless steel for your head bolts.

Agree 100%. Achieving proper torque will probably be a problem and SS bolts in a cast iron block threads will have a greater chance of galling. You don't want that to happen!!!! JMHO Stan

I don't have anyways near the experience of Gary and Stan, but I do believe in what Stan stated above about SS.

[Leewebb7]

I got my engine gasket set and Shifter fork through HamiltonBobs....maybe I'll try them.

[Leewebb7]

I checked on McMaster Carr website and I can get a pack of 10 of each length for 28.00...grade 8 steel. Any reason why these wouldn't work??

[Don McCombs]

Are they the correct lengths?

[Leewebb7]

Yes 3 1/4 and 2 3/8.....granted it's only 15 to 20 dollars cheaper depending on where you look for a "set"...but I have to wonder....where are they getting their bolts from???..

[Don McCombs]

[Bill V in Md]

Yes 3 1/4 and 2 3/8.....granted it's only 15 to 20 dollars cheaper depending on where you look for a "set"...but I have to wonder....where are they getting their bolts from???..

TM Tractor head bolts have a shoulder under the hex head, whereas the McMaster-Carr bolts do not. Also, I do not know the difference in the shank length (unthreaded portion) between the TM head bolts and the McMaster-Carr standard Grade 8 bolt. The coating is also different between these two suppliers. Not sure what the specs are for Hamiliton Bob's head bolts.
Engine cylinder head bolts are designed specifically for that application. I suspect that the added shoulder under the hex head will resist shearing the bolt more than no shoulder, but other than that I cannot say whether these differences will matter.

[Leewebb7]

Here's the specs I found....looks like 1 inch of thread on the ends.

[Leewebb7]

I was thinkng of going this route because... let's say a set of "head" bolts are 50.00 bucks from a tractor site..i dont know if they are that price im just throwing out a number....I can get these for 28.00.....Do I pay more because their bolts are labeled specifically "head bolts"....or are they really just bolts that just happen to be the right length I need and sold as " head bolts"....make sense??....I'm just trying to save a buck...,maybe I'm over thinking it... haha. I guess I'm thinking the tractor sites are doing the same thing...ordering in bulk the lengths I need from a site like McMaster Carr... and selling them a "set" at a time for a little more....

[Gary Dotson]

McMaster Carr has a good reputation for quality products. I’ve always gotten good stuff from them. I’ve used there bolts, for head bolts, several times. I generally step up to grade 9.