Water Jacket Cover and Thermostat Housing Bolts

[Cmcneal1]

Hello All,

I have a 1975 70hp Evinrude that I recently replaced the head on. I learned the manual calls for 60-84 inch lbs on the cover bolts AFTER I installed them with Permatex Aviation to 100 inch lbs. All bolts and threads were clean and chased and I followed the right sequence. I just did this job a couple weeks ago and they each installed easily with no issues.
What are your thoughts: should I loosen and retorque one at a time or should I let it ride? I don't want to have an issue with stripped threads or broken bolts if I need to take them off again.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and suggestions!

 

[Crosbyman]

no harm in retorquing I guess.... but if they did not strip at 100lbs maybe best to let the sleeping dogs alone. jmho

 

[Cmcneal1]

no harm in retorquing I guess.... but if they did not strip at 100lbs maybe best to let the sleeping dogs alone. jmho

Thanks Crosbyman!

Just to clarify, I did 100 INCH pounds instead of 'up to 84 INCH pounds'. Even more of a reason to leave it?

I don't plan on busting it all the way open ever again but I didnt plan on this teardown! The middle spark plug hole spit out an insert with another hole's threads barely hanging on. Still ran well enough for me though even with compression blowby on two cylinders! These engines are tanks! I have the old head as a spare in case I'm in a bad spot and want to try welding it closed and retapping.

 

[saltchuckmatt]

Just re-torque it to spec. Can't hurt it and then you can sleep dreaming of ripping across the lake at high speeds.

 

[Cmcneal1]

Just re-torque it to spec. Can't hurt it and then you can sleep dreaming of ripping across the lake at high speeds.

I appreciate the reply! I'll plan to loosen and retorque one at a time in the same pattern as install. Do you think the Permatex aviation on the bolt threads will still hold up and do its job in the long run with a retorque?

 

[racerone]

Just leave it alone.----No harm done by leaving it at 100 inch lbs !!

 

[saltchuckmatt]

I appreciate the reply! I'll plan to loosen and retorque one at a time in the same pattern as install. Do you think the Permatex aviation on the bolt threads will still hold up and do its job in the long run with a retorque?

Race knows more....but not sure why you loosen them. I always re-torque after 2 hours of use.