Advice for dealing with bent exhaust stud?

My new (used) head arrived today and it looks like one of the exhaust studs got bent in transit. I'm wondering what the best way to handle this is. Maybe I can try heating the stud and gently bending it back?
It's too bad, the rest of the head is in nice shape.

I would not try to bend stud back i would heat the stud boss and try to remove.

DFIGPZ wrote: I would not try to bend stud back i would heat the stud boss and try to remove.

Remove and replace would be my preferred method. Try using a good penetrating oil for a few days before removing it. The more caution you use, the better.

Later, Doug

Think it will snap if try to bend it? That would certainly increase the nightmare level. I didn't even know these were removable until I started reading some threads about it. Still not sure how to get them out.

Alright, I guess they just screw in/out (if they're like these studs)





I don't know why I thought it would be something more complicated.

Zaddict wrote: Think it will snap if try to bend it? That would certainly increase the nightmare level. I didn't even know these were removable until I started reading some threads about it. Still not sure how to get them out.

The steel stud most likely won't snap but I bet the aluminum head will break. Use the "jammed nut" or "jam nut" method.

Later, Doug

Heat and penetrating fluid.

Heat the boss up around the stud, let it cool down to were if you spray pent fluid on it that it wont smoke or bubble up....but warm enough to pull the pent fluid into the threads around the stud. I would let sit a few hours in till cool and try.

I would not bend the stud.

If you are handy with a drill and tap you can make a simple tool. I agree with the others, DO NOT bend that stud back. Remove it and replace.

Maybe you could make, and sell some of these tools, for those who are not good at making things?

Where does the bend start? Is there some straight area where the stud meets the head, or does the bend start right at the base? The stud is trash at this point, but they're cheap. Your biggest concern is getting it out without damaging the head. The jammed nut or stud extractors work fine on a straight stud. You're are applying an inline rotational force. On a bent stud, this could act as a lever, possibly breaking the threaded mounting hole. You might want to try a pair of vice grips with the sides of the jaws flush against the head. The bent stud would be angled across the jaw faces. Basically you want the straight part of the stud still in the head to be at a 90 degree angle from the jaws. The goal is to turn the treads inside the head in a straight rotation without any angle.
If the bend starts inside the hole where you see a gap on one side, and it is jammed tight on the other, I might consider trying to straighten it some before removal, Heat the stud right at the base, and then slide a small dia. pipe over it. Apply gentle pressure. You're not trying to straighten the stud to reuse it. Your goal is to get out of the head cleanly.
Think of an arched rod inside a straight tube. As you rotate the rod, it going to push against the tube at the ends and middle. That's kind of whats going on if the bend starts down inside the hole.
Post a close up picture of the stud if you can.
Good luck

MFolks wrote: Maybe you could make, and sell some of these tools, for those who are not good at making things?

I have noticed a string of clever tools...

Thanks all very much for the great advice.

I was just going to ask about trying to turn a severely bent bolt. This is what I'm looking at. I guess I'll try the slight-bend-to-straighten-and-then-extract routine.