TOPIC:

I am rebuilding the engine on my 1978 KZ650C. Should the rod bolts be replaced? They seem pretty snug and I don't want to attempt to remove them if they are not meant to be removed.

Thanks,
Dave

check the rod bolts for stretch .

I don't see a measurement in my haynes manual to check for rod bolt stretch. I though the general rule was to always replace rod bolts, so is reusing them ok? If they do need replacing, do they take some tapping to remove?

Thanks much . . .

Dave-

The Honda CB650 manual says nothing about replacing the con-rod bolts with new ones. If your book is the same then I would go with the old. This is contrary to my experience with aircooled VW engines. Wish I had more experience to relate but I've only been working on bikes for about 9 months

For good measure, I would use a thread guage or tap to check for stretch.

What's important is for everything to go back the way it was if you do not replace the bearings.
This means no change! Not even to correct the backwards caps.
The old bearings have seated, or 'worn in'. Any rearrangement changes the bearing support and they will wear out faster.

-Duck

checking boltstretch is common in automotive applications.when a bolt is torqued it stretches a certain ammont that can be measured anything over that is a red flag and gets replaced.check with a machine shop that does motorcycle work for specs. goodluck,happy wrenching!