Please dont ask me for advice when it gets this bad!! Lol

Lol, well you helped get the sump sorted, should have a new sump and gasket (excellent service from RO on the gasket, he went above and beyond)

I have eyed up a spare head on ebay lol, will soak the studs in plus gas, and worst case get a new head - with studs either removed or in good condition - my engineering skills are no where near good enough for heli coils

Thanks everybody's, will report back shortly!

I have removed two stuck studs by drilling and screw extractors. Be careful though, snapping an extractor is easy and getting them out is a massive bitch. Just drill as much material out as you can before using them. Easier with the head on the bench though

I replaced a head when it got too much hassle. The benefit of that is that you can clean it all up lovely, remove the casting flash and be sure that you have a very clean head and valves on the bike. Clean your piston tops too.

What about a bit of heat on the studs as well as a good soaking in plusgas? Will save pissing about changing heads if you can get the studs out!

Weld nuts on,Let the weld cool down before you try removing it Works for me,,Even if it's flush if it's in an easy accessible place i would put a nut over and weld through.I would only use a stud extractor as a last resort.becuase if that snaps your fucked.

Cheers guys, going to try welding a nut on to the protruding stud and give that a go - although I don't think I'm confident enough to try an extractor.

Just speaking to a guy on another forum - anyone heard of "Wire Spark Erosion"? maybe if welding doesn't work?

He was saying in general its expensive, but if they're not that busy they can work out reasonably cheap - guessing this would mean I could install new studs - anyone had any experience?

Also what are the heads made of?

I have an snapped extractor removed using this method,
I don't know if they could do this with the heads in place,
I gave them the cylinder.

Heads are ally, so soft! Have a go at soaking in penetrative fluid, put on some localised heat and weld a nut on, if this doesnt shift it you may have to take head of and go from there. Good luck chap..

Not sure if that link will work,we will sort out if not when I'm on a computer:

Right just popped round the garage to put a bit of plus gas on the studs. - also applied a little heat

I have more stud than what I thought, which is kinda good

Now my plan of action now is to soak the studs every night with plus gas, and then next weekend degreas and clean up the threads asbestos possible, pit the nuts on (as tight as possible to the head?) and then weld them up

Guessing it doesn't matter what setting I have the welder on, it's only a little Clarke 90 amp thing, so maximum power it will be.

Fingers crossed!

Thanks for all the help as well guys


Yeah for the spark erosion, I would have to send the head away to them, out of curiosity how much did getting the extractors removed cost?

Also studs loosen to the left don't they? Not reversed thread? I know that sounds stupid but this whole thing is because I got confuzzled lol!


Also do in try and remove the one good stud and replace all 4? Or let sleeping dos lie?