I just picked up a 06 883 r off a friend and have been trying to make it my own but when I got the bike one of the exhaust studs was broken in the rear head and he had put a bolt in the other side of the rear well riding it yesterday one of the nuts on the front head rattled off and I can't get a nut to go back on so I think I'm gonna pull the stud and use a bolt but my question is... Is this a common problem? Am I gonna be ok with using a bolt? And will an 07 head work on my 06?

 

A stud and nut would be the best repair IMO. They make a tool that (JIMS) that bolts to the good stud, so you can drill out the bad stud. Or, remove the head and have a professional shop do it. Depending on what stud broke, it may not be that accessible to drill while head installed.

Loose exhaust nuts are common but not a chronic issue. I've not lost one in 25 years of owning my bike. Just don't tighten them too much or you'll be back with a broken stud. I'd recommend some high temp antiseize grease when installing.

John

 

Thanks for the reply I'll look into that tool because someone has already tried to drill the old one out and it's pretty chewed up that's why I asked about the 07 head looks like a 3 year old ran loose with a drill lol

 

Not sure about the '07 heads. They made the fins bigger on the heads and cylinders sometime around that year, I think. Doubt mismatched heads would look very good on your bike. And, the '07 EFI heads might not mate up with your carburetor intake manifold.

John

 

That's what I I was worried about seeing as they went to efi in 07 thanks again