Rocker arm bolt breakage
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 50
Likes: 1
From: Lake Quivira, KS
Rocker arm bolt breakage
So, I was torqueing down my rocker box and a rocker arm bolt broke before I reached torque. It was the last one I was finalizing torque. Talk about a bunch of doo doo! It never got to the torque.
I was just wondering if anyone else has ever had this problem. I'm sure my torque wrench is good, and my service manual calls for 18-22ft lbs for the rocker bolts...
I was just wondering if anyone else has ever had this problem. I'm sure my torque wrench is good, and my service manual calls for 18-22ft lbs for the rocker bolts...
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,569
Likes: 10
From: Royal Palm Beach, FL
it looks like you had the right torque setting for the box cover bolts. some of the others are inch lbs.
I changed mine out a while back and seem to remember that they might be different lengths. is it possible you put one in that was too long?
I changed mine out a while back and seem to remember that they might be different lengths. is it possible you put one in that was too long?
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Advanced
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 50
Likes: 1
From: Lake Quivira, KS
thx....they are all the same lengths on mine...2003, i just had bad luck i think
Stage I
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 1
From: Caldwell, ID
Same Problem Here
I just had the same issue with my 04 FXST. As I was putting everything back together, I was torquing down the Rocker Arm Bolts and broke one right off before I even reached the required torque. It says in the manual 18-22 foot pounds, not inch pounds.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 42
Likes: 1
From: Indianapolis
If that were the case the torque wrench would of indicated.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,500
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From: Inland NW
How exactly would it have "indicated"?
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,829
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From: Santa Ana, CA
The thought is they would have still hit torque with the wrench before it broke if the bolt bottomed out. That may, or may not, be true depending in the bolt. This is an old thread but the the OP was not using the correct bolts if they were all the same length on a 2003.
Last edited by OCSpringer; Aug 23, 2025 at 11:12 AM.
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 42
Likes: 1
From: Indianapolis
Are you familiar with torque wrenches? Gonna take more than 22 Ft lbs to ring a 5/16 grade 8. If his torque wrench didn't indicate he reached 22 Ft lbs he was not bottomed out. If he were bottomed out the torque wrench would have indicated the setting was met and he would have stopped applying addition torque. The too long bolt would not be properly doing its prescribed function, but it would be in one piece.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 972
Likes: 1,016
From: Knoxville
I’ve broke one. Old craftsman 3/8 tq wrench, skipped and missed the click. I stopped and left it over torqued on the initial install, The box leaked after a bit with the super tighty.
Pulled the box again and when reinstalling the over torqued bolt let go. I was able to feel and see it with the new Quinn torque wrench. Pulled it out and replaced the all the bolts with this kit Colony.
It happens.
Pulled the box again and when reinstalling the over torqued bolt let go. I was able to feel and see it with the new Quinn torque wrench. Pulled it out and replaced the all the bolts with this kit Colony.
It happens.
