Exhaust nut

Is it OK to tighten the exhaust nut with large offset pliers or do I need to get a special tool.

Use what you can, no need for special tools, I use what I have, an extra large muti grips that I have had for many years works for me and it grips the exhaust rose perfectly and being large handles can tighten them up real tight, I been doing it this way for 50 years and still using my original exhaust rose, but being a hard mount motor my 850 exhaust rose have only had one come lose and I don't have any locking devices on the headers, the pipes were made for my bike back in 1982 when converting it to the Featherbed frame, the 4 years before that when in stock Commando the exhaust rose were always coming lose and one pipe had to be repaired from cracking where the balance pipe came into the header pipe, the design of the locking devices never worked right from day one when I brought my Norton new, they always were lose and rattled, was not a good design at all, I am still running with the same headers that were made for my Norton way back in 82 made by a local exhaust shop that had a mandle bender and a tradesman who knew his trade.

Ashley

Final tightening is best done with head at operating temperature with engine running. Vibes are helpful.
Cheers

You can buy the tool from Andover Norton: https://andover-triumph.co.uk/en/shop-details-2/16201
Or Try our Canadian Distributors that will carry this tool like Walridge Motors: https://www.walridge.com/
or British Cycle Supply: https://britcycle.com/
Or get one from Colorado Norton works that you can carry with you in your Tool Kit: https://coloradonortonworks.net/cnw-combination-exhaust-nut-wrench.html

The tool is not that expensive

Correct tool definitely recommended. Nice and tight with very hot engine or it will come loose and destruction will result. I use the Suzuki gaskets. Seem to work better than originals. When removing exhaust undo nuts when hot as well. I broke an aluminium nut trying to undo it cold. Warmed it up and it came loose relativey easily. Graham

Eggsy said:

Is it OK to tighten the exhaust nut with large offset pliers or do I need to get a special tool.

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Get the proper tool. The Channelocks with just ruin it by crushing it out of round, AND not get it tight enough.

concours said:

Get the proper tool. The Channelocks with just ruin it by crushing it out of round, AND not get it tight enough.

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An exhaust wrench is a must for your tool box.Not expensive and will save you and your motorcycle much grief!
Mike

Yep correct tool with a scaffold pole when hot never comes loose

I had always used channel lock pliers to tighten exhaust nuts in my 50+ years of Norton ownership. Last year, the threads on the right exhaust port stripped. I had the threads professionally repaired and was very impressed with the repair work. Given the cost of the shipping, repair work and new exhaust nuts, I figured I might as well spend a little more and buy the proper tool to protect my not insignificant investment. The Andover Norton tool is great. I probably should have bought one years ago. After a couple of heat cycles and tightening, the exhaust nuts have stayed rock solid. I highly recommend using the dedicated proper tool.

I use a tool from Aliexpress for a BMW airhead

WEM said:

I had always used channel lock pliers to tighten exhaust nuts in my 50+ years of Norton ownership. Last year, the threads on the right exhaust port stripped. I had the threads professionally repaired and was very impressed with the repair work. Given the cost of the shipping, repair work and new exhaust nuts, I figured I might as well spend a little more and buy the proper tool to protect my not insignificant investment. The Andover Norton tool is great. I probably should have bought one years ago. After a couple of heat cycles and tightening, the exhaust nuts have stayed rock solid. I highly recommend using the dedicated proper tool.

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Very well said.....

Dedubyah said:

I use a tool from Aliexpress for a BMW airhead

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So do I (not from Aliexpress) but they don't fit the earlier nuts.