Hardware cleanup question

[Lunchbag]

I bought new plugs to replace the originals which are rusty.  I also want to clean up the corrosion on the bolts on either side.  Should I try to clean/treat the bolt heads in place, or can I remove, clean, and replace those bolts without disturbing the gaskets under the covers?  Thanks

[rdprdp01]

I believe if you remove, clean, and reinstall the bolts one at a time, the exposure to your gaskets is minimal. I strongly encourage using a torque wrench when reinstalling the clean bolts.

[pekingduck]

That's probably the hottest point on the engine, and those bolts have a thin black oxide coating that corrodes easily, and wire brushing them will only take off more coating.   I would replace them with silver colored cad-plated bolts.

[SportsterDoc]

I do not think those are head bolts which may stretch when torqued.
So, I would probably remove, one at a time, wire brush, then coat with high temp paint.

Cad plating is good up to 450F, but may discolor. If you do replace, consider metric class 10.9 equivalent to SAE grade 8.

The common metric class 8.8 is equivalent to SAE grade 5.

Just my 3 cents

[peterbaron]

Why bother cleaning, repainting or any mods of these bolts..??
New bolt #12 is only $3, gasket #5 costs $6, all OEM.
Before removing your s/plugs, blow out the dust from their 4 sockets.

https://www.hondapartshouse.com/oemparts...inder-head

[Lunchbag]

Thanks to all for the many thoughtful suggestions.

[bflint]

I just did a month long spruce up of my 2014 Deluxe in which I bought $300+ of parts/gaskets from Partzilla. I removed those finned shrouds around the spark plugs (the ones you are asking about) and replaced the metal gaskets under them ... wanted to cleanup some small cosmetic leaks around them. The 4 gaskets are only $6.49/ea; part number 12521-MGC-003. I cleaned up the bolts also ... think the torque value is only 9 ft 1lbs on them.