change to stainless spokes then you can forget about them forever

regardless of tightening specs you should use loctite,

red for permanent fitting parts that you take of very rarely and are a steel to steel fitment...when you need to get it undone heat it up first, i use a small flame type soldering gun - breaking strain is approx 160 ft/lbs (from memory) and boiling point of 150 deg C

blue for less permanent fittings and/or steel to aluminum - breaking strain of approx 60 ft/lbs (again from memory) and a boiling point of 150 deg C again but doesn't need heating to break free

bolts that you want to make sure don't come out but can't get to them easily use GREEN, its a wicking fluid so it will follow the threads and set, holds like red but breaks free like blue

Use your manual, it is well written, take it step by step, as a former motorcycle shop owner it is good and on the XT virtually everything can be done at home with a little patience and the right tools