Well the ol lady and I were out and about on the bike today, tooling around and having fun. We decided to stop by the local HD dealer ( San Diego HD ) who was putting on a free event with band/BBQ, etc... to honor blacks in motorcycle history, ( did you know that the captain america bike and the billy bike from the movie "Easy Rider" were built by a black guy named Benjamin F. Hardy Sr.? ) I think that was what it was for. lots of people from all over the USA were there and I got to meet Willie G Davidson's kids there. It was a pretty good time to be had, except for one thing............................................. ................
I noticed a strange noise in the top end coming off the freeway. So I get to the dealer and park the bike and it sounds like a whistling/hissing type of sound coming from the front cylinder, like "sss sss sss sss" especially while revving it. I get one of the HD mechanics out to look at it and he thinks it's the head gasket or exhaust leak and points out that the base gasket on that cylinder is also leaking. There is oil around the front cyl. head gasket area and along the bottom around the base gasket.
I wonder if the cylinder studs didn't work loose since the head gasket AND the base gasket seem to be leaking.
So I guess that I'll be tearing down the front cyl. and replacing all the gaskets. I will be doing the work myself cause I can't see paying $80/hr labor for something I should be able to do.
I have worked on lots of bikes and that includes head gaskets and valve jobs but it's been several long years since I got my fingernails dirty on a bike and this is the 1st time working on a Harley engine.
So... any of you Sportster experts have any suggestions or tips I should know about???

 

i dont have any tips for you,since i havent had to tear my down yet..but im sorry to hear about your problem and wish you the best of luck getting it fixed..

 

Keep us posted please

 

No tips other than get a service manual if you don't have one yet.Very handy book to have around.

 

That sucks!Sounds like a great time to tear it down and do the 1250 mods if possible. If you don't want to do that I'd suggestredoing both cylinders at the same time. Don't want the other blowing on you.

 

Get a second opinion. Have an indie look at it or another trusted service center.

 

good luck shouldn,t be too hard!!!!!

 

hello???????????

 

hello again

 

Rontech
Sorry to hear about your troubles.
keep us posted.
What year is your sporty? I have an 2004 sportster shop manual you are welcome to use it if it helps you.
let me know and i will ship out.