Looking to fix the base gasket leak in my '93 Fatboy again. Currently have about 97,000 miles. At about 70,000 miles I addressed the base gasket leak using James metal base gaskets with the Hayden oil fix.

Any recommendations on a base gasket and a top-end kit? Should I continue to use the Hayden oil fix?

While I'm at it, I also plan to pull the inner primary and replace all the gaskets back there. Should I also replace the inner primary bearing?
While I'm in there, anything else I should address?

 

I have used Cometic with very good results.

On a friends bike he had a long time base gasket leak and Cometic cured it.
If you go with the Cometic you won't need the Hayden oil fix (I didn't use it and it sealed up fine.)

This may be a stupid question but is your primary leaking now????

 

So the Hayden oil fix did not fix it?? Bummer. Heard good things about the cometic base gaskets. Well regarded here.

Consider having the base gasket surface of your cylinders trued up flat. YD

 

I use only Cometic for all my gasket needs.

 

Just curious, did your James gaskets have a silicone type bead on the metal base gaskets ?

 

Not a stupid question. My shifter shaft seal is leaking and the rear shift lever that's attached to the transmission is flopping around. My guess is the inside spline of the shift lever is worn out. I picked up a Baker Truss Style lever last year to use as a replacement. I thought since I need to remove the inner primary to replace the shifter shaft seal and shift lever, I might as well replace all the seals.


The Hayden oil fix didn't work for me. I'm also cognisant of the fact that you need to let an EVO engine warm up. I'll look into getting the cylinders trued.


Yes, the gaskets with a steel base and silicone beading on both sides.
Was very careful when my brother and myself did the top-end work.
I've attached a couple of pictures. It also looks like I might have an oil leak by the cylinder head. Maybe I didn't torque it down properly? I'm fairly certain we followed the service manual.

 

Keep in mind that tranny leaks tend to throw the oil right at the base of the rear cylinder. Something to check into, hopefully it could be just the tranny or the primary seal you spoke of.

 

Unless you're having a problem with the IPB I wouldn't worry about it.


I would make sure to check the position of the IPB race as they have been known to walk into the tranny.

 

I used a mixture. HD head gaskets, Genuine James base and Cometic everything else. Just collected all of it over time. Worked perfectly.

 

Don't use the service manual with James gaskets, use the instructions that come with the gasket set.