I need to replace the rear rocker gasket on my 90 lowrider. is this something I can do using the manual I would like to do the upper and lower while I'm at it. is it as easy as just taking off the top and replacing the gasket and re-torking it.or is there some extra stuff I will run into to.

 

The rear one can be a little difficult gaining access to. There is very little clearance between the cover and frame. A super low profile allen wrench works fine though.

You can try re-tourqing them before replacing the gasket though. Sometimes, that is all what is needed. If that does not work.....then replace the gaskets.

 

It's an easy fix, however if you go to the stealer's for parts, they'll sell you a complete gasket set which does both front and rear....It was around $50 the last time (Sept 2005)I bought one.

I'd also determine exactly where the leak is coming from. Do yourself a favor and start the bike, then run your hand around the rockerbox. You should be able to feel the air being pushed out. I know I could on mine....If that's the case, then I'd also check the actual rockerboxes to determine if they've gotten warped. Trust me, it doesn't take much to make them leak. If they are aftermarket, non-Harley, stuff....They are probably crap. And it's gonna cost ya around $600 to get a new set of Genuine HD Chrome (The MoCo doesn't sell them as a 'set', you gotta buy all six pieces separately)....If that's what you want. Put them on a piece of glass and try and wiggle them. It's usually the middleone that warps. Then the top. If they wiggle...They go in the trash...You're not gonna get them to seal...Trust me. No matter how much goop you might think you can squeeze on them. Three years of dealing with Custom Chrome rockerboxes...Get the Genuine stuff...And still check them before you install.

The easiest way would be to take the time and remove the gas tank. You might be able to loosen it up and remove the rear screw and sorta 'lift' it up and out of the way. On my 93 I cut an allen wrench down to just below the 90* bend. That gives you enough clearance to get those pesky socket head bolts out. There are special wrenches available:
http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/kas6529.html is a link to one (of many) suppliers.


If you've got to replace the gaskets, I'd really recommend that you replace them all. Including the very bottom one. You will need a torque wrench for the four bolts that hold that one to the head. Plus some anti-seize. This will mean that you should remove the tank completely (trust me...You don't wannt work around it). Get the bike on a jack or stand where you can rotate the rear tire (so you can get the valves closed). Then remove, clean, replace, tork, assemble.If you're gonna do both of them, do one at a time.

To do both the front and the rear, all the rocker gaskets, took me around 4 hours.

 

got one more question for ya. do you have to mess with with the push rods? It looks like you don't really have to in the manual, I some guy told me you have to take them out also but like I said, looking at the manual you wouldn't have to.
Thanx
Brad

 

If they arenon adjustablesthey'll need to stay in place.
Check that both lifters are at the bottom of the cycle, allow 10 minutes
or so for the lifters to bleed downand you'll have no issues.
Check the rocker arm shafts for wear while you're at it. Sometimes
they are a source for rattles if worn to much.

 

After dealing with this myself recently, use the James gasket where the head meets the box. For the rest, use HD's gaskets. The rubber gaskets the James kit comes with did not line up 100% with my '98 rocker covers, weren't as wide and always allowed blow out. Used the HD gasket and problem solved.

 

By far, the easiest way to do the job is remove the front motor mount and let the front of the engine drop down. The first time I ever replaced the gaskets I had cut-down allen wrenches and needle-nosed pliers and everything else in there trying to get the rocker-cover screws out. I wasted so much time fooling with it I was half crazy. The next time I had to change a gasket Idropped the front of the engine down and had the damn things off in no time flat.

 

No. In fact, when you remove the bottom rockerbox...Leave them in. They are all different lengths, so you don't want to get them in the wrong locations.

Like I replied, do one cylinder at a time. Roll the rear tire to get both the valves closed, allow the lifters to 'bleed down' abit, then remove the bottom rockerbox. Remove the old gasket, replace, torque the bolts down, then reassemble the rest of the rocker boxes.

It's really more labor than technical...