Head gasket leak
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Russellville, Arkansas
Head gasket leak
My 1998 Ultra started of with the rear base gasket leak and head gasket leak around 23,000 miles.
Last time I was in there, I put new rings in there.
My question.....When I reinstall, do I slowly start tightening down the head or would would that bend the SE adjustable push rod? Or collapse the Pushrod and readjust it accordingly? I’m fine either way....just wanting some opinions.
Im still waiting on parts to arrive....
Last time I was in there, I put new rings in there.
My question.....When I reinstall, do I slowly start tightening down the head or would would that bend the SE adjustable push rod? Or collapse the Pushrod and readjust it accordingly? I’m fine either way....just wanting some opinions.
Im still waiting on parts to arrive....
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: NC USA
So long as you use the same (type/thickness) gaskets, put the rods back in the original locations and are confident the push rods were correctly adjusted previously, won't hurt a thing to re-install rocker boxes without collapsing the rods. No different than using original, solid push rods.
On the other hand, it only takes a few minutes to re-adjust them all if you don't totally collapse them....
Did you, or have you found the cause of the blown head gasket? That is often the result of a cylinder stud problem.
On the other hand, it only takes a few minutes to re-adjust them all if you don't totally collapse them....
Did you, or have you found the cause of the blown head gasket? That is often the result of a cylinder stud problem.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Russellville, Arkansas
I installed new cylinder studs at the same time the SE heads were installed.
The bike first started leaking at the base gasket.....then the head gasket later.
I’ve always let the bike slowly warm up as well.
I wonder if reusing the head bolts caused the problem. Perhaps bolt stretches or backed off. I don’t know.
On the other hand....this bike has always been notorious for the rear base Gasket leak. My other EVO bikes never had that leak.
The bike first started leaking at the base gasket.....then the head gasket later.
I’ve always let the bike slowly warm up as well.
I wonder if reusing the head bolts caused the problem. Perhaps bolt stretches or backed off. I don’t know.
On the other hand....this bike has always been notorious for the rear base Gasket leak. My other EVO bikes never had that leak.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,031
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From: South Carolina
When cylinders are off, have your reputable Harley machinist true the bottom of the cylinders as part of the top end rebuild process, this will go a long way toward eliminating base gasket leaks.
If you don`t collapse the adjustable pushrods, make sure you follow the service manual process for installing the rocker supports to the letter...a lot of guys get burned here.
If you don`t collapse the adjustable pushrods, make sure you follow the service manual process for installing the rocker supports to the letter...a lot of guys get burned here.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,062
Likes: 4,547
From: Haslet Texas
I installed new cylinder studs at the same time the SE heads were installed.
The bike first started leaking at the base gasket.....then the head gasket later.
I’ve always let the bike slowly warm up as well.
I wonder if reusing the head bolts caused the problem. Perhaps bolt stretches or backed off. I don’t know.
On the other hand....this bike has always been notorious for the rear base Gasket leak. My other EVO bikes never had that leak.
The bike first started leaking at the base gasket.....then the head gasket later.
I’ve always let the bike slowly warm up as well.
I wonder if reusing the head bolts caused the problem. Perhaps bolt stretches or backed off. I don’t know.
On the other hand....this bike has always been notorious for the rear base Gasket leak. My other EVO bikes never had that leak.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,558
Likes: 280
From: Russellville, Arkansas
The SE heads didn’t specify exactly.....what head gasket to use.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,062
Likes: 4,547
From: Haslet Texas
If you do that you will have no more leaks.
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Stellar HDF Member
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From: Russellville, Arkansas
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From: Colorado
Always going to be a problem, since you have a steel sleeve in an aluminum cylinder bodiy, which has two different heat expansion rates against the case.
So the solution to the problem since you have bind channel to bind channel on the cylinder base to engine case for the oil to return down ( with there different expansion rates), is to install pig tails.
This tubes the oil coming done the channel into a tube that seat/seals off above the bottom of cylinder channel, to copper tube that protrudes into the case channel, so you don't have the blind channel against bind channel with different heat expansion rates sealing problem. Also, the tube protruded back down in to the case, stops what is slug back up the channels as well.
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buel...tml?1491426949
As for when you are installing the rocker bodies, make sure to get the cylinder on TDC, which has the lifter off the cam lobs to being with. Also, big bolts first to draw the push rods down on the lifter to slowly release oil out of them when installing the rocker bodies, then smaller outer bolts in the end since they can strip out pulling down.
As for gasket set, will just state that the James gasket's are not as good as they used to be since the change in ownership, but since the pigtails deals with the base leak problem at the oil return channels, it really just the head gaskets and valve cover gaskets that you have to worry about. As for primary cover gasket, just run with the HD OEM since it tends to last longer with cover removals and reuse.