‘97 FLHR Valve cover seeping
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 820
From: Moneta, Virginia
‘97 FLHR Valve cover seeping
I’ve been fighting this since rebuilding the top end 6 months ago.
In my last attempt to stop the weeping, I bought and installed new middle and top covers with OEM rubber gaskets and oem umbrella valve.
That was in June. Still weeping.
I’m wondering if it’s a breather problem.
I have a SE air box with the xover tube between the heads, routed through a hose to the ground. No obstructions in the tube or attached hose.
I don’t know how to test that the heads are venting properly, but I can easily blow or suck air through the breather port in the head.
I’ve heard of enlarging the return passage in the center ring… Will this help? What’s the correct size to drill it to?
I’m down to using some type of sealant between the covers or ordering a new lower rocker assembly.
I laid the center ring in place without the rubber gasket and there was no rocking to indicate the lower rocker assembly is distorted. The leak is definitely between the rocker boxes and not from the metal gasket between the head. I just don’t think the problem is with the rocker assembly.
What am I missing?
Anything else I should check?
In my last attempt to stop the weeping, I bought and installed new middle and top covers with OEM rubber gaskets and oem umbrella valve.
That was in June. Still weeping.
I’m wondering if it’s a breather problem.
I have a SE air box with the xover tube between the heads, routed through a hose to the ground. No obstructions in the tube or attached hose.
I don’t know how to test that the heads are venting properly, but I can easily blow or suck air through the breather port in the head.
I’ve heard of enlarging the return passage in the center ring… Will this help? What’s the correct size to drill it to?
I’m down to using some type of sealant between the covers or ordering a new lower rocker assembly.
I laid the center ring in place without the rubber gasket and there was no rocking to indicate the lower rocker assembly is distorted. The leak is definitely between the rocker boxes and not from the metal gasket between the head. I just don’t think the problem is with the rocker assembly.
What am I missing?
Anything else I should check?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,114
Likes: 7,638
From: Poolville
The breathers are supposed to be a check valve and only work one way.. You shouldn't be able to blow and suck back through the umbrella valve. If you can that's your problem.. Are they in the proper location? The rocker cover spacer can be used in the front or the rear cylinder but the location of the umbrella valve needs to be in the proper position and for the life of me I can't remember if when on the front cylinder it's placed in the spacer closest to the exhaust port (right side) or the intake port (left side).. Maybe @t150vej will chime back in and state which side if goes in.. The pills I'm on from surgery are not helping my memory..
What I would do is use an external breather check valve on each cylinder head first and eliminate the crossover tube..
Here's a PCV that V-Twin makes that you can use externally for each cylinder head..
https://www.ebay.com/itm/33534563985...mis&media=COPY
I would try this before I start ripping anything else apart..
What I would do is use an external breather check valve on each cylinder head first and eliminate the crossover tube..
Here's a PCV that V-Twin makes that you can use externally for each cylinder head..
https://www.ebay.com/itm/33534563985...mis&media=COPY
I would try this before I start ripping anything else apart..
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,114
Likes: 7,638
From: Poolville
Here's, I found these and think they might look a lot better..
https://redirect.viglink.com/?format...21067886231665
https://redirect.viglink.com/?format...21067886231665
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,114
Likes: 7,638
From: Poolville
I found these that wil look better, or you can disassemble the rocker assemblies and take lots of pictures to see where you currently have the umbrella valves oriented..
https://redirect.viglink.com/?format...21067886231665
https://redirect.viglink.com/?format...21067886231665
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,921
Likes: 8,027
From: poway
Umbrellas go on the intake side. You should be able to blow and suck on the hose. Sucking will draw more air but blowing will be a little harder. The drain back hole on evos allows you to blow through that hole. TCs have a slightly different drain back system and won't allow blowing back. I'm not sure the breather system is source but you may want to check them anyway. Drilling the drain back holes only reduce oil in the vent lines and will slightly increase crankcase pressure. (very small)
If the covers are leaking, I'd suspect the covers not being flat. Since the top 2 were replaced maybe it's the bottom cover. The new covers maybe not flat also.. Check on a flat surface.
I've managed to seal custom chrome covers with permatex ultra black but this shouldn't be needed on properly fitting covers.
If the covers are leaking, I'd suspect the covers not being flat. Since the top 2 were replaced maybe it's the bottom cover. The new covers maybe not flat also.. Check on a flat surface.
I've managed to seal custom chrome covers with permatex ultra black but this shouldn't be needed on properly fitting covers.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 820
From: Moneta, Virginia
I ordered a complete set of rocker boxes from J&P, then I received a notice saying they don’t have them, here’s your money back.
I can’t find a set anywhere.
I may pop the covers and try a sealant until the bottom rocker box piece is available again or I can just clean the tiny mess after each ride.
I can’t find a set anywhere.
I may pop the covers and try a sealant until the bottom rocker box piece is available again or I can just clean the tiny mess after each ride.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,921
Likes: 8,027
From: poway
These will fix it.. 
Price might cause a heart attack tho..
https://deadbeatcustoms.com/s-s-chro...win-1984-1999/
Price might cause a heart attack tho.. https://deadbeatcustoms.com/s-s-chro...win-1984-1999/
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 932
Likes: 593
From: Connecticut
These will fix it.. Price might cause a heart attack tho..
https://deadbeatcustoms.com/s-s-chro...win-1984-1999/
Price might cause a heart attack tho..https://deadbeatcustoms.com/s-s-chro...win-1984-1999/
Ted's stuff doesn't always cut it and 1k Rocker boxes on a 3k bike don't make real sense either.
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