How difficult to swap head gaskets?
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: Behind you, making faces
Was there any clean up on the heads when it was reassembled by the Indy? Sometimes a little smoothing can help if the surface is slightly off.
Depending on which thought process you follow, you can either remove the heads and replace the gaskets and reassemble, or also remove the cylinders with pistons still inside the cylinder and replace the base gaskets as well.
Option two gives you a good look at pretty much everything that could be giving you problems. Option one let's you roll the dice and hope you do it better than the other guy did ( it does happen) and see what happens when you get it back together.
I think it all depends on how much you want to dive into it and what your wallet can do. To me, you need the gasket set anyway, so just pull it all apart and get a good look and fix it correctly.
How many miles on the lifters? You know, while you're there...
Griz
Depending on which thought process you follow, you can either remove the heads and replace the gaskets and reassemble, or also remove the cylinders with pistons still inside the cylinder and replace the base gaskets as well.
Option two gives you a good look at pretty much everything that could be giving you problems. Option one let's you roll the dice and hope you do it better than the other guy did ( it does happen) and see what happens when you get it back together.
I think it all depends on how much you want to dive into it and what your wallet can do. To me, you need the gasket set anyway, so just pull it all apart and get a good look and fix it correctly.
How many miles on the lifters? You know, while you're there...
Griz
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: Behind you, making faces
Two won't work on it and both referred me right back to this place.
Still looking, though.
Still looking, though.
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Grand HDF Member
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From: Behind you, making faces
I've done quite a bit of wrenching on this bike and other things, but I don't have the confidence to tackle anything quite so "core."
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: Behind you, making faces
Before I go too deeply down this rabbit hole, is there any possibility that one or more of the head bolts just might need to be re-torqued?
EDIT: Never mind. I'm reading that this isn't a good idea. But a local shop can take it in next week.
EDIT: Never mind. I'm reading that this isn't a good idea. But a local shop can take it in next week.
Last edited by Windseeker; Aug 13, 2025 at 03:55 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,185
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From: W. Texas
Try to do something to make sure studs are secure and pulling any.
There are a number of ways to ck,just according to what's with in your means.
If you get in this yourself do what you can not to do it again
I can remember when you first posted about this
Good Luck WP
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Tejas
Is there any possibility that one or more of the head bolts just might need to be re-torqued?
That is a good possibility to at least try and you might find one or more that won't tighten. There would be your problem.
If they all tighten up, that's good for you stud wise.
EDIT: Never mind. I'm reading that this isn't a good idea. But a local shop can take it in next week.
That is a good possibility to at least try and you might find one or more that won't tighten. There would be your problem.
If they all tighten up, that's good for you stud wise.
EDIT: Never mind. I'm reading that this isn't a good idea. But a local shop can take it in next week.
Griz
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,185
Likes: 2,134
From: W. Texas
Weather you or a shop does this somebody needs to make sure the threads for the head bolts and studs are clean very clean.
I use an acid brush to lightly coat the threads with ATF for assembly. I think it helps to get the heads torqued correctly.
With the trouble you've had cover all your bases
WP
I use an acid brush to lightly coat the threads with ATF for assembly. I think it helps to get the heads torqued correctly.
With the trouble you've had cover all your bases
WP
Club Member
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: NE Florida
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From: Brighton, MI
Weather you or a shop does this somebody needs to make sure the threads for the head bolts and studs are clean very clean.
I use an acid brush to lightly coat the threads with ATF for assembly. I think it helps to get the heads torqued correctly.
With the trouble you've had cover all your bases
WP
I use an acid brush to lightly coat the threads with ATF for assembly. I think it helps to get the heads torqued correctly.
With the trouble you've had cover all your bases
WP
