help rocker box problem

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Jun 13, 2009 | 06:18 PM

wils5150

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Joined: Jul 2007

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From: Massachusetts

help rocker box problem

My middle section is shifting to the left. what causes this? and whats the fix? I am leaving foer Laconia tommorow and will have to fix it at the campground. HELP!!
Thanks Wils

Jun 13, 2009 | 08:00 PM

miacycles

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From: Bluffton, South Carolina

A little bit of warpage can cause the rocker boxes to shift. As long as they aren't leaking center them up, tighten them down, and keep an eye on them.

Jun 13, 2009 | 08:32 PM

wils5150

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From: Massachusetts

they are weeping a little. I tried to center them up and with in 10 miles the middle shifted again

Jun 14, 2009 | 07:42 AM

HGM

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From: Senoia, Ga., by way of Miami, Fl..

Quote:

Originally Posted by wils5150

they are weeping a little. I tried to center them up and with in 10 miles the middle shifted again

They sound loose to me. I'd remove one screw at a time, loctite them and tighten them down.. Their pretty tight with a 4" long allen wrench..

Jun 14, 2009 | 08:50 AM

Dan89FLSTC

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Joined: May 2008

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From: South Carolina

The center section will sometimes bow out, making it impossible to get them to seal correctly. I wish they would have made the centers out of steel...

Jun 14, 2009 | 10:28 AM

hotrod351

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From: Arizona

i have a 90 and it did the same thing, i had to heli-coil a front head bolt so the front cylinder came apart, i put all new james gaskets and it started leaking after 1,000 miles. a mech. told me to take the top and middle rocker covers off, clean them and apply permatex ultra grey, said to let it sit for 30 minutes, if i didnt let it sit i mine as well forget it. so i did as he said and that was over 6,000 miles ago. you see it a really poor design, they should of had some type of alighment pins to keep them centered butt dont, any way thats what worked for me.

Jun 15, 2009 | 08:42 AM

Red98RoadKing

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Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 49

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From: Iowa

While its apart take a spring loaded center punch and at a 45 deg angle punch the gaskets surface about every inch on both surfaces it will raise "teeth". Gives it some bite and the gasket should keep it from shifting. We used to have to do it to Suzuki GS1100 cam covers.