Thinking about changing the leaky gasket myself
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 10,238
Likes: 799
From: Indiana
Thinking about changing the leaky gasket myself
I've been reading the manuals that NGH sent with Bertha, and I see no reason to take her to the shop to have the bad gasket replaced.
Almost every shop I've spoken to seems to have a bit of a "chip" on their shoulder and treat me like I know nothing. I don't do business with folks like that.
Whew, I feel better now.
Anyway, I'm looking for tips and tricks from those of you who have done this job.
What special tools should I buy?
What should I upgrade or replace while I have her apart?
Any other suggestions.
I'll post pictures of the "surgery" too.
Almost every shop I've spoken to seems to have a bit of a "chip" on their shoulder and treat me like I know nothing. I don't do business with folks like that.
Whew, I feel better now.
Anyway, I'm looking for tips and tricks from those of you who have done this job.
What special tools should I buy?
What should I upgrade or replace while I have her apart?
Any other suggestions.
I'll post pictures of the "surgery" too.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 538
Likes: 3
From: Florida
One question you may ask yourself is "should i replace both front and back?". IMHO you should because you already have the tank, exhaust, carb, and intake off. Obviously you should have a torque wrench. If you are going to leave the pistons in the cylinders to avoid disturbing the rings/jug then you need one of those little clip removers to get the wrist pin out of the piston.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 538
Likes: 3
From: Florida
You may also need a 3/16" allen wrench thay has been ground/cut down to get the back bolt out of the rockerbox, its a pretty tight fit on mine. For what its worth, i would do james gaskets on the whole top end. Those %$#@ty harley paper gaskets will seep much sooner and eventually push out of the deck and leak a lot if oil, then when you go to replace them theyre all melted to your cylinder. Worth the extra $$ to do it right imo
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 10,238
Likes: 799
From: Indiana
You may also need a 3/16" allen wrench thay has been ground/cut down to get the back bolt out of the rockerbox, its a pretty tight fit on mine. For what its worth, i would do james gaskets on the whole top end. Those %$#@ty harley paper gaskets will seep much sooner and eventually push out of the deck and leak a lot if oil, then when you go to replace them theyre all melted to your cylinder. Worth the extra $$ to do it right imo
I.would change both while I'm in there.
Thanks for the suggestions!
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 842
Likes: 47
From: New Hartford CT
I would get the Cometic gasket set and replace them all while you have it apart. I am partial to Cometic over James (I've had both and had a head gasket failure w/James), but I agree with Frankenbagger that it's worth the extra $ to do them all and do it right.
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 538
Likes: 3
From: Florida
Ive heard good things about cometic too. Any metal gasket is an improvement over the stock paper, I just use James becasue my local indy always has them on hand. Make sure you read and use the torque procedure that cometic provides for the heads, there might not be a lot of difference but I always torque to the gasket manufacturers specs.
All in all, its a pretty manageable job. Once you have everything (exh,tank,intake) off the top end is pretty simple to work on.
The top end doesnt really give you much access to any part that you could benefit from upgrading. The most bang for your buck if its stock is probably exhaust, ac, cam, and pushrods, none of these require pulling the top end.
All in all, its a pretty manageable job. Once you have everything (exh,tank,intake) off the top end is pretty simple to work on.
The top end doesnt really give you much access to any part that you could benefit from upgrading. The most bang for your buck if its stock is probably exhaust, ac, cam, and pushrods, none of these require pulling the top end.
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 43
From: NJ
If that were my bike and I just got it, I would put a few miles on it before tearing into it. You might find something else it needs or that you just want to do while it is apart.
Besides what has been mentioned, new clips for the wrist pins if you are taking them off and leaving the pistons in the jugs...
Doug
Besides what has been mentioned, new clips for the wrist pins if you are taking them off and leaving the pistons in the jugs...
Doug