Head bolt torque
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 359
Likes: 2
From: central Mississippi
Head bolt torque
I'm replacing the head gasket on the front cylinder. If I'm reading my harley shop manual correctly, it says to tighten the four bolts sequentially to12-14 ft. lbs each, then turn a quarter turn and you're done. Does this sound correct? Also, I noticed the shop manual calls for o rings over the cylinder head dowels, for correct alignment of the head gasket. When I removed the head this morning, there were no o rings on the dowels. My bike is a '95 and my shop manual is for 95-96. Should there be o rings on the alignment dowels for a '95?? Thanks.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,195
Likes: 3,085
From: NW AR
Torque description is correct. Some people/gasket makers say to not do it that way, but to torque to something like 46 ft lbs, off the top of my head, but when I did it that way, bad things happened and I had to retorque to the way the book says, 16 ft lbs +90 degrees.
Dunno about your O rings. Wouldn't hurt to put them on if they are not there now.
Dunno about your O rings. Wouldn't hurt to put them on if they are not there now.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,376
Likes: 36
From: Round Rock, TX
A friend of mine went through this last summer on his 92. His old gaskets used the O rings, and the new ones he bought at the dealer did not. He was told the updated gaskets did not use O rings. He left them off and hasn't had an issue.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,583
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From: Boston, MA
I'm hoping this is true as this is what I did and it is what I have read about the newer aftermarket gaskets.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 109
Likes: 1
From: Ethan, S.Dak.
i went with the Comtic layered head gasket when i did my top end and it does not have the o-rings. And go with the torque specs in the book for the head bolts. i torqued mine to the 14ft pds and then a 90 degree turn. No problems no issues. Just make sure you lube the threads with oil or you won't get the true torque that is needed to seal the heads.
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Tourer
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From: central Mississippi
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 421
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From: louisiana
when you torque the 1/4 turn it will torque at 48ft/lbs., but do it as the manual instructions as I have twice recently with no leaks or problems. I also put loctite red/perm. to insure no back off. My James top end gasket set came with O-rings and head gaskets. Perfect fit.
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