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This is the second time in a few months that this started leaking. I replaced the seals with black rubber, added another washer to the spring. Now what?
This is your Shovel? Hydraulic or solids?
My suggestion is to buy the stroker pushrod covers. Cut them down so they are a hair longer than stock. Use thick new cork in blocks, midway and top, rubbed with white assembly lube. Assemble and use the slightly taller covers. That usually stops those leaks. I say that even with massive brutal punishment cams and high rpm. In a pinch I’ve had 50/50 results with the rubber seals. For a while I liked them, but Cometic changed them in the late 90’s and I didn’t like the newer ones. James blue rubber ones were so so as well. The thick cork soaked with white lube was the best.
The greater tension of the stroker covers was the best trick. It makes them really hard to install, it it doesn’t, you cut them down too much.
And don’t reuse. Install the gaskets once, I mean if you gotta adjust valve ok, but you’ll need new corks after a few times, and if ever apart, replace.
Last edited by Rains2much; Apr 18, 2026 at 07:59 AM.
@TwiZted Biker Dan, you have any suggestions for this leak?
Way that's bubbling I'm seeing one of a few things, bottom of the tube could be cracked or split but that bubbling is concerning. Blow by building crankcase pressure, breather gear could have a lot of crap in it or the vent to atmosphere is plugging up back pressuring. That bubbling is not normal.
Find some fresh soft corks or the soft silicon seals, the black rubber doesn't work well 90% of the time, brake clean the **** of things and hylomar the cork & tube lip. Had some that was the only way it stopped it
Last edited by TwiZted Biker; Apr 19, 2026 at 11:24 PM.
Thank you for this. I am back in CT and started tackling this job. First I hooked up my shop vac to the breather hose and turned the motor over with the kickstarter and no plugs. I didn't hear any change in sound as I did this, and nothing came out of the hose. No noises or suction from the plug holes either. Then I put my hand near the breather hose and could feel it blow and suck, but not all the time. Also, there was not much vigor when I put my finger over the end. Normal? What else, short of inspecting the breather, can I do to troubleshoot?
Then I removed both intake valve pushrod tube clips and with the rear valve open, disassembled the front and gave it a good cleaning, including feeding a wire down the drain hole. It was then I noticed one clip was longer than the other! I couldn't tell you which was which, but I suspect the short one was the problem. One is 3 3/8 and the other is 3 5/16, so what do I have? I didn't disturb the two exhaust pushrod tubes to check, because they aren't leaking. Unfortunately I'm on a short schedule, so since it's only 1/16 shorter, I can stack a few of the washers to make up the difference for now. I will order the the longer one, but not until I know what to order. @Rains2much it is my shovelhead, and they are solids, on an A2 cam if that matters.
@TwiZted Biker I love Hylomar too. Unfortunately my boxes of stuff are still at my cousin's on Long Island, and none of the parts stores carry it. What do you think about using a little Indian Head Shellac?
This motor has been apart a few times, and I may have swapped tubes with my 82 FXR in the rush to get that finished, so nothing is guaranteed to be right for the year, and of course 79 is a transition year for some of these parts. Any suggestions are welcome, I'm tired of fixing this. I can start a thread on the shovelhead forum, but most of you are there too. Maybe @johnjzjz has a suggestion?
OK, I'm done hijacking my own post, lol. I assembled the pushrod tubes with extra washers, Indian Head schelac, and cleaned everything up. Next swap meet, I'll look for a set of tubes and 3 3/8" clips.
@TwiZted Biker I love Hylomar too. Unfortunately my boxes of stuff are still at my cousin's on Long Island, and none of the parts stores carry it. What do you think about using a little Indian Head Shellac?
This motor has been apart a few times, and I may have swapped tubes with my 82 FXR in the rush to get that finished, so nothing is guaranteed to be right for the year, and of course 79 is a transition year for some of these parts. Any suggestions are welcome, I'm tired of fixing this. I can start a thread on the shovelhead forum, but most of you are there too. Maybe @johnjzjz has a suggestion?
Word of advice, never use any hardening or dries out sealer or gasket dressing on a harley period. Just creates problems later.
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