Gasket break in?
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: The Wasteland
Gasket break in?
2007 1200 Sportster. The previous owner snapped an exhaust stud off in the front cylinder head, so of course, I made it worse by trying to drill it out. Ended up pulling the head and taking it to a machine shop to have it fixed. My indy is putting it back together now.
The only work done was removing the exhaust stud and replacing it. No top end rebuild, or parts replaced. Just new gaskets from the base to the rocker box.
My question- is there a break in for top end gaskets? Or can I just start it up, let it warm up for a few minutes then ride it to my house which is only about 2 or 3 miles from the indy shop and all back country road. Of course, if I do that, I'd keep it slow and low RPMs.
I wont be riding the bike on the street right away as I have some other things I need to fix before it's road worthy (tires, clutch adjustment, fluid changes, etc.)
The only work done was removing the exhaust stud and replacing it. No top end rebuild, or parts replaced. Just new gaskets from the base to the rocker box.
My question- is there a break in for top end gaskets? Or can I just start it up, let it warm up for a few minutes then ride it to my house which is only about 2 or 3 miles from the indy shop and all back country road. Of course, if I do that, I'd keep it slow and low RPMs.
I wont be riding the bike on the street right away as I have some other things I need to fix before it's road worthy (tires, clutch adjustment, fluid changes, etc.)
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,315
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From: Tampa
One or two heat cycles, then crank them down again after they cool.
I've fixed the same exact issue before. Since I beat the unholy hell out of the surrounding casting trying to get the stud out with the head installed, my solution was to completely drill out the old stud and tap the head with a 1/2" x 13 down about 1.5", then JB Welded an Aluminum bolt in the head. Then I milled it smooth and drilled/tapped for a new stud.
I've fixed the same exact issue before. Since I beat the unholy hell out of the surrounding casting trying to get the stud out with the head installed, my solution was to completely drill out the old stud and tap the head with a 1/2" x 13 down about 1.5", then JB Welded an Aluminum bolt in the head. Then I milled it smooth and drilled/tapped for a new stud.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,191
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From: USA
Depends on the gasket. Squishy ones can compress and relax, requiring a retorquing or two. Multi-layer head gaskets are a well known example of this. Thick fiber gaskets can be another pretty common one. Metal gaskets and thin gaskets rarely have an problems with this.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 3,184
Likes: 2,226
From: College Station, TX
Generally no break in on gaskets. As far as tightening bolts / nuts after putting a few miles on it, I'd ask the shop that did the work. If something goes wrong, I wouldn't want the shop to claim it was something I did to the bike after picking it up.
I usually check the nuts on the exhaust. But I never re-torque head bolts. If they were torqued correctly during installation they should not require re-torquing etc.
Paul
I usually check the nuts on the exhaust. But I never re-torque head bolts. If they were torqued correctly during installation they should not require re-torquing etc.
Paul
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