Leaking Head Gaskets
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Stage I
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1
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Leaking Head Gaskets
This is an alert to all 2007 and 2008 CVO owners. The metal gaskets below both of my heads on my '07 FXSTSSE started leaking at 1750 miles. I have heard of at least 2 other cases in my area, one at 4000 miles on a CVO Road King. The fix is covered by warranty and is done by simply replacing the gaskets but thatrequires alot of work and new break in. My dealer is the greatest and really up front about it. Problem is the Company still seems to be building and shipping CVO's with these metal gaskets. What happens if you go beyond your normal warranty and then the problem starts!!! I guess you can buy those extended warranties (even if you don't want to!). I have an '08 CVO FXSTSSE on order, it will be my 7th HD bought new from a dealerand it's coming in March. I've never had to buy an extended warranty and don't plan to. Guess what. It's being built with the same metal gaskets. HD tech word is 50-50. It may happen to some but not all. I guess a recall would be horrendous for them. Let me know. It starts as just slight oil weepage below the heads.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 4
From: South Jersey, AC area
RE: Leaking Head Gaskets
so tell us something that we don't know........
this is not new news.
you should have read other posts in this forum before you decided to post this "alert" about something that has been posted on this forum and others for the last 8 months or so....
here's a post on the very same issue a few posts down from you:
https://www.hdforums.com/m_2882478/tm.htm
appearently, the leak startson the rear cylinder head, possibly heat related because the rear head tends to run hotter than the front head.
so far, I have been "lucky", my '07 FXSTSSE has 2400 miles on it and has not shown any oil weeping from the heads......yet....lol
I installeda Thundermax ECM on my bike the day I brought it home, which "may" be why I haven't seen this issue yet. but I'm not out of the woods. been keeping an eye on the rear head...
this is not new news.
you should have read other posts in this forum before you decided to post this "alert" about something that has been posted on this forum and others for the last 8 months or so....
here's a post on the very same issue a few posts down from you:
https://www.hdforums.com/m_2882478/tm.htm
appearently, the leak startson the rear cylinder head, possibly heat related because the rear head tends to run hotter than the front head.
so far, I have been "lucky", my '07 FXSTSSE has 2400 miles on it and has not shown any oil weeping from the heads......yet....lol
I installeda Thundermax ECM on my bike the day I brought it home, which "may" be why I haven't seen this issue yet. but I'm not out of the woods. been keeping an eye on the rear head...
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 276
Likes: 1
RE: Leaking Head Gaskets
Your dealer didn't tell you the worst of it.The main problem is the cylinder liners come lose amd slip.As stated above,this is discussed on a daily basis on the forums.Check out www.cvoharley.com for more than you want to know.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 139
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From:
RE: Leaking Head Gaskets
Solon
Welcome to the leakers club. Let your dealer know this "new" gasket is actually attempted number 4 in the head gasket area. Also have them check your cylinders (both) to see if the liner is nowprotruding slightly above your aluminumcylinder. You can feel it with a straight edge like a credit card onit's side. You probably will not see it. Let your dealer also know that the MoCo is completely aware of the problem but to date have not done anything about the issue other that issue head gasket band aids out.
I wish all 110 owners would contact American Iron Magazine at http://www.aimag.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1160to keep the information flowing for their up coming article. If this becomes a public problem for the MoCo they will have to address it....finally!
JW
Welcome to the leakers club. Let your dealer know this "new" gasket is actually attempted number 4 in the head gasket area. Also have them check your cylinders (both) to see if the liner is nowprotruding slightly above your aluminumcylinder. You can feel it with a straight edge like a credit card onit's side. You probably will not see it. Let your dealer also know that the MoCo is completely aware of the problem but to date have not done anything about the issue other that issue head gasket band aids out.
I wish all 110 owners would contact American Iron Magazine at http://www.aimag.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1160to keep the information flowing for their up coming article. If this becomes a public problem for the MoCo they will have to address it....finally!
JW
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 351
Likes: 18
From:
RE: Leaking Head Gaskets
My CVO in shop for second time with a small leak behind cylinder. Not a bad leak, jsut kind of puddles up a little and not all the time. Real aggravating though. Mine started about 12,500 miles and now have about 17,500 miles. Guess the shop will have to fix it every 5,000 miles or until I get rid of the bike. Problem needs to be addressed by MOCO and permantely fixed. If enough of us copmplain, they might get the point. Then again...............
[IMG]local://upfiles/36447/2B685B9653AE4707B00CA9F86169F68E.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/36447/2B685B9653AE4707B00CA9F86169F68E.jpg[/IMG]
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,303
Likes: 4
From:
RE: Leaking Head Gaskets
Maybe the aftermarket will step in with a fix that actually works.This problem seems to going on forever and HD just wont answer the call.These bikes are alot of $$$,and having to keep taking into dealer esp when good weather finally begins isnt what anyone wants.These mags cant do much except grab the attention of some company that will come up with something that works.Once the word is out that this is a common issue with the majority of these CVOs,that HD is sitting on their hands,sales fall off,then maybe they will come out with an enhancement and get all of you to pay for it.HD needs to start listening to the people that buy their products and not just look out for their shareholders.
Advanced
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
RE: Leaking Head Gaskets
I am just curious. Has anyone that has this problem contacted Harley customer service? If so what was their response? You would think if their phone was ringing off the hook regarding this issue they would react to it. It worked for me with the vibrating mirrors. I have a 2007 CVO Dyna with 6000 miles on it and so far I don't have the leaking problem. I even went out to the gargage last weekend to double check it since it is now in winter storage and the heads and cylinders are dry as a bone. Hopefully I am one of the lucky ones but it would be nice to know that there is a permanent fix to the problem either way. If you do enough whining they will react. I had a 2000 Low Rider that had the cam bearing failure and Harley ended up offering a 50,000 mile warranty on my motor free of charge. I believe they did that for everyone that had the failure. I ran the bike another 20,000 miles and had no further problems but the piece of mind was nice knowing that if the bearing failed again it would be covered.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
RE: Leaking Head Gaskets
the aftermarket has already come out with the fix that pittguy mentioned...free flowing exhaust...mild performance cam such as se204, hq500, andrews37, wood6...find the best dyno tuner in your area andhaveyour biketuned usingthe tuning device he recommends(power commander, screamin' eagle race tuner, etc)...nothing wrong with the cylinders, it's just the 110 in stock form runs hotter than any motor they've ever made
I did these changes to my '08 fxdse2 at 100 mi, has 2000mi now, no problems yet...
I did these changes to my '08 fxdse2 at 100 mi, has 2000mi now, no problems yet...
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
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RE: Leaking Head Gaskets
ORIGINAL: skyhook
the aftermarket has already come out with the fix that pittguy mentioned...free flowing exhaust...mild performance cam such as se204, hq500, andrews37, wood6...find the best dyno tuner in your area andhaveyour biketuned usingthe tuning device he recommends(power commander, screamin' eagle race tuner, etc)...nothing wrong with the cylinders, it's just the 110 in stock form runs hotter than any motor they've ever made
I did these changes to my '08 fxdse2 at 100 mi, has 2000mi now, no problems yet...
the aftermarket has already come out with the fix that pittguy mentioned...free flowing exhaust...mild performance cam such as se204, hq500, andrews37, wood6...find the best dyno tuner in your area andhaveyour biketuned usingthe tuning device he recommends(power commander, screamin' eagle race tuner, etc)...nothing wrong with the cylinders, it's just the 110 in stock form runs hotter than any motor they've ever made
I did these changes to my '08 fxdse2 at 100 mi, has 2000mi now, no problems yet...
Man I hope the best for you. Just to let you know, I put on RHTD for free flowing exhaust and had her tuned with the Race Tuner. She was running much cooler than stock, no hotter than my 95" Fat Boy. The cylinder liner moved with less than 4000 miles on her. I don't think a different cam would make the diff but you never know.
I have talked with the HD customer service people. They were non-pulsed by this. The service rep and tech people are very aware of the problem also. I do not believe the MoCo is going to do anything until this becomes much more well known. We have to remember, we 110 owners are a very small percentage of the Harley world. And not all 110's are having the problems.
Again, I hope you have nothing but good luck with your scoot. Be safe!
JW
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
RE: Leaking Head Gaskets
with the stock cams, the 25* intake close and very short overlap cause cranking compression to be 215 psi...that's way too high....also the short overlap traps heat in the motor...combine the heat and excessive compression, and the liner fails