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The next issue I'm having is the rocker shaft plugs. I used the teflon rings, I think made by VTwin, instead of the rubber o-rings and I'm getting some leaks. It seemed like they slowed quite a bit as the bike warmed up but haven't sealed completely. Is there a trick to installing those? I put them in just like I would the o-rings and I torqued the caps, which I also replaced. I almost feel like I should have put the caps on the shafts while I had them out so the seals expanded and then drawn them into the boxes using the nut on the left side. Anybody have any input on those seals?
Occasionally get one through here those will not seal o-ring or the teflon. New o-rings get a smear of Hylomar, brake kleen the are, and seep be gone, zero fuss removing anything later. DO not go heavy hand on the end nuts, threads on the rocker shafts will strip. Have one on the lift now surfering serious ownerittiuos over rocker box & ends leaks. Two shaft ends trashed, 4 pulled studs in the heads for the rocker boxes and both heads and the boxes warped.
Yuck. That sucks. I'm convinced a lot of Harley's bad reputation came from stuff just like that that owners or just bad techs did.
I torqued everything to spec. My leak is from the r/s plugs with the Allen heads. I went to pull those plugs to try the set of rubber o-rings I had and they seemed awfully loose to me. It's possible I looked at the wrong torque in the book or confused something so I snugged them down a bit and I'll see what I have when I start it up again tomorrow. The cap nuts on the left seemed good and they were torqued down correctly. I didn't go crazy tightening the r/s Allen bolts because I saw there's only like two threads on them. It seemed like with those teflon seals you can kinda feel them expand and the bolt bottom out, similar to a crush washer on a spark plug. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the reply.
Yuck. That sucks. I'm convinced a lot of Harley's bad reputation came from stuff just like that that owners or just bad techs did.
I torqued everything to spec. My leak is from the r/s plugs with the Allen heads. I went to pull those plugs to try the set of rubber o-rings I had and they seemed awfully loose to me. It's possible I looked at the wrong torque in the book or confused something so I snugged them down a bit and I'll see what I have when I start it up again tomorrow. The cap nuts on the left seemed good and they were torqued down correctly. I didn't go crazy tightening the r/s Allen bolts because I saw there's only like two threads on them. It seemed like with those teflon seals you can kinda feel them expand and the bolt bottom out, similar to a crush washer on a spark plug. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the reply.
Here's a tip if you ever find yourself not being able to tighten or remove those end cap nuts, 1/2" fine thread bolt & nut and you tighten enough to lock the shaft to spin the nut off. Just did this fight one I just posted a big thread on. Check that one, lots of pictures and why.
Here's a tip if you ever find yourself not being able to tighten or remove those end cap nuts, 1/2" fine thread bolt & nut and you tighten enough to lock the shaft to spin the nut off. Just did this fight one I just posted a big thread on. Check that one, lots of pictures and why.
Cool, I'll check that out. Thanks. I had it running for a while today while I messed with the timing and it was dry. I think I should be good there.
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Rocker Shaft Plug Leaks
