Hi everybody. I have an 81 FLH with an S&S shovelhead (84 inch). My front cylinder base gasket is blown and I was wondering how tough a job is this to do myself? I am a fair mechanic with plenty of tools, but have never dove into my Harley engine yet.

 

Really not that bad of a job, read your service manual and get a feel for what you are doing and go for it. James or Cometic gaskets are the ones to use. The board is always here to help if you get in over your head. JMHO,YMMV, etc.

Bob

 

The only special tool you'll need is a ring compressor.

Just curious, can you get your hands on a compression tester? Check both F and R cylinders.
If they're not around 125 #'s each at least, and within about 5% of each other, you might want to do your top end while you're at it. With the front cylinder pulled off you've done about half the work anyway.

 

Very true,not much to it.

 

don't even need a ring compressor if you pull the wrist pin and and leave the piston in the cylinder (just don't drop the wrist pin circlip in the crankcase)

 

It's not too bad. but you need a small ring compresser and a special wrench from snap on to tourqe the bolts. If you cant find snap on, a curved door wrench form napa will do in a pinch

c

 

I like 71 shovelheads idea. Sounds likean extra pair of hands to support the cylinder while you deal with the circlips and wrist pin would help though. Pull the head, bring the piston up to TDC, remove the cylinder base nuts. Slide the cylinder upwards until the wrist pin is visible and get your assistant to hold it steady there.Packing a clean rag around the connecting rod at the cases before you go to work on the circlips should catch a dropped clip. Have a little magnet handy.Pull the circlips and gently tap out the wrist pin. You don't want to transfer any impact to the lower connecting rod bearings.Might go easier in one direction than the other.Carefully lift off the cylinder and piston. Clean up the gasket surfaces, install your new gaskets and reassemble.

When you put the head back on, start all the bolts and run them in finger tight. Check the fit of the intake manifold before you tighten them down. There's enough slop in the bolt holes to make a difference.

Some folks won't reuse the circlips, particularly if they get stressed or distorted.