This weekend I decided to open up the rockers and replace the gaskets as I had quite a bit of oil weepage (is that a word? No, it is now.. feel free to use) and figured while I was in there I'd go ahead and replace the breather gaskets/filter. Well, HD apparently replaced the plastic/self contained unit with 2 metal pieces. Once I got it all put back together, torqued to spec there was quite a rattling going on in the uppper portion.. wth?!?! So I pull it all back apart to see what's going on, knowing I followed the manual, and found that the new metal breathing apparatus to be the culprit. I put the old plastic back in (changed the new diaphram and filter, and viola, noise was gone.. and better yet, no oil weepage anymore...

Has anyone else experienced a bad rattling when putting in the new metal breathers? If so, how'd you remedy the situation?

FWIW, its on an 01 Road King.

 

You needed to install shorter breather assembly bolts - hopefully you didn't break out the casting in the head.

 

 

Also installing RockOuts will quiet some of the rattle as well.

 

 

Of course.

 

Thanks for the replies. The new breather assembly came with new/shorter bolts and those were used. The bolt holes were cleaned out and bolts were not tightened enough to brake anything (the torque spec was in inch pounds.... just about finger tight). Once I went back in and removed the metal breather assembly and put the originals in, the noise was completely gone. I debated about putting in the Rock Outs, however to be perfectly honest, never had an issue with excessive rocker arm noise that some experience so opted out on that one. I'd think that with my mileage and age of bike, if it were prevalent I would have had an issue by now.

 

Have any pictures of this issue?

 

Not to steal your thread but I just got my new metal breather parts. I did not get shorter bolts. Anyone have a part number for these?

 

Nah, you're good!!! WHile it's not the part number for the shorter bolts, but then entire "kit' that I ordered... 17025-03A is for the breather assymbly that I used.. came with the bolts. Hope this helps....