Rocker Box Gaskets - James vs HD
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 614
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From: Marietta, GA
Rocker Box Gaskets - James vs HD
So my rear cylinder was leaking on my 2012 RK and I swapped out the rocker box gaskets. Now the front one is. Lovely.
I got the James gaskets, as they were quite a bit cheaper than HD. Saw a few bad reviews but figured maybe it was user error. I know mine was done right but I'm still getting leaks. Did I make a mistake going with the James vs HD? I can't imagine a company can stay in business very long making a noticeably inferior product, so is it possible I just got a dud and should try James again?
I got the James gaskets, as they were quite a bit cheaper than HD. Saw a few bad reviews but figured maybe it was user error. I know mine was done right but I'm still getting leaks. Did I make a mistake going with the James vs HD? I can't imagine a company can stay in business very long making a noticeably inferior product, so is it possible I just got a dud and should try James again?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,207
Likes: 12,795
From: South Carolina
James gaskets were the hot setup back in the late `80s, before HD learned you could make a gasket out of something other than cork...
But time has passed the James Gasket folks by.
OEM gaskets are as good or better than any aftermarket gasket, as long as we are talking about stock thickness.
But time has passed the James Gasket folks by.
OEM gaskets are as good or better than any aftermarket gasket, as long as we are talking about stock thickness.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Yesterday at 04:39 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
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From: backwoods
I have not used james. A shop included them with bore job but I already had cometic. But they have been around
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,637
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From: Inland NW
So my rear cylinder was leaking on my 2012 RK and I swapped out the rocker box gaskets. Now the front one is. Lovely.
I got the James gaskets, as they were quite a bit cheaper than HD. Saw a few bad reviews but figured maybe it was user error. I know mine was done right but I'm still getting leaks. Did I make a mistake going with the James vs HD? I can't imagine a company can stay in business very long making a noticeably inferior product, so is it possible I just got a dud and should try James again?
I got the James gaskets, as they were quite a bit cheaper than HD. Saw a few bad reviews but figured maybe it was user error. I know mine was done right but I'm still getting leaks. Did I make a mistake going with the James vs HD? I can't imagine a company can stay in business very long making a noticeably inferior product, so is it possible I just got a dud and should try James again?
I like Cometic for gaskets, and use Harley O-rings, seal rings, rubber gaskets/perimeter seals
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 2,093
Likes: 1,508
From: Black Hills of SD
HD put a lot of engineering to get leak-free gaskets and rid themselves of the old "Leaking Harley" image. They are very good gaskets and why their bikes are pretty leak free for many years and miles.
Cometic is next in line when I buy quality gaskets - Might even be who manufactures gaskets for HD ? Go OEM or Cometic.
Cometic is next in line when I buy quality gaskets - Might even be who manufactures gaskets for HD ? Go OEM or Cometic.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,591
Likes: 7,974
From: Long Island, New York
A- for stock use the OEM gaskets
B- Always change all the rocker box gaskets, front and rear cylinder at the same time.
I had a rear leaking on my 2005 Road Glide. Decided to do the front as well, already there. Well during disassembly inspection I saw the front had started to leak as well, but just started and was not going to be noticeable for another 2k miles. Glad I did both and never thought about it again. Good luck.
B- Always change all the rocker box gaskets, front and rear cylinder at the same time.
I had a rear leaking on my 2005 Road Glide. Decided to do the front as well, already there. Well during disassembly inspection I saw the front had started to leak as well, but just started and was not going to be noticeable for another 2k miles. Glad I did both and never thought about it again. Good luck.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,603
Likes: 3,768
From: backwoods
HD put a lot of engineering to get leak-free gaskets and rid themselves of the old "Leaking Harley" image. They are very good gaskets and why their bikes are pretty leak free for many years and miles.
Cometic is next in line when I buy quality gaskets - Might even be who manufactures gaskets for HD ? Go OEM or Cometic.
Cometic is next in line when I buy quality gaskets - Might even be who manufactures gaskets for HD ? Go OEM or Cometic.
Mine leaked
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 2,093
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From: Black Hills of SD
That can happen. Sometimes the big manufactures are a little late to the party where aftermarket has less hoops to jump through before getting a improvement out to the public. It was probably not a "bad product",
seal, just could be better. I have only had one shifter shaft seal needing replaced on all my bikes over the years and it was a Kawasaki ZX10. 25k miles and cost $12 which seemed like a lot at the time, and I was a little pizzed. But it took maybe 10 minutes and was good to go. So even the Japanese bikes can have an issue once in the while.
But you figured it out and did it yourself.
seal, just could be better. I have only had one shifter shaft seal needing replaced on all my bikes over the years and it was a Kawasaki ZX10. 25k miles and cost $12 which seemed like a lot at the time, and I was a little pizzed. But it took maybe 10 minutes and was good to go. So even the Japanese bikes can have an issue once in the while.
But you figured it out and did it yourself.