internal bearing fail
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,029
Likes: 12,550
From: South Carolina
There is no reason to stay away from Harley Davidson gaskets, anyone who works on them knows the OEM gaskets are as good or better than aftermarket gaskets.
Harley Davidson has not sold leaking bikes in over 40 years.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Jun 26, 2025 at 07:17 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 17,894
Likes: 3,551
From: backwoods
@Cap77 Be careful who you listen to in this thread, there are people who post on this forum who are clueless, they just infest threads to get into arguments with the other posters.
There is no reason to stay away from Harley Davidson gaskets, anyone who works on them knows the OEM gaskets are as good or better than aftermarket gaskets.
Harley Davidson has not sold leaking bikes in over 40 years.
There is no reason to stay away from Harley Davidson gaskets, anyone who works on them knows the OEM gaskets are as good or better than aftermarket gaskets.
Harley Davidson has not sold leaking bikes in over 40 years.
I have checked runnot on a harley and discovered bad crank bearing when apart. For years cometic was seen as top choice. And as I said when I read the bulletin for harley to use up the bad seals, it really bittered me. Cometic was already using double lip seals before harley. So 20 years ago,OEM was not better. Maybe harley has caught up. Not saying I don't use them. But when ordering, I order cometic.
I don't think anything here is shocking. Many people like cometic. Also look at all the threads were people refuse to shop at a dealer. So no crazy talk here, like some people
Last edited by Rounders; Jun 26, 2025 at 07:40 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 17,894
Likes: 3,551
From: backwoods
Here is another example of harley telling dealers to use existing bad seals before using new ones.
https://sportsterpedia.com/lib/exe/f...n:tsb1148a.pdf
https://sportsterpedia.com/lib/exe/f...n:tsb1148a.pdf
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 17,894
Likes: 3,551
From: backwoods
Another example where you would get part from cometic, and dealers told to use up bad seals first
https://sportsterpedia.com/lib/exe/f...in:tsb1161.pdf
https://sportsterpedia.com/lib/exe/f...in:tsb1161.pdf
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,066
Likes: 11,085
From: San Diego, CA
Good point...! And the Op's model/year fall into the range of bikes covered by the comp nut torque change, and loose comp bolt .
OP, take a look at Service Bulletin M1170 Compensating Sprocket Torque Procedure (dated 5/27/2005) and Harley TT122 Engine Noise Vibration Complaints (dated 10/29/2003).
TT122 deals with a loose comp nut or one that fails to achieve full clamp load;
Service Bulletin M1170 basically changes the comp nut torque procedure from a torque only spec, to a torquing the nut to 75 ft lbs, then adding and additional 45° to 50° turn to the nut. They say 50° is the maximum to add.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 444
Likes: 166
Id open the primary. Cheep and easy. Bet you find a buncha junk and a loose compensator bolt.
just my 2 cents.
just my 2 cents.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,547
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From: Oxford, Nc
Over 2,000 rpm smooth and under that knock knock knock. (although the noise was definitely concentrated at the crankshaft, left side as I recall.
Easy fix though!
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,812
Likes: 11,091
From: NE Ohio
welp, I happen to have a primary cover gasket on hand
Since that's the easiest place to start with least disassembly, that's first place I'll look
Stiggy, greatly appreciate the cam cover gasket.
I expect I'll need more gaskets and the CC will come in the gasket kit
KTF
Since that's the easiest place to start with least disassembly, that's first place I'll look
Stiggy, greatly appreciate the cam cover gasket.
I expect I'll need more gaskets and the CC will come in the gasket kit
KTF