| Author | Message | ||
     Steveford |
How do the Cometic gasket kits compare to the HarLee product? It's getting to be time to take the Useless apart to see where all of the oil is going and I would rather not give any money to H-D if I don't have to. | ||
| Phelan |
We use Cometic gaskets all the time here at the shop. I used a Cometic top end kit on my Uly build. They are great with the exception of a couple gaskets. On the Uly I reused the stock rubber lower pushrods tube seals instead of the cosmetics because they are paper. Otherwise all the others worked great. They do have different torque specs and sequence on the head bolt gaskets than stock. In sequence, torque all head bolts to 9 ft/lbs, then 15 ft/lbs, then 22, then 35, and finally 42 ft/lbs. this is necessary as the head gaskets are metal instead of paper/mesh. The standard Cometic kits have .010" base and .030" head gaskets, so the stack is about .015" shorter than stock. Keep this in mind if you plan to deck the heads, as there's usually only about .050" of tolerance in either direction that a good working set of lifters will accommodate for. So if you deck the heads more than .020" plan on getting shorter pushrods as well. (Message edited by Phelan on May 02, 2015) | ||
| Steveford |
Thanks, that's good to know. I'll have to get the OEM pushrod cover gaskets. | ||
| Phelan |
Usually the original ones will clean up just fine, but no harm in replacing them. | ||
| Xbimmer |
I used both back to back last year overhauling my '06. First the Cometic complete set from American Sport Bike, when I discovered I'd cut an upper pushrod tube o-ring I tore it down again and bought the OEM top end set from American Sport Bike. I have to say I prefer the OEM. I liked the idea of the Cometic steel laminated head gaskets over the pain-to-remove OEM, but that was it. The Cometic pushrod tube cover flat gaskets will not work at all with the shouldered screws, the OEM kit includes new ones as well as the newer style cover screw gaskets and also the PCV grommets. The Cometic gear case cover gasket allows a gradual mist to escape over time even though I carefully torqued in sequence. I don't like giving $$$ to HD either but in this case when it comes to gaskets I'm sticking with OEM, my $.02. |
