| Author | Message | ||
     Joplin |
First off, thanks to everyone who is actually active in this community. You are the reason a joe like me can come here and toss our troubles at your collective feet. I have a couple of questons concerning my ride. So its an early S2, as you can see by the profile pic, its a iced pearl white that is stock as far as I know. Runs great, never let me down, but leaks a bit of oil. I've replaced the gaskets on top, including the push rod tube o-rings, but seems to be getting worse. FWIW, seems to move up the cylinders, not down, no oil on the heads or rocker boxes. Can it be a base gasket? I saw what may have been part of a gasket (small) coming out of the block-cylider interface. I also think in may be the tubes,,, so I have most of what I need to replace the gaskets, including a NRHS billet pushrod tube holder down thingy which seems much better than stock. So there is that question. Wait, can this be a "puking" deal? I dont have a catch can,,,? On to the next, so I'm 47, and my body gets abused by Aikido and soccer (old guys league) and some road running. This abuse makes me sore and stiff, to the point I seriuosly considered selling my S2, but I bought some bags and lowers (both more damaged than I thought when buying them,) and was hoping to get some S2-T bars and lowered pegs to try to make it more comfortable for an oldtimer like me. My question is, do those two changes make more than a little difference? And, can they be bought from a third party? Or H-D? Last thing, I dropped her at almost a full stop after a firetruck ran a red light at a blind intersection (couldnt hear, helmet)and broke off the mirror stem from the fairing support. Looks like I can weld it back on, is it aluminum? Anyone have a pearl white fairing for sale? Anyhow, thanks for making this place happen,,, JM (Message edited by joplin on June 17, 2011) | ||
| Gowindward |
The T bars and foot peg mounts make a big difference when it comes to making the bike feel more relaxed. Both could be had from the H-D dealer just a couple of years ago, although have no idea now. | ||
| Leftcoastal |
First off, You are NOT an oldtimer at 47. You ain't even started hurtin' yet. If you did a top end gasket change, including the head gaskets, the cylinder base gaskets have to be done then, too. Whenever the heads are pulled off the studs, the cyl. base is no longer fastened and WILL NOT seal back up without new gaskets. It might fool you for a few miles, but they will leak. If the head gaskets were not done, it's probably still the base gaskets. Freakin' things just plain leak on older motors. The new type gaskets with the metal cores pretty much cure that. It's not too difficult to do a top end on that motor. The 'puking' they talk about is from the head breathers. that shit could end up everywhere, so trace that to see if that's the source. They would mess up the motor mainly from the top. The 'T' stuff helps! You sit just a bit straighter up from the higher bars, and the pegs drop your feet about an inch. Good luck finding that stuff, it all in a parts quarry, just below the layer of unobtainium. The fairing support is steel and can be mig or tig welded. Sometimes several times. I know of one that got welded 3 different times. Too bad your bike isn't the 96 S2T Silver - duct tape matches that perfectly. Good luck - keep us in the loop as to what you do. | ||
| Jsunstar |
my bases leak too. its from doing head gaskets without doing the bases... that was dumb... i know now... fwiw | ||
| Essmjay |
I have a set of White Pearl narrow lids in good condition if yer interested. Clean the engine really well, go for a ride, sprinkle flour all over, see the leak. | ||
| Leftcoastal |
"sprinkle flour all over, see the leak." Wear earplugs though - the giggling will drive ya nuts. | ||
| Jvv |
Joplin.......47 hmmmm.......yer just a young'n !! I have seen T bars/pegs on Ebay, just keep looking. Also get a parts book and service manual......(Ebay again)....they are well worth having. Then you can call dealers.......... (those that still have parts).... with the part #'s. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Pushrod bases like to leak. A lot. The stock one-bolt fiascos...SUCK. I put NRHS bases on my S2 a while back, and it solved all of that  Ditto what was said above - if you pull the head off, you MUST replace the base gasket. You can NOT fool it into thinking it'll be OK because you just don't want to pull the cylinder - it's smarter than that. Unfortunately. And while you've got the heads off, get a pair (that's TWO) front XB rockerboxes, two PCV valves, and two grommets. Put them on and use regular bolts to hold your carburetor on. That will cut waaay down on any "puke" from the crankcase breather system. And use two front rockerboxes, because a rear rockerbox on the rear head puts the PCV valve in a place that guarantees interference with the bottom of the fuel tank. | ||
| Ratbuell |
And...47? I'm 38, with 2 lbs of titanium in my legs. It ain't the years...it's the miles!  | ||
| Joplin |
wow, thanks for the replies, I see I probably need to drop the engine. Right? And since my youngster memory (and eyes now) seems to fail me more often than not, would I have had to loosen the HEADs to get the pushrod tubes out? I am the one who did it but have sleep since then,,, again thanks for the repies jm edit-Shane I am interested in the lids, pm sent (Message edited by joplin on June 20, 2011) | ||
| Ratbuell |
You only need to drop the engine if you're splitting cases. If you pull the tank, you can remove everything from the base gaskets up, with no issues at all. This is after reassembly, but the only mounts that came off were the front head mount, and the heim link between the heads. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Duh. Helps to post the pic.  | ||
| Joplin |
Alritey then, I guess I'll get these things off. So whats the consensus regarding base gaskets? Metal i suppose, stock? Anything particular to look out for? Clean the head ignition chambers? I prolly cant get the XB boxes ($$), but I have done the update that was in Castro's tips. Thanks for the repies, and if I aint asking the right questions, let me know plz,,, jm | ||
| Essmjay |
Being an S2 you can just go in and pretend you need the gaskets for '95 Sportster. I like the updated top end kit from HD except for the head gaskets. The base and rocker gaskets have been updated to metal, but the head gaskets are still the old style that looks like compressible lead fiber of some sort. They have improved them so you don't need the o-rings with them though. My last top end I used Cometic head gaskets and the rest HD. | ||
| Joplin |
Well, two hours last night and Waa Laa!!! mirror is off, right the single mirror from the right side! Jeez what a beast. Tried to save the boot, dont know if I succeded. On to the next thing,,,,  jm |
