| Author | Message | ||
     Sbaugz |
Geez, I expected to have some issues with my new S3 that I purchased, but its been literally one thing after another. I got the charging system sorted and there is a new problem. Now there is a small oil leak. Just a few drips on garage floor. Its coming from where the front motor mount attaches to cylinder head. Its the left bolt. A small puddle of about 10 drips or so forms after a ride, then seems to taper. What's the solution? | ||
| Sbaugz |
cuz everyone likes pics:    | ||
| Hootowl |
Rocker box gasket. Very common. Pretty easy to fix. The oem gaskets are paper. Both modern oem and aftermarket are metal. It's a one time job with the metal gaskets. | ||
| Ocbueller |
Just had exact thing on my S3 . Rockerbox gaskets fixed it. | ||
| Hootowl |
There's a list of upgrades that make the tubers pretty reliable. This is high on it. | ||
| Sbaugz |
sounds good. what's the best source for the gasket? James Gaskets? Are you talking about #16, #17 in pic? or neither?  | ||
| Hootowl |
13 and 14. Nothing wrong with the oem gaskets, as long as you get the metal ones. Any hd dealer will have them. Sportster parts. Give Lance a call. | ||
| Williamscottrobertson |
Yep, 13 and 14 are one piece gaskets now rubber coated steel. I always check for the metal tab under the rocker box as a bargaining chip when buying a tuber. Most people don't know. | ||
| Sbaugz |
Heading to the local HD dealer today to pick up the gasket set 17036-91a. Pretty steep at $63. Surdyk has it cheaper at $47 but shipping is another $12 Now I need to decide if I want to spend another $60 to upgrade to the XB rocker covers as long as I have to replace the gaskets? | ||
| Odd |
looks like your #17 gasket was pinched from the factory | ||
| Two_seasons |
17036-91A is correct. They are good gaskets. I've still got the old rocker boxes. What was done PO on my S2T was he ran the breathers along the frame tuber out to each side of the license plate bracket and about midway down each saddle bag bracing tube. Short hose, T, then 2 long hoses out to end. Works great. | ||
| Jamie04 |
My 2002 M2L had a similar rocker box gasket leak with the original paper gaskets. Replaced with upgraded HD rocker gaskets 6 years ago. No leaks there. I only recently did the XB Rocker Box conversion. Not difficult, but the parts add up: Covers: $70, PCV valves: $62, gaskets: $14, and grommets: $6. I won't say it isn't worth it, but if your oily vapor is manageable with a catch can or other method, you can wait until (if ever) it gets worse. Mine was beginning to drip occasionally from my air filter. I could have probably just washed my filter once in a while and controlled it that way. I have only ridden 500 miles since, but the air filter is dry. | ||
| Upthemaiden |
Williamscottrobertson: Where's the metal tab show on the newer gaskets? I'm about 95% sure the PO owner of my bike didn't replace them, but it'd be nice to know before I spend the $60 on them someday. | ||
| Brother_in_buells |
Josh the gaskets William means are now together as one bigger gasket ,so if you look at the openings near the rocker boxes or feel with your finger at the underside of the rocker boxes ,you can't miss them if they are the newer replaced gaskets. | ||
| Sbaugz |
so I have the rockerbox covers off my bike. The stock gaskets were half burned away- no wonder they leaked. Couple questions/ issues: - I screwed something up though. was I supposed to rotate the engine to TDC before removing these? I didn't. The push rods in the front cylinder are way up. I foresee difficulty getting the rocker box back on because of all the tension those push rods are going to be putting on the valves. The shop manual didn't say I was supposed to rotate the engine. Now what do I do? Rotate to TDC with rocker covers off to get the pushrods down? -the kit from HD did not include the #17 gasket in the picture above. I assume that's because it was designed for the newer XB one-piece covers? Either way, I thought it was supposed to include that gasket. My stock ones look fine so I will re-use. - Do I use threadlocker on any of these bolts when reassembling? The manual does not say to use threadlocker, so my guess is "no" I don't need it. - I am ashamed to say that I mixed up which side the rubber flapper valves go on. See pic below- the green rubber valves. There are two places to put it on each rocker box lower piece. Does it matter? - how the hell am I supposed to torque thes bolts down properly? I can barely fit my tiny open end wrench in these spaces and the torque wrench won't fit. Thanks. (Message edited by sbaugz on August 03, 2017) (Message edited by sbaugz on August 03, 2017) (Message edited by sbaugz on August 03, 2017) | ||
| Sbaugz |
here is the pic showing the green flapper valve. Which side does it go on? I mixed them up when I removed it. There are two locations where it could go on each piece.  | ||
| Odd |
flapper valve goes on the high side, toward the efi.Just me but I would not reuse the gaskets I consider them a one time use. | ||
| Sbaugz |
thanks odd. that stinks that the gasket set didn't include that one. will have to order #17 I guess. any thoughts on my other issue? Should I go ahead and turn engine around to get to TDC with the rocker covers off? | ||
| Odd |
and yes you should rotate the motor to take the pressure off the pushrods and use loctite on all bolts | ||
| Williamscottrobertson |
Yep, thats your umbrella valve for venting into the airbox thru that bolt sticking out of the head. Put it closest to those bolts. The lifters have probably bled down some by now but just as easy to put the bike in gear, roll it forward and and watch the pushrods. Put one side on, roll it backward, and put the other side on. You can get a torque wrench on it with a socket. Be careful with extensions, they modify the torque. No threadlocker. | ||
| Odd |
you can just bump the rear wheel in 5th gear if you can raise the tire off the ground did they give you new gaskets #34 in the kit? | ||
| Odd |
threadlock was always used at the factory | ||
| Sbaugz |
thanks guys. Odd- the kit gave me gaskets #34 although they are different. The stock ones were fiber washers, but the kit contained small metal washers with rubber gasket material attached to the inner diameter part. The kit also included metal base gasket (replaces #13/#14), rubber lower cover gasket (#16), inner gasket (#18) and two new flappers (#32). Also included a couple other random rubber parts that I didn't recognize. (Message edited by sbaugz on August 03, 2017) (Message edited by sbaugz on August 03, 2017) | ||
| Sbaugz |
just ordered the top gaskets (#17) that were not in kit. Picked up a set of 5 cometic gaskets for $6 shipped on ebay. Brand new in package. | ||
| Odd |
yea those fiber ones were junk | ||
| Two_seasons |
You will have some extra gaskets in the kit. I'm surprised you did not get #17 gasket. I did in my kit. Did you buy the kit I listed above? Make sure you use a heat gun and a green scrubbie (pot scrubber) to get ALL of the former gaskets removed. Very important. You can remove spark plugs to aid in getting to TDC. Loctite would be called out if you needed it. Service manual doesn't call for it. | ||
| Sbaugz |
Two_seasons: I got the kit 17036-91A directly from the HD dealer in a sealed box. No #17 gaskets inside. | ||
| Sbaugz |
Can someone confirm plugs are champion RA8HC? | ||
| Oopezoo |
Hahaha.....this is how it started with my S1. Oh, I need to fix this.... while I'm in there I'll do this. Oh, this should be updated. Oh crap, thats not right. Hmmm....why did that break? Well, while I'm fixing that I'll do this. I thought I was back to final assembly, and just had an exhaust stud snap in half while trying to remove/replace it. So, one more thing. Maybe I'll get to ride it this year at some point..... | ||
| Upthemaiden |
The HD plugs are 10R12A, the NGK version is DCPR8E, or DCPR8EIX if you want to splurge on the iridium plugs. The Champion equivalents should be 905 or RA4HC. When I work backwards, that RA4HC shows to be the equivalent of a DCPR9e, but I'm not sure how good all of the conversion charts on online. |
