| Author | Message | ||
     Biknut |
golly gosh darn it!!! my front rocker box is leaking on my road king. again. that frickin g&$#d d&@n pig. | ||
| Shky_jake |
Biknut, out of curriosity(sp) do you let it warm up before you ride? My M2 did that on the rear, after I replaced it I let it warm up for a bit before I ride. Been 2 years now and no leaks. Just a thought. | ||
| Buellcruiser20 |
yeah u really need to let those bikes warm up because i use to just start it up and go and i was going threw rocker box gaskets like every couple of months. but there really easy to replace | ||
| Newfie_buell |
They are but make sure you use the steel ones. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Did the twin cam 88 motor (assuming thats what is in your road king) get a metal rocker box gasket upgrade like the Evo motor did? That was the solution for my bike, those paper gaskets just don't work for the long term. | ||
| Tripp |
i heard that there are several different metals that take different times to heat up separated by the cheap gaskets, that(among other reasons) is why it's important to warm the bike up everytime(and sometimes i don't, doh). | ||
| Ray_maines |
Nonsense! It's all in the gaskets. Back in the day, when life was good and Tubers ruled the earth, some guys let their bikes warm up and some guys didn't and in time they all leaked out of the rocker boxes. Metal gaskets were the only solution. | ||
| Al_lighton |
If you replace your rocker box gaskets, I'd highly recommend replacing your pushrod bases at the same time. The stock design is weak...a single bolt and an anti-rotation dowel pin...stupid. The new NRHS billet pushrod bases make a lot more sense and are very reasonably priced at $34.95 for the entire set with all the seals. I just did mine on the S1W and it's a trivial amount more work to do it with the rocker boxes already off. They look nice too! Nallin Pushrod bases | ||
| Biknut |
hey, thanx for the posts. i didn't really expect replies, i was just blowing steam. most of the time i just ride away without warm up, but i don't get on the gas much till it's hot. my main concern was always head gaskets. i didn't think the rocker box gaskets cared much but maybe i'm wrong about that. this 97 road king has only leaked out of the rockers once before about two years ago. front box then too. it now has 50,000 mi. when i fixed it then i used some old stock paper gaskets i already had. this time i will upgrade the gaskets. i think cometic. i wonder if a krank vent would help. i put one on my sportster but it hasn't been long enough to tell if it helps yet. | ||
| Djkaplan |
Not sure how necessary it to replace those pushrod bases, but the Nallin pieces are so cool, I'll do it anyways. | ||
| Hootowl |
I was thinking the same thing. Very reasonable priced. | ||
| Daves |
Proper warm up is needed or you will blow rocker box gaskets. Evos will also weep/leak out of the base gaskets if you start the bike up and ride away without warming it up. Seen it too many times. Dave | ||
| Marks3tbillet |
EVOS are especially prone to leaks without warm up. They have the 3 piece instead of 2 rockers. I was always told to let my bike warm up until the rockers were warm to the touch before driving away. | ||
| Smoke |
what constitutes proper warmup? back out of the garage, fire it up , put on gloves, idle to the street, low rpm the 3/4 mile to the first turn, a little higher rpm to the second turn 1/4 mile away, then a little higher rpm to the 3rd turn 1/2 mile away, then wind it up from there. is that enough? tim | ||
| Daves |
No. Warm it up until the head is warm/hot to the touch. Then take off, easy for a few miles. Then you can rail on it. Dave | ||
| Dasbuell |
For those of us that are "challenged"... What constitutes proper warm up??? Hard to reach the heads on an XB... and I still have burn scars from 1976 when I used the grab the header method!!! (BTW... in that case it had warmed up... pretty good!!!) 30 seconds... 60 seconds... 3 minutes... (assuming weather that is NOT considered "cold weather riding"  | ||
| Mikej |
Das, Sit on the bike with your jacket unzipped and your helmet unbuckled and start the bike. Then with the bike warming up buckle up your helmet, clean your eyeglasses off if you wear them, check the operation of your helmet visor, and be in no hurry with this stuff. Next check the pockets of your jacket to ensure everything is settled down and ready to roll, then casually zip up your jacket, again being in no hurry and ensuring your shirt collar is tucked inside the jacket collar so it doesn't flap attack the chin of your helmet when you get up to speed. Next put on your gloves and ensure they are fully seated down over your fingers, again taking your time. Next look down to ensure your kickstand is up, your gas is turned on if you have a petcock on the gastank, check the operation of your turn signals and high/low beam switch, check that you have both front and rear brakes and that your clutch is working and that the clutch cable isn't about to snap, and finally look down and ensure your pants fly is zipped up and that your boots are tied or buckled or velcrowed snug. By now your bike should be warmed up enough to ride and you have also done a minor ready-to-roll final check-over for your ride at the same time. Be in no hurry to leave or you may not return in the condition you left in. A warm bike is a happy bike, have a nice ride. | ||
| Dasbuell |
FINALLY... Someone I can understand!!!!!  | ||
| Spiderman |
Drink a beer and she should be warmed up  (this a joke btw so calm down already, my light bulb will always be faster than yours HAHA) | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Spidey, It may be faster but mine is Brighter. Mike, I detected one flaw in your procedure, you should FIRST turn the fuel on as if you had the engine running for that long on fast idle by the time your securing your helmet it would run the carb dry.} | ||
| Spiderman |
Well Newfie that is beacuse of the theory of relativity, The fatster I go the Dimmer I appear to those that are relativley slower than me | ||
| Newfie_buell |
I'd say your subscribing to your OWN THEORY!!! BWHAHAHAHA  | ||
| Tom_b |
warm up? what's that? start it, ride the front wheel off the ground outta the garage down the drive and out in the street as fast I can without getting hit by any cars. we don't need no stinking warm up, just new and better gaskets. Just kidding, I usually have at least a minute of warm up then beat the hell out of it. (Message edited by Tom_B on October 07, 2004) |
