gaskets

[il67bp]

Oil leak. I want to replace all gaskets in the top end. Harley told me 111 for top end rebuild kit. Does anyone else recommend something different? Stock engine

[CBAS5]

Where is your oil leak? If it's just the rocker boxes (most common), then you don't need the entire top end kit.

Otherwise, I would go with the harley top end kit. They have more metal gaskets now including metal base gaskets which are pretty good. I would make sure the kit I got had the metal base gaskets. They also have a revised head gasket that eliminated the o-ring. I would also make sure mind had one in there.

One option is to use cometic mls head gaskets if you choose or just get the whole top end cometic gasket kit although people have reported the rocker box gaskets that come with the harley kit are better.

[il67bp]

Thanks. Its not the rocker box on one but is on the other the head. The head gasket leak was my fault. I didn't replace it when I should have so I figure since I'm in there I should do everything

[CBAS5]

Thanks. Its not the rocker box on one but is on the other the head. The head gasket leak was my fault. I didn't replace it when I should have so I figure since I'm in there I should do everything

If you have to take off the heads, then you should do everything. Remember though that if you take the piston out of the cylinder that you should ball hone the cylinder and install a new set of rings in order to ensure the rings seal again.

What do you mean the head gasket leak was your fault? Why would you need to replace the head gasket?

[il67bp]

The head gasket was my fault by not replacing it the second time I took the head head off. since then I've had a leak coming from between the head and the cylinder. I am taking the head off to replace that gasket, but I wasn't planning on taking the cylinder off. Are you saying I should?

[CBAS5]

The head gasket was my fault by not replacing it the second time I took the head head off. since then I've had a leak coming from between the head and the cylinder. I am taking the head off to replace that gasket, but I wasn't planning on taking the cylinder off. Are you saying I should?


There are people that would say yes because the base gasket has been disturbed and has been torqued down already. If your sportster had the fiber base gaskets, then I would recommend that you do. With metal base gaskets you might be able to get away with it if you are careful.

But you already are doing the work twice. Why not just replace it all if you are that far into it?

Do you mind me asking why you took the head off in the first place?

[il67bp]

Thanks for the info. I took the head off because I needed to bring it to a machine shop to have the exhaust port stud fixed. ( I snapped it)