Rocker box gasket leak

I got a leak from the front rocker box cover, between the upper and lower covers, on the trip. I called the dealership since those covers were put on when they did the 88 to 95 inch upgrade last winter. I'm a month over the year warranty, and when I originally called, I was still within the 10,000 miles. Of course the bike was in their shop for two months getting $8,000 worth of work done after I got hit. I think they should deduct those two months from the time. They say they'll give me 20% off of labor, with the whole job being $118.

I was thinking about doing it myself, but I'm not sure it be worth the trouble. The biggest time is removing the gas tank to get to the heads. Would you do it yourself or feel that, for the money, let them do it? Out of principle, I'd rather do it myself. Plus it can't hurt to learn more about working on my bike.

Well, if you have the time, it would be worth doing it yourself and you would probably get it done quicker. However, for 118 bucks, thats not a bad deal for the dealer to do it and it would be guaranteed. Only problem is being without it and havin to take it and then pick it back up when their done. I guess ya just have to put a value on your time....................

OK, that's all the convincing I needed. I've got the time. After all, I'm now a full time biker chick. :roflmao: It would be totally lame of me to take it in.

Question: Do you really have to take the tank off or can she just unbolt it and prop it up a couple of inches with a piece of wood? On my FLH I can prop it up enough to get at those covers.

Those thick rubber gaskets can slip on you if you don't have them in right or they are not tightened down evenly and you could fix it on the side of the road if you can just reposition them a little and you don't have to take the tank off.

I know now from my own oil-all-over-my-leg trip experience. I limped it home, but I wish I had tried to fix it on the road.

But if it is the flat gaskets on the head then you can't fix those on the road without new gaskets.

Before I started the thread, I searched on rocker box gaskets and there was a thread from back in '05 on the subject. The guy was changing them annually. Someone suggested that since he lived in a colder climate, he should warm his bike up more before riding it. The guy said he was doing that now and it seemed fine.

When we were on the trip, it was really freaking cold. I would never have ridden in those temperatures if I didn't have to. I wasn't warming it up much at all. If the reasoning stated above is accurate, then that could have been the problem.

Those new gaskets are expensive. $36 for my primary cover gasket. :gah:

Speaking of oil on the leg, I realized on this trip that my chaps are like a scrap book of 7 years of riding. I can still see the huge mud stains from trying to push the ex out of a mud hole probably 4 or more years ago. They have lightened in color substantially over the years, have permanent bulges in the knees, and I now have a nice spray of oil on the bottom left leg as well as a couple of dark lines from wiping my dipstick on them. They need a visit to the cobbler for some stitching too.