Shovel rebirth

got my rocker boxes set up again...some how i had a couple shims outta place. had one that was too tight. all four are now between .010 and .015

will mate to heads tomorrow...when disassembled they looked to be leaking all the way around each gasket. they were put together dry...not this time. of course the oil pressure is under control now, so i expect mega-tight-seal...yeah, right.

repainted gas tanks and fairing while down...100 % better than before.

What product did you use to seal the rocker gaskets?

none...they went on dry. gonna use the same high temp oil and gas resistant rtv that i used on the cases (they have never leaked).

Good luck! Let's hope they don't leak!!!!

Good luck. Make sure you don't have any squeeze out on the inside. Put the stuff on very thin.

checked my cam end play after pulling tappet blocks...what a shock, .028"

i think i was rushing too much, thought it was right since it ran for years.

j and p has me on back order...crapp ! sm says .001" - .005", so i guess

i am waiting. i have to put new seals in kicker shaft also, oil in running

down the side of cover. interpreted sm to say oil level just below cap, am

i just too full ? doubt it. parts are on the way anyway. i don't mind the down

time, greater weather is on the horizon...

My SM is for '781/2-'84... it says cam gear end play should be between .001"-.016"...Flywheel end play is listed at .001"-.006" ('80-'81) and '82-later .001"-.004"

1973...hd sm 1970--early 1978 said .001"-.005". was hoping i read it wrong.
first check was in my haynes, but dbl checked hd. i just cant believe that
it was that loose to start with.
kit comes with .05 thru .095 thrust washers, believe i can remove the single
.05" and replace with a .075". that should put me at .004", i can live with
that.
plus the cam cover seal leaks very small amount, already have a new seal.
but i can't start re-assembly until cam is done.

OK...just checking....funny how they loosened the specs for late '78-up...and Evo specs went up to .001" -.050"....if you had a '87-90 Evo your .028" end play would have been fine

Just shows how tough those ol' shovels are. I've replaced the oil seal in my cam cover twice and it still leaks a little. Probably need to get a nos cam that has a clean surface for the seal to ride on. .028" - man, that's spark plug gap! LOL

You are way high on the tranny oil~! common mistake. You only need about an inch or so of oil in there. Just enough to wet the bottom of the gears. The oil will slosh around when she's running. It should not even be up to the kicker shaft or it will leak. Waay too much cam end play too. Shoot for .005" Any Harley repair/parts shop should have the shims you need. You need the aligment tool to put the lifter blocks back in properly also. You can find them on ebay, prolly the cam shims too. I have found J&P takes forever when stuff is on B/O. Try Dennis Kirk also. Good luck.

The cam cover bushing is "supossed" to line honed with the case. If it was not done right it could leak at the seal. Another justification for you to have your bottom end rebuilt. If it wasn't done right you never be able to fix the problems. Sorry, I'm not trying to spoil your day but I have been thru this before.

I don't have saddle bags on my bike so what should I do, carry it in a backpack?

What size hose, 1" or 2"?

I'd call that an eventual dry sump oiling system!

thought the tranny might be too full...i know the vent screw is clear and working. will correct very soon, parts here 2mro.