Measured the NEW head gaskets yesterday = .040 thick and I don't know who makes them ,but they look like Cometic 3 layer. Talked to the dealer 'REP' his name is 'RED' and asked him about blown head gaskets on 110" . HE SAID. When you don't tighten the head bolts ,you blow a head gaskets !!! I said what ? He said the factory has a TQ. machine {8 tq. wrenchs} that a person tq's down the heads with and if they are not paying attn. you can get a bad tq. reading !!! These
reps' most have to go to a school {politics} once a month ! I said why is it that when a dealer puts on the new set ,it blows again? He said ,can't talk about that !!! I have been around H-D many years and in the EVO days ,H-D went thru many different head gasket suppliers. There were a few years that they were good ,then H-D got cheap and used the cheapest suppliers and had problems again. The 2006,2007,2008 heads {88" 96"} are great EXCEPT ,they use what I call a 'sportster' intake valve. Old 1999-2004 was 1.850 and the new is 1.804 ,way to small for a 96" motor ,BUT they can use the same valve in ALL motors,sportsters,twin cams. Just like the inner cam bearings , INA ,they used them in the trans for many years ,now the whole bike has INA's . Bla, Bla,etc. Trying to save a $1