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[Dan_Lockwood]

I don't know about what you saw, but Harley does not use base gaskets, just an o-ring around the spigot that rests right on the edge of the bore into the case.

I just went out my very cold garage to look at the cylinder base area of my '08 SERK. 

Getting down to a parallel plane under the TB area, I see no possible signs of anything between the cylinder base and the crankcase.  Even in the areas that the cylinder hangs back just a bit from the case machined surface edge, there are no exposed gasket edges to see.

Without seeing the parts breakdown of the cylinder head/gasket and reading past threads on the subject, it makes sense to just use an o-ring for sealing this area because as they say, there shouldn't be anything in the stud holes but studs.

Bottom line is sounding very redundant at this point, fix the head gaskets/cylinder sleeve creeping and the base leak goes away.

[BayouBiker]

Sorry for my confusion...
The shop said base 'gaskets', but now I realize that's wrong. The revised gasket must be the head gasket. Which were just replaced 2 weeks ago!

Maybe a picture will help. 

If you look at the upper section of the attachment, you can see that the cylinder studs are outboard of the o-ring seal.  Any oil that makes its way into the stud holes at the top of the cylinder will seep out at the low side, since there is no gasket between those holes and the outer edge.

Hope this helps  -  Jerry

Here is a photo of the problem. Does this appear to be oil seepage from the head leaking down?

Is there any performance mods I could have them do while the motor is apart? (to save labor charges)

[Chief]

Sorry for my confusion...
The shop said base 'gaskets', but now I realize that's wrong. The revised gasket must be the head gasket. Which were just replaced 2 weeks ago!

Here is a photo of the problem. Does this appear to be oil seepage from the head leaking down?

Is there any performance mods I could have them do while the motor is apart? (to save labor charges)

Your picture is exactly the type of seepage I have too. Once oil makes it down the studs, it will wick in every direction along the joint between the cylinder and case, coming out in many different places.

[BayouBiker]

Thanks Chief-
2 weeks ago when they 'fixed' this, they used the new head gaskets, I've only ridden about 200mi since & the weather has been in the 50-70's

Now its leaking again (picture is from this AM) & they say its because of bad head gaskets?!!??
I think it's bad mechanical work....
The H-D shop is picking the bike up today to repair is AGAIN!!

ARRGGHH.........

[BayouBiker]

-UPDATE-
talked to the shop foreman minutes ago regarding the gaskets.
He said last month when they did the 1st fix, it was the 3 piece metal head gasket(?), and the new 'revised' gasket was sent from HD tech service dept, but has no part # . He says its thicker and heavier, sorta like a lead gasket??

Anybody know about this or is he just blowing smoke??

[Chief]

-UPDATE-
talked to the shop foreman minutes ago regarding the gaskets.
He said last month when they did the 1st fix, it was the 3 piece metal head gasket(?), and the new 'revised' gasket was sent from HD tech service dept, but has no part # . He says its thicker and heavier, sorta like a lead gasket??

Anybody know about this or is he just blowing smoke??

The 3 layer gaskets are riveted 3 layer steel gaskets made for HD by Cometic. I have heard the newer test gasket is more like a composite material. I have not seen them. Evidently this is still in a test/evaluation process.

[BayouBiker]

The 3 layer gaskets are riveted 3 layer steel gaskets made for HD by Cometic.
I have heard the newer test gasket is more like a composite material. I have not seen them.
Evidently this is still in a test/evaluation process.

Oh Ya-
Does this mean I'm an HD guinea pig??   

I called the customer service number in Milwaukee to have them update my case# with ALL of the problems with this machine & mentioned that it's flirting with a lemon law.
They are adding up the cumulative time it's been in the shop, number of various repairs (many) & checking into loaner bike, etc. I told them I'm tired of walking while my buddies are riding.

The lady in Milw. seemed genuinely concerned with all the downtime and the multiple failures within weeks...

I'm waiting for callbacks from the service manager & corporate


 

[Hoist!]

Oh Ya-
Does this mean I'm an HD guinea pig??   

I called the customer service number in Milwaukee to have them update my case# with ALL of the problems with this machine & mentioned that it's flirting with a lemon law.
They are adding up the cumulative time it's been in the shop, number of various repairs (many) & checking into loaner bike, etc. I told them I'm tired of walking while my buddies are riding.

The lady in Milw. seemed genuinely concerned with all the downtime and the multiple failures within weeks...

I'm waiting for callbacks from the service manager & corporate


 

Hehe!!!

With this motor, you've been a Guinea Pig since you bought that bike!!!

If they won't admit the problem, not documented anything at all, and still can't fix it after going on 2 years, you tell me what that makes you/us?

Hoist!

[ultrafxr]

The 3 layer gaskets are riveted 3 layer steel gaskets made for HD by Cometic. I have heard the newer test gasket is more like a composite material. I have not seen them. Evidently this is still in a test/evaluation process.

That's correct Chuck.  I know of two guys who have gotten this 'fix.'  They were told the gasket was graphite impregnated so I guess if we all get out our number 2 pencils we can seal up the leaks ourselves.
Like Hoist said we are all beta testers, they've just moved into phase two.

[BayouBiker]

With this motor, you've been a Guinea Pig since you bought that bike!!!

[skreminegul07]

Thanks Chief-
2 weeks ago when they 'fixed' this, they used the new head gaskets, I've only ridden about 200mi since & the weather has been in the 50-70's

Now its leaking again (picture is from this AM) & they say its because of bad head gaskets?!!??
I think it's bad mechanical work....
The H-D shop is picking the bike up today to repair is AGAIN!!

ARRGGHH.........

This might seem strange, but maybe they changed the head gasket without removing and draining the oil from the stud passages, so it continues to seep.  Head gasket change doesn't require pulling cylinders, does it? Unless you are aware of this issue, which nobody from HD seems to be.

[BayouBiker]

This might seem strange, but maybe they changed the head gasket without removing and draining the oil from the stud passages, so it continues to seep.  Head gasket change doesn't require pulling cylinders, does it? Unless you are aware of this issue, which nobody from HD seems to be.

Well, this time it's been leaking for a little over 2 weeks and I've been cleaning the area regularly.
The photo post above is seepage in 1 day with about 75 mi...

So, 'they' say they're gonna pull the cylinders again.

Hmmm, can i get an S&S motor replacement from the dealer?? 

[Hoist!]

Well, this time it's been leaking for a little over 2 weeks and I've been cleaning the area regularly.
The photo post above is seepage in 1 day with about 75 mi...

So, 'they' say they're gonna pull the cylinders again.

Hmmm, can i get an S&S motor replacement from the dealer?? 

Nope, your choice is HD fixing it for you, using their cases to build your own, or a Jims 120 or 131. That's it. HD has protected themselves and patented the chit out of the '06 Dyna, '07/'08 design. Nobody so far has figured a way around the patent to manufacture new engines for these bikes!!!

Thanks HD, you really screwed us good this time. You come out with an engine you didn't bother testing on your Flagship Motorcycle Line, you can't admit there's even a problem, you still haven't come up with a proper fix for them because you won't spend the $$$, and you've tied up the aftermarket so we don't even have viable alternatives. You and your shareholders can bite me!!!

Hope that helps BB!

Hoist!

[Dan_Lockwood]

Thanks HD, you really screwed us good this time. You come out with an engine you didn't bother testing on your Flagship Motorcycle Line, you can't admit there's even a problem, you still haven't come up with a proper fix for them because you won't spend the $$$, and you've tied up the aftermarket so we don't even have viable alternatives. You and your shareholders can bite me!!!

Hope that helps BB!

Hoist!

I'm really concerned about your well being.  You seem to be holding back and not letting it out, holding chit like that in will get to you in the long run.

So don't hold back, let us know how you really feel....

[Hoist!]

I'm really concerned about your well being.  You seem to be holding back and not letting it out, holding chit like that in will get to you in the long run.

So don't hold back, let us know how you really feel....

Sorry to be so shy about things Dan!!! I'll try harder to express myself in the future!

Hoist!