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[redrocket]

I own a 2007 screamin eagle road king with13000 miles out of nowhere the rear cylinder head gasket fails. The good folks at the local HD dealership told me that half their shop is filled with the same problem. My friend went on HD forum .com and low and behold the problem is everywhere. Whats my best course of action? New Piston, Newjugs , Gasket only replacement, or all of the above. I would be grateful for some input from fellow CVO owners the best way to approach this with HD.

[BayouBiker]

welcome to the site!

I've head both my head gaskets done twice & I've only got 9300mi....

Might be an issue you'll need to become familiar with. Read this site, tons of good stuff here!

[Kodiak]

Just had my head gaskets done a second time. No part number for the  newest gasket set being used. Moco will tell dealer what to check on engine and go from there. Good Luck

[TCinVA]

Make sure the dealer checks BOTH cylinders for sleeve movement.  That seems to be the problem in most cases.  I had both cylinders, pistons, rings, gaskets, new starter, rocker boxes clearanced, etc. at ~9100 miles on my Jester.  Haven't ridden the break-in miles yet so don't know if this is the end of the book or the beginning of the 2nd chapter  .  While they're at it, have 'em check the ACRs...
TC

[sadunbar]

I own a 2007 screamin eagle road king with13000 miles out of nowhere the rear cylinder head gasket fails. The good folks at the local HD dealership told me that half their shop is filled with the same problem. My friend went on HD forum .com and low and behold the problem is everywhere. Whats my best course of action? New Piston, Newjugs , Gasket only replacement, or all of the above. I would be grateful for some input from fellow CVO owners the best way to approach this with HD.

Welcome the site!   

It's to bad it took a bad experience with your motor to find us! 

Your best course of action - in my opinion - is to do a lot of research before you decide how to fix your motor.  And when you think you understand all your options - make your own decisions.  You can find lots of other folks opinions on what the best course of action is - but at the end of the day - you are better off educating yourself as best you can and then deciding what is acceptable to you.

Kudos to your dealership admitting they have seen lots of these issues.  It makes them fairly unique.  Most claim no knowledge of the problem...

and again - welcome to the site....

[dereck]

I recommend that you take it in and have it fixed under warrenty.

I had my rear gaskets replaced at the 2500 mile service and again at the 10,000 mile service.  And I'll keep having them replaced as long as it is under warrenty.

[bikerboy53]

Welcome to the site. Sorry to hear about your bike problems though. It's good that your dealer admits they see a lot of these problems, but it's bad because it doesn't look like the MoCo has a "real" fix yet. My bike has been "fixed" three times:
1. Head gaskets only
2. New cylinders, rings, & gaskets
3. New cylinders, rings, gaskets & crankshaft.

I hear rumors on this site that HD has a new head gasket out, but nobody has a PN for it. My local dealer doesn't seem to know about it either.

Most likely just replacing your leaky gasket(s) won't fix the problem, but new cylinders haven't helped mine either. Even if the MoCo has a new head gasket design out now I don't see how that will fix any of our bikes if the liners are still shifting... 

Good luck with your bike!   

[jas721]

did any one have any problems ( head gasket) with the 08 flhrse4? after 105 years did they figure it out yet?

i have 3,000 miles , so far ok.

frederick md.

[BayouBiker]

Hey - jas721 welcome to the site...

My issues on my '07 Ultra 1st started around 5500mi

[Black Diamond]

did any one have any problems ( head gasket) with the 08 flhrse4? after 105 years did they figure it out yet?

i have 3,000 miles , so far ok.

frederick md.

Sorry to have to tell you yep!  3673 miles on mine. Cylinder liner moved causing head gasket leak. I agree with Sandubar. Look into all your options and pick the one that works for you.  Warranty or aftermarket. It's your scooter, your wallet, and your time.  Best of luck to all 110 owners. May this be a small percentage of us that have to do the deed.

JW

[hdctss]

Just had my second failure with less than 1000 miles since the first repair.  The dealer did not check the cylinder sleeves for movement, hopefully that was the problem although to date it does not seem like there is a definite fix.  This kind of sucks for a mc that is this expensive.  Thinking very hard about the extended warranty or selling the damn bike and buying a regular ultra.

[Smiler]

I recommend that you take it in and have it fixed under warrenty.

I had my rear gaskets replaced at the 2500 mile service and again at the 10,000 mile service.  And I'll keep having them replaced as long as it is under warrenty.

How do you manage to do that

[Unbalanced]

Since it is your first one I think your best course of action is use the Harley Warranty:

new cylinders
new rings
ball hone cylinders
latest head gasket
lots of praying
Check crank run out

Do not allow them to do only one cylinder though.

[skreminegul07]

Since it is your first one I think your best course of action is use the Harley Warranty:

new cylinders
new rings
ball hone cylinders
latest head gasket
lots of praying
Check crank run out

Do not allow them to do only one cylinder though.

I agree, have then check crank runout before the repairs.  You should also open up a Tech Support case to demand both cylinders and the C/R check.

[brewnut56]

Hi All,

So I just registered on this forum and also the HDForum . . . have read many if not all the threads .  . . .

So here's my question . . . Just put $$ down on a 2008 SERK (black/silver) due to arrive in April (I hope!).  Does starting off with upgraded exhaust (like Reinhardt's), upgraded A/C, SERT or Power Commander and dyno, improve the odds of me not having the problems I've been reading about?

Thanks in advance for your patience with newbies . . . I'm hoping for good news from y'all