Hi, i have a few questions for anyone that can help me. I have a 97 sportster 883 with a 1200 big bore kit in it. i was riding and noticed exhaust starting to come from the rear left head bolt. It was loose. I took the rocker box off and retorqued all head bolts. It still did the same thing. I now have the head off and the head gasket is blown at that cylinder stud.
My question is when i go to order new gaskets does the thickness really matter? And what brand, and gasket material should i get?
Also, I will be pulling the cylinder off to put a new base gasket on and to inspect that 1 cylinder stud to see if it came loose for a reason and the gasket blew after it was loose. Do I have to use new piston rings or can i get away with putting the gasket down and the cylinder back on with the same rings and without worrying about rehoning the cylinder
you can reuse everything . since the head is off replace head gaskets with metal reinforced gaskets (mls) (est) they'll be able to handle the compression - stock gaskets just won't do.
yes, thickness matters... it will change ur comp ratio...
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Matt
2004 XL1200C... custom paint, chrome everything, mid controls, rinehart 2-1, 170/60x17 rear tire on deuce wheel, and more...
FOR SALE
Thanks for the advise. Are you talking about the cometic gasket sets? what about the gasket thickness? would it be a problem with different thicknesses for the lifters and rods or do they adjust and it is no big deal?
i measured the old head gasket i took off with a caliper and get .04 to .045 . Can you suggest the right brand of gasket to get. I could only find the cometic est to come in .03 for that type of gasket in 1200 in my jpcycle catalog. Does the small difference in height make a large difference in compression and would it be a big factor in longer term engine life/performance ?
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