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Thread: Replacing gaskets - engine torn down - some questions

  1. #1
    So I finally had a chance to split my bike in half and get it cleaned up. Its an 07 xb12s. Seems every gasket was leaking, except for the base gaskets. Also the fan had gone out, and had been blowing oil everywhere. Just seemed like a good time to clean everything! I picked up the Cometic top end gasket kit for replacement. Here are some pics below. A few questions.

    1. How do the pistons look?
    2. Should I clean the pistons?
    3. To keep from having to get the jugs machined, it has been suggested that I can just leave the piston in the cylinder, and remove the pin underneath. How the hell do I do this lol? I have the manual, just never done this before, and a little weary of it.
    4. If the base gaskets aren't leaking, should I even bother with them? (seems silly that I wouldn't, everything is torn down right now).
    5. Anything else you can think of or something I should do while it is all apart?

    Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.




  2. #2
    Senior Member neilrl79's Avatar
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    When I did mine I pulled the cylinders off the pistons to get to the base gaskets, then used some zip ties as ring compressors to put the cylinders back on.

  3. #3
    Got a pic per chance lol? So you just slid them back in without issue? Need to lube anything up?

  4. #4
    Senior Member
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    I would clean the cylinders and get rid of the build up

  5. #5
    Well I just went and rented a ring compressor. I am more worried about pulling the jug off and on without getting it honed. I assume people have done this without issue...?

  6. #6
    Senior Member
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    you can buy the stuff to hone the cylinder for about $30

  7. #7
    New rings? Same as sportster? I have an 07 xb12s.

  8. #8
    Senior Member
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    yes new rings, can get them from a harley dealer. they are considered a harley part number not a buell

  9. #9
    Senior Member
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    I actually have the Harley part number.

    #21948-02

    I think they're about $23 each.

  10. #10
    Senior Member squidbuellie's Avatar
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    Alright.....
    1) pistons look fine
    2) you should have checked the compression before you pulled the heads to give you a good idea on whether or not you wanted to hone the cylinders and change the rings.
    3) you can pull the barrels and leave the pistons in the cylinders.....
    With the piston on the top of the stroke, tap the front cylinder with a rubber mallet, slide the cylinder up till you see the piston skirt, then lightly tap the piston down till you see the wrist pin.....
    Pull one wrist pin clip then tap the pin out the other side....
    Then all you will have to do is buy two $0.12 wrist pin clips to put it back together.


    :Also when you pull the pistons and cylinders stick rags in the bore, so the rods don't bang on the case bores



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