Need to change head gasket on 1997 Harley Road King. Rear cylinder. Bought service manual. Any suggestions.?

I would like any pointers you may have on performing this. I need to know if you have to disassemble much of the rockers to remove the head. Thanks,ChrisNeed to change head gasket on 1997 Harley Road King. Rear cylinder. Bought service manual. Any suggestions.?Be sure that the rear cylinder is at TDCC (top dead center compression) or you'll do serious damage when you start to undo the rockers. It will be easier to rotate the engine if you remove the spark plugs first. Only rotate the engine in the same direction as it would normally rotate during operation.



TDCC can be found by rotating the engine and watching the intake valve open and then close (after you've removed the rocker covers). Once the intake valve has opened and closed, watch the piston through the spark plug hole and keep rotating until the piston reaches the top.



Un-torque and re-torque all bolts (and I mean all of them) in the order specified by the manual. Failure to do so will result in leaks.



Do not try to re-use gaskets, always replace them. Be careful to not mix up the pushrods, and put them back in with the same end up as when you removed them. Clean the mating surfaces of the cylinder and head completely before re-installing.



Most important: use a torque wrench for all bolts. Period.



Follow the instructions in the manual exactly like it says and you should be okay.



Oh, and the rockers will come off as an assembly, but if the bolts won't go back in when you try to re-install, the shaft inside the rocker arm may need to be rotated so that the clearance cut-out for the bolt is facing the proper direction.



Email me if you run into problems during surgery.
Need to change head gasket on 1997 Harley Road King. Rear cylinder. Bought service manual. Any suggestions.?
easy job,just follow the manual,just did my 1200
Need to change head gasket on 1997 Harley Road King. Rear cylinder. Bought service manual. Any suggestions.?
The rocker box is in three pieces, start at the top and work on down. there is not enough room to take the head off without removing the rocker box. You have to take the exhaust and intake off to.
It ought to be doable. Don't break a fin by using cheap sockets. Get a buddy to coach you in person.