""""I don't need a TORQUE wrench, my hand is a TORQUE wrench"""""

[gabbyduffy]

                       Before I heard these words come out of my mechanics mouth "My hand is a Torque wrench"............ I had him replace my head gaskits to gain some compression... Now 2 seasons later I have a oil leak at the base of my cylinders.... My guess is he did not use a torque wrench.
                       Whats the easiest way to fix the leak?.....I'm thinking I should just tighten the head bolts and put a torque wrench on it. I should'nt have to replace the gasket at the base of the cylinder....... Whats your opinion on fixing the the leak?

[1FSTRK]

What are the motor spec? Do you have base gaskets or orings?

[Admiral Akbar]

And if it is O rings.. Torque ain't the problem.. You'd blow a headgasket first.. Max

[05FLHTC]

I doubt very much that after a leak develops that you will be able to stop it without replacing the gaskets, you try it, but if it were me I would pull it down & do it correctly with new gaskets and a clean sealing surface.

[05FLHTC]

sorry for the double post 

[05FLHTC]

 

[VANAMAL]

I wouldnt call myself a mechanic but i use a torque wrench on everything but the air cleaner

[gabbyduffy]

And if it is O rings.. Torque ain't the problem.. You'd blow a headgasket first.. Max

2010 RG..... is that a "o" ring or gasket?.................its a 103" that started out as a 96"...........If I pull the cylinders should I replace the rings and get a hone job?

[barny7655]

I think he should of reworded it as i use my eyes as a torque wrench,ive been in a game a few yrs now and all you need is a good eye as to what wrench to use on what bolt or nut , 1/4 drive or 3/8 drive or 1/2 drive sockets ,then to what bolt or nut is used and what surface you are tightening,type of metal,your tools guide you to the pressure thats exerted to your hands and arms as to torque feel,when do i use a torque wrench,or degree wrench,in critical areas where leakage may occur due to heat or stretch,where bolts are to be degreed,or when my brain tells me ,or when common sense and saftey says so , cheers Barny

[prodrag1320]

dont think weather its a Oring or just a blown headgasket is the point,but more finding a new mechanic.ANYONE who dosnt use a totque wrench when doing evo or TC heads isnt competent to be repairing other riders bikes(or their own for that matter)

[Johnnykool6]

You do it enough times... you DON'T need a torque wrench!  Key word: "enough"  which is a lot, however, you do anything enough times, you get dang good at it! I build more automotive than Harley, but messing around in the garage, with buds (as in buddies), I've passed the "test"! So I BELIEVE!!!  Still going to have to change those gaskets though!    Ps.  I also have a built in scale!!!   

[Ohio HD]

You do it enough times... you DON'T need a torque wrench!  Key word: "enough"  which is a lot, however, you do anything enough times, you get dang good at it! I build more automotive than Harley, but messing around in the garage, with buds (as in buddies), I've passed the "test"! So I BELIEVE!!!      Ps.  I also have a built in scale!!!   

I'll put my Snap On torque wrenches up against your arm accuracy any day! And I'll win.   

[Johnnykool6]

I'm guessing you need a snap on!!

[Ohio HD]

I'm guessing you need a snap on!!

So do you!

[rbabos]

Slim to nil it's leaking at the base O ring. If the head gasket goes oil will migrate down the cyl studs or stud holes . Just so happens these are outside the o ring outer dia and no sealing there. It fools you into thinking the base gasket is leaking. Your will see the oil track to the stud hole when you pull the head.
Ron

[justplainjim]

Take it back to the "human torque wrench" and have him fix it..

[War Horse]

Gosh, after 40 years in the business I still use a torque wrench..... I must suck 

[CndUltra88]

There is a way to remove the cylinder and piston all at once and not disturb the piston and rings.
But , you need three hands and someone to hold your beer for you while doing it.
Of course I can not do it, but have seen it done.
Find another mechanic who is better versed in proper use of hand tools.
Most shops offer a 30 day warranty , but of course others will have a better idea  than I on that one.
Rob

[Hillside Motorcycle]

"I don't need no stinkin' torque wrench"........
I'm goning to place a call to our tool suppliers, to have them come and issue re-call tags on all the torque wrenches and multipliers we have here, and hire that guy..........................NOT.
Scott

[koko3052]

 

[Breeze]

People (notice I didn't say mechanics) that believe they don't need no calibrated tools, probably blame mechanical failures as "they all do that".

[gabbyduffy]

Slim to nil it's leaking at the base O ring. If the head gasket goes oil will migrate down the cyl studs or stud holes . Just so happens these are outside the o ring outer dia and no sealing there. It fools you into thinking the base gasket is leaking. Your will see the oil track to the stud hole when you pull the head.
Ron

Great info, Thanks........    I took another look after reading this post..... It very well may be coming from my front lifter block, I put a allen on it and one of the allen bolts was loose.
               Its amazing how oil can make its way from a lifter block, between the cylinders all the way to the other side of the bike to make it look like a cylinder base leak............. I wish I checked the lifter  block before pulling the rockers.......
               

[Dennis The Menace]

Gabby, if it were me, I would take it down and replace the o-rings.  And, torque everything to spec with a calibrated torque wrench.  Also, you can pull the wrist pin retainer and leave the piston in the jug....no need to pull the piston out.  You will get varying opinion here about new/reuse rings if you pull it out.

I am NOT a pro, so use a torque wrench all the time. Also, I am surprised when I get the click on tightening things up.  I expect to have to put more into it.  Good thing I use a torque wrench, or I would likely strip out a lot of things on my bike.  JME.

[rbabos]

Slim to nil it's leaking at the base O ring. If the head gasket goes oil will migrate down the cyl studs or stud holes . Just so happens these are outside the o ring outer dia and no sealing there. It fools you into thinking the base gasket is leaking. Your will see the oil track to the stud hole when you pull the head.
Ron

Great info, Thanks........    I took another look after reading this post..... It very well may be coming from my front lifter block, I put a allen on it and one of the allen bolts was loose.
               Its amazing how oil can make its way from a lifter block, between the cylinders all the way to the other side of the bike to make it look like a cylinder base leak............. I wish I checked the lifter  block before pulling the rockers.......
             

I hear ya. My 120 has base gaskets and I saw some, what appeared to be seapage at the base. Pissed me off because I lapped the cyls and decks to remove all possibility of this. First time I used those stupid cometic gaskets on the lifter blocks . Turns out it was weeping between the block and cyl, you know that thin area. Took about a month to show a problem. Lesson learned and will use OEM or James from now on.
Ron

[Super Dave]

That reminds me of one of my riding buddies. He said that my cruise control and GPS were broken. He could tell because his throttle hand speed and my speed were different.