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Intake manifold seals

Started by JW113, October 09, 2016, 10:56:07 AM

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JW113

Just a couple days ago when I was thinking to myself "gee, probably should strap that tool pouch to the frame"....

I was out doing a little test & tune yesterday, swang by the HD dealer for a oil pressure sender, the one on this bike seems to be flaky. It was running sweet out on the freeway, maybe 10 miles or so. I went to leave, and had a choice freeway or surface streets back to home, only about 3 miles, and deiced to swing my the auto parts store for some vacuum hose. Maybe a mile from the dealer, it started coughing and sputtering, and ultimately died. I pull over in the shade to have a look. Tried cranking a bit, would not fire, just spin. I start eyeballing it, and notice the carb is sitting kind of funny. Closer look reveals the manifold is not seated in the seals. No tools on my, I tried to wiggle it back into position, but only made it worse. Time to call the cavalry.

I give Roadrage Bob a call, he bops on over to the scene. Pretty clear the band clamps have to come off or at least completely released to get the manifold back in. After fussing a bit, we manage to get it clamped back in and head for home. What was observed was how soft and mushy these intake bands were. No wonder the carb fell off, but why then and there? Been riding a few weeks and no problem until now. So we head home, get about a half mile and it dies again. We pull over, and a quick diagnosis reveals it's out of gas! So I flip the reserve wing, and back in business.

So what I think happened, it ran out of fuel, started popping and backfiring, and blew the carb off from those soft gooey band seals. They came with the Cometic gasket set I had used, but apparently not good enough. These are just a plain rubber band, Bob said the ones he uses on his shovelhead are really firm, with threads in them like what's used in a radiator hose. These, when hot, seem to squish out from the band clamp.

So now need to find a better set of band seals. Any recommendations? I'm using those silicone type on my shovelhead, seem to be working fine so might give that a try.

I'm also now not thrilled with how the carb is supported only with that one strap from the tappet block to the air cleaner plate. That might support the weight of the carb, but also acts like a "hinge" and provides no support at all to hold the carb/manifold against the head ports. So yeah, a backfire along with slippery intake seals is going to blow the carb right off. Am thinking about adding another strap from the intake manifold to that bracket between the heads on the left side.

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

garyajaz


JW113

2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

westcomb

On my Shovels I just run the band seals that come with a James gasket set ............ I have never had a issue with them yet ........

Its not going to hurt adding another brace if you feel up to it also  :beer:

Burnout

What kind of additives are you putting in the gas tank?
They don't call me Ironhead Rick just because I'm "hard headed"

JW113

2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

Burnout

I asked because,

fuel with a high toluene content may soften rubber parts.
They don't call me Ironhead Rick just because I'm "hard headed"

JW113

Just plain old Chevron 91 octane. Trying to find some stock HD bands, but none to be had around here. Hate to mail order but that's where it is with old stock parts these days.

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

garyajaz

are yours the round 0 ring looking ones or the flat band ones?  I have several sets of both.
wont give ya the  0 ring ones I use now.
but the bands can be had from me for the shipping.

JW113

The band kind. Do you have the stock HD ones, or aftermarket? I have a few more aftermarket but am now leery of using them. I did order some silicon type, those seem to be working fine on my shovelhead.

thanks,
JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

garyajaz

probably aftermarket.  but knowing my stock....very good ones.
they are pliable but very firm.
I bought two bags of 10 each. I change out each time when playing with carb/manifold stuff.
been running the stepped (0) ring type now many years.
the single support has held up dual throats, SU's , S&S L with added float bowl , all sorta stuff. its fine.
hell lots ran them with out the support bracket.

good fit and clamps are the key.
when folks started putting on round slide 38 micks they would backfire and blow whole carb off. was funny. did not take off manifold, just the rubber spigot mount. one hose clamp later and they running.

anyway, I thought you could not find any is why I offered.
when all  else fails with your stock feel free to let me know and I will send you mine.





JW113

Thanks Gary. What you have in the pics looks exactly what I have on there now. Am going to take another look at how the carb support bracket is fitted, maybe not supporting it correctly. But I was amazed indeed how soft and gushy those rubber band seals were when they got hot. Don't recall that before, which makes me leery of using another set just like them. It seems everybody and their Chow-chow are selling aftermarket band seals, for all I know sourcing from the same sweat shop in Shanghai. I have maybe three or four different ones on the way, will see how they compare. Including a set of silicone, I'm liking them on the shovelhead, no issues at all.

Here in one interesting thing I did see today though. Gates sells these "Power-Grip" hose clamps. They are basically like super heavy duty shrink tubing, they slip over the hose and tighten with heat, and continue to tighten over the life of the clamp. Used for radiator hoses, etc. Interesting concept, not sure I am ready to try that on an intake manifold, but hey, why not?

http://www.gates.com/products/automotive/passenger-car-and-light-truck/cooling-system/hose-clamps/powergrip-sb-clamps

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

garyajaz

pix are not  showing now?
anyway I  have pictured two clamps. both different ones I tried. the one without slit in middle is the best type.
stock clamps not good for much.
those bands should not be gooy/soft. even under extreme heat which mine sees.
either way. if you have problem again just shout.
wont even charge ya shipping.

you are not hanging some 10 pound air cleaner off it are ya? some fake hypercharger junk?

but yeah your backfire out of gas probably did it.
keep the ol iron running!
also known is loosening up head bolts. there is a lot of bolt slop.
arraigning manifold centered. tighten up head bolts (new gaskets)
make sue gap is even. also insure the head shape matches the manifold shape. like non  o-ring head and o-ring intake.  seen it all...lol
on one stroker that leaked I tried both. had the 0-ring in slot, the band over o-ring.
still  problems.  he needed longer manifold cause of stroker plates.  .its doable.
or just,ah, keep gas in it.


JW113

From the vaults of the HTT document bin, HD Service Bulletin 788:

https://app.box.com/s/txwgveejqwy3uxzwl8x0307ccak6xsut

Interesting reading.

No heavy air cleaner, running S&S E and S&S air cleaner that came with it (for now). On the hunt for a Keihin CV...

Parts are tricking in, hopefully will be on the road this weekend. Barring rain, that is!

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

garyajaz

I did not get the bulletin, but that is whats mentioned in my last post. tried all combinations.
with the stroker pistons and plates it now has I have a S&S matched manifold to head, stepped and longer-wider cause plates set intakes  higher.
fun stuff.

oh,  I have a perfect c.v. unmolested or drilled out or anything.  that S&S would look good on my sporty. had to take the ol fuel L series of.

JW113

Do tell! Are you saying what I think you're saying? Ping me if you are.
:SM:

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

nibroc

sounds like a trade---thought i had 1st dibs on it but had to get my GAL refurbished

garyajaz

October 14, 2016, 05:40:42 PM #17 Last Edit: October 14, 2016, 05:51:58 PM by garyajaz
yep, a trade sounds in order.


been riding hard (for me) all this week. sore daily. been 200 + mile daily loops around sate. building  up the for the 500 mile days.   (trip)
anyway, this weekend a couple party's  go to.
tomorrow some bictoberfest 100 miles round rip from here.
bands and venders and usual  suspects. but it will be a good lunch ride.
gonna take suday of and check over/clean bike. 900 ,miles this week.   very few of these miles been freeway.
all mountain lane and some divided lane.  some long distance interstate should be easier.

  trying go get in shape for a ride  did 8 years and 4 surgeries ago..lol



so monday, yeah lets exchange some pix and stuff

JW113

2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

tommy g

We got 6 inches a snow on the floor and you are workin up to a road trip. Something is wrong with my picture.
09 FLSTC
85 FXEF

garyajaz

October 14, 2016, 08:01:07 PM #20 Last Edit: October 14, 2016, 08:04:38 PM by garyajaz
well, I did wear a long sleeve t-shirt.
was 89 when left.  top of mountain was 78, then warmer down  other side of hill.
packed a sweat shirt, did not even think about it.

garyajaz

nibroc, I thought it was my L series you wanted??  (its still here)
oh well. that super E should do what sporty needs/ accel pump and enrichner
now if JW 113 would just take it off...lol

JW113

Gary, check your email. Pics and a request for ship to address.

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

72fl

JW the Gates heat shrink, I know guys that are using it on Hot Rods for their clamps on all their Radiator hose and water pump connections work excellent and is a super clean application, have not used them myself but what I've heard :up:

garyajaz

just looked over hose/heat clamp site,
they mention works on all hoses.
ah, we have alum. and I thinking they designed to hold own weight and a hose.
not a carb and air cleaner. and vibration and other Harley stuff.
let me know if try and if work.

would have to cut them off to change something?

nibroc

Quote from: garyajaz on October 23, 2016, 10:33:37 AM
nibroc, I thought it was my L series you wanted??  (its still here)
oh well. that super E should do what sporty needs/ accel pump and enrichner
now if JW 113 would just take it off...lol

yeah garyajaz I mainly wanted the body--had a guy here in da Ville work it over--extremely hard to even find anyone who wants to refurbish a GAL--Daytona Parts won't even look at it. they did my SU a cpl yrs back and a mighty fine job I might add

garyajaz

ah, a stripped body.
oh well, mine is up and running. all tight shafts and everything in  order.
needs no refurbish. just a hot rod to bolt it on to.
changed out a few jets...lol
have a numbered jet board with 10 progressive alky # jets screwed into it.
also 3-4 gas main jets.  idle jet is off some car needle, fits and works fine.

intermediate tube been soldered and drilled/tuned. tear drop air cleaner

JW113

Well I finally got the bike fixed and running. As on another topic, Mr. Gary Ajaz swapped carburetors (S&S E for a Keihin CV) in the process, so took a little longer than usual to fix a manifold seal problem.

Just to learn a bit more in this process, I ordered several different types of manifold seals and clamps. Stock HD, a set by Dixie/Superior off of eBay, and some silicone seals/aero clamps from Legends. In the end, I ended up using the silicone seals with the Dixie/Superior clamps. The Legends silicone seals come with a nifty phenolic ring to put in that notch in the head spiggot, so that there is a nice smooth transition between the manifold and the head, instead of that notch. I'm thinking the clamps maybe force the rubber of the band into that notch, and try to push the manifold away from the head.

For no good reason other than not wanting to get stuck again with the carb hanging off the motor, I made an additional carb bracket. I still have one from the tappet block to the air cleaner base, but this one goes from the left side head bracket to the manifold. Ain't no way in hell the carb & manifold are going to fall off now, regardless of the manifold clamps or any backfires.

[attach=0]

So now I need to do a little bit of tuning to that CV to get it dialed in. But at least it's running!
:baby:

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

garyajaz

looks like you polished it up some. what is the spacer? something you made? is it necked up to S&S manifold size?
real nice idea bout extra support. woulda been great in my dual throat days.
sure wish I  took it apart first.  (as per e-mail)
seems my sporty dirtied it up some.

JW113

The shiny part is one of them Killer Motorcycle Products CV to stock manifold adapter that you can find on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KILLER-MOTORCYCLE-PRODUCTS-CV40MM-ADAPTER-FLANGE-/281152232701?hash=item4175fa9cfd:g:pZ4AAMXQ4uJSDZNH&vxp=mtr


These work great, cannot recommend enough if you want to use a CV on a shovel or ironhead. It presses on to the CV, using JB Weld for "extra" insurance. After installation, it's solid as a rock, unlike those "band and hose clamp" adapters. And also does not push the carb way out the right side.

-JW

2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

ricochet

Is this a custom frame?  Where does that motor mount attach to the frame?  I was looking all over for good places to put a support bracket where it would be less visible and ended up with one like yours except it goes from that top manifold bolt to the bottom of the bolt that holds the top motor mount to the frame.  This is on a 73 stock frame.  The bracket ended up being "L" shaped with about 1 in on the leg and 1.5 on the other.  Made the bracket accurately so it bolted flat at both points so as to not put any pressure or tweak the assembly. 

ricochet

JW113

Stock 1978 frame. Motor mounts to the upper frame at the front of the front head, and center of the rear head. At both places it has a bracket that attaches to the rocker box bolts.

There is a bracket between the two heads (that I used to attach that carb bracket) that is only used to mount the ignition switch. It does not connect to the frame.

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

tmwmoose

what year are the heads your sealing up ?

JW113

2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

tmwmoose

Quote from: JW113 on January 14, 2017, 11:28:49 AM
1978

-JW

OK I was wondering did you have bad luck using the o ring system ?

JW113

To be honest, I never have tried it. It never did seem like a very good engineering solution to me. And know people who did use it and did nothing but complain about it. Guess HD agrees, since they changed to the rubber band type in the late 70s.

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

tmwmoose

January 14, 2017, 08:08:25 PM #36 Last Edit: January 14, 2017, 08:13:06 PM by tmwmoose
Quote from: JW113 on January 14, 2017, 05:04:49 PM
To be honest, I never have tried it. It never did seem like a very good engineering solution to me. And know people who did use it and did nothing but complain about it. Guess HD agrees, since they changed to the rubber band type in the late 70s.

-JW

The o ring is a much better set up with a good manifold to head fit and back when Gary Bang sold the brass clamps it was bullet proof. The o ring sealed and the metal to metal clamping was strong as hell no need for supports. The aircraft t bolt clamps were 2nd best . The rubber band has a very limited life span and you can't tighten the clamps to tight or the seal is distorted and will leak. Now the Shovels were fine but the xl's had a problem of a gap at the head and manifold and the o ring wasn't squished well enough sometimes .What I did over the years at my shop would be to use a S&S + 0 size manifold which would bridge the gap nicely and give good o ring fit . The rubber band set up sucked yeah you needed to build lots of good support for the carb since the clamp system couldn't hold squat . It wouldn't suprize me if Harley went the rubber band route cause of there quality control on the machining processes and eventually cutting costs. If you ever come across a set of the brass two piece clamps with the groove in them for the o ring get them and try them I think you'll really like it .Oh there were chrome steel ones made but pass them up no good and they made the brass for the rubber band also pass on those as well.
In the 70's chopper mags Arlen ran a add showing him standing with one foot on the carb on one of his digger bikes advertising the clamps

JW113

I agree that the machining and fit between heads and manifold has to be spot on to keep it from having vacuum leaks. And yes, HD probably switched to the rubber bands because it was easier than trying to control quality of those parts. I have been using those red silicone rubber bands, they seem to hold up to the heat just fine.

Will keep an eye out for the brass clamps, maybe give that a try someday.

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

JW113

So here's what good old google pulls up:

[attach=0]

I see that a company called Harddrive makes these kind of clamps now, maybe others also. Are you saying the new ones from companies like that are no good, and only Gary Bang are good? How does one tell the difference if they don't list the manufacturer?

thanks,
JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

packrat56

     I've seen those at swap meets the next time I will scoop them up.
 
Now I know, why some animals eat their young.

tmwmoose

Quote from: JW113 on January 15, 2017, 10:24:57 AM
So here's what good old google pulls up:

[attach=0]

I see that a company called Harddrive makes these kind of clamps now, maybe others also. Are you saying the new ones from companies like that are no good, and only Gary Bang are good? How does one tell the difference if they don't list the manufacturer?

thanks,

Yeah thats them ,I wouldn't hesitate using the brass ones they sell today  Its the chrome ones that suck the brass just seemed to conform better. Get yourself a ball end driver or 1/4" drive ball end socket bit 7/32" I think same as side cover screws to install them there super easy
JW

turboprop

These are billet aluminum, made by Dan Baisley and work very well. I put them on the Johny Bo Troublehead. They are not on the Baisley website. If someone is interested in them you will have to call him.





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