Alex C

If I remember correctly the adjuster is 4mm ? thats what wrench fits on mine. I guess Ill have to double check now. Oh, and there are 7 head nuts, and 2 headbolts for the EA81's per side to be precise. Youll need a short socket for the headbolts to be able to fit the socket and torque wrench onto the bolts with the engine in the car. Good Luck. Alex

they are headbolts/nuts, not socket head bolts on the EA81. They are 17mm also. the #1 center headbolt is partially covered by the rocker assembly, which makes it impossible to get a standard 17mm socket over it. Alex

You need to PM or call WJM at the number he should still have listed. The two tools will run you more than 100+ dollars though. I just got mine recently and the head socket is certainly worth the money (31.50 + 10%), but the valve adjuster is a little more difficult to quantify (68.90 + 10%). Now those are the prices I got them for, but not sure how close WJM's prices are to that. The socket is a 1/2" drive for your information. Good luck, Alex

OK, this morning it knocked about 8-10 times, aproximately every second or so, and it started when the oil pressure passed 30 psi and stopped when it passed 40 psi. It still makes no other bad noises for the rest of the day. Alex

OK, I think I have rod knock. All that water must have done something to my bearings. I used to get a couple knocks upon starting the car up cold in the mornings prior to my recent headgasket failure. This was probably due to my previous major headgasket failure three years ago. Anyway, it use to only occasionly knock, and only once or twice, It could have just been something loose you know? Also, it only does it when the car has been sitting overnight, and the oil pressure is still climbing at startup. So this morning I get it started, its idling on the choke at about 1200 RPM and its knocking every second or so, did it maybe 15 times, until the oil pressure reached 40 psi or so. Then it went away and I didnt hear it the rest of the day. I guess Ill find out tomorrow morning if it happens again or not. What is the life expectancy with different forms of rod knock? thanks, Alex

just on a side note, does this only happen when the heater is on? While listening to cartalk a month ago they had someone who was experiencing the saem thing and could not track it down, turned out it was their heater motor melting its casing, which is what generated the smell. Good luck finding the problem and fast, Alex

Its a metal to metal gasket for use in yamaha motorcycles, harley makes a similar thing, but everyone at the shop prefers the yamabond over the harley stuff. BTW Will, they want way too much for the valve adjuster and socket. Alex

how does the threebond compare to yamabond? btw Will, i ordered my tools tuesday. Alex

I did try making my own, but, it just wasted a good socket I cant replace I must need to just spend way more time with the bench grinder. thanks for the support Alex

I got it running, but if fought me. I had gotten some parts cleaner into the floatbowl, and it doesnt burn, so the car wouldnt start at all, too hours of waiting and trying to get it to start. Also, water is coming up out of the intake bolts. No idea of an easy fix for that. Wow the oil pressure looks good, comes right up and stays mid to high depending on rpm. I happened to find the missing checkball, came out overnight from the oilpan. Not something I want to think about too much. Yamabond works great in place of the waterpump gasket. I think that when I crack the block next year or so Ill use that for the sealant. I am ordering the headbolt tool tomorrow, even though its spendy (retail is 42). I will use it to retorque to make sure its accurate, just hope my baby holds together for the week. Cheers, Alex

yep, just lots of oil in the water. I got the heads on and torqued today, just have to install the intake and hookup all the lines. yet another day though. Alex

Well i tore everything down today and cleaned and checked it all out. The good news is the heads are not warped, though the driver side head had very loose bolts and nuts (20lbs or so) which is why that side was leaking. The water port ont he bottom of the rear side of the head right above the rearmost pushrod was where the headgasket was leaking water into the oil. I also finally pulled of fthe crank pulley so i could replace my badly leaking front seal. And while that was off I pulled the oil pump. This is where the news gets scary. I tore the pump apart and there was no checkball in it. So basically the oil was only being passively filtered through the filter, as the easy route through the pump is through where the checkball normally is. Just so happened the H-D p/n 8873 checkball for the H-D oil pumps is a perfect fit. Also, I had forgotten to grab an oil filter at napa this morning so i decided to get one from work, the long one that archemtis mentioned. It fits perfectly p/n 63812-90. I dont know what the public price is off the top of my head, but it wasnt bad at my cost. Anyway, I hope that no permament damage was done by my screwed up pump. Alex

Thanks, i knew about the oil trick, actually I was going to go with anti seize this time around. and a good torque wrench. Alex

I am getting a paid day off tomorrow, and Im taking it to my work( thankfully I work at a harley shop where I have access to more equipment than whats in my trunk). I have all the tools I need, but having a parts cleaner etc handy will make it go even faster. no I didnt retorque three years ago, didnt even know about it till the last summer when I joined up here. What are the retorquing specifics? alex

well, im replacing the gaskets this weekend, Im just hoping its not warped so I can forgo the milling, as I dont have time to do it. I am very reliant on my car.

OK, so we all know by now that I have at least one blown headgasket. But are my heads warped? What are the symptoms of warping? It still runs fine, no loss in power or anything else. Alex

Its definately plain water in there now, hope it doesnt freeze today or tomorrow. I plan on tearing it all down tomorrow, only have about 40 miles to drive till i do that, so I am crossing my fingers that it will be ok. Alex

sounds spendy. I almost wish james gaskets made em, but thats a long shot dream. Thanks for all the help. alex

oem as in from the dealer? or oem as in from napa? I get a much better deal at napa. yea, and the bottom end hardly ever makes any odd noises, something I thought was rod knock, but it only happens when you first start in the first second, then its fine. Shoot, when cold, i just have to pump the pedal a couple times, and hit the starter for a second(not even a full time around), and she starts right up. So she is sturdy, and I dont want a full rebuild, at least not for another year or so. I figure when I have about 240k-250k on the motor at that point. I last rebuilt at 140k.

Its an EA81, it had a full rebuild about about 70k ago. It blew the head gaskets the first time cause of cooling issues, this time cause of leaking coolant that went out of control.

yikes, i cant afford that, and the last time that happened i just did headgaskets, and its been fine for three and half years. Alex

So archemitis what filter part number is that for the harley filter? Is it the really long one? Alex

I am going to ask my boss at work (harley shop) if I can do the work there, and if I can take a paid holiday for saturday, and if I can have any helpers. I will know all of this tomorrow night. Sadly i have no choice but to keep driving the car until I can fix it, which Is why I am rushing. It is my only transportation. Its made it just fine today as long as i added water, it still runs fine, just water in the oil. Anyone know which headgasket is best to use? Alex

How do you drop the crossbar without taking the suspension apart? Are there detailed instructions? Alex

Well, I had some mystery slow leak for a while now, Ive suspected the upper hose by the thermostat(there was green water marks around the hose end) which would explain why i never see water puddle, it all boils off on the cat. I badly overheated sunday, and really badly last night. I decided to check my water and oil today after work, no water (I just filled last night), and milkshake in the oil. Im thinking I might pull the motor for this headgasket change and do some other things that she has been needing, new crank seal, good valve adjusting, new pan gasket, and maybe grab that 5-speed from threeeyedbandit and replace my ailing auto while im at it. My big trick is finding a car to use while I do all of this over the neext week, while I work and go to school. oh, and I need to find a cherrypicker so i can pull the motor (my back isnt good enough). Guess I should order that valve adjuster and headbolt socket tomorrow. Cheers, Alex