Top End Gaskets. 1979 AMF Harley-Davidson XLH1000 Ironhead Sportster

Additional: Base nuts don't have washers, but head bolts and rocker box nuts do. Also, remember to turn the engine so the tappets are down on whichever cylinder you're tightening the rocker box on, otherwise you'll be fighting against the valve springs, risking a warped rocker box, bent pushrods and stripped threads. Ask me how I know.

[@warrenp2022]

If you have difficulty gaining access to the right rear head bolts you might do what I do. Buy a 9 inch (+ or -) 3/8 inch socket extension, put your head bolt socket in place and bend the extension 90 degrees so that when plugged into the socket the extension just clears the rocker cover on the right side of the bike. Then bend it 90 degrees up an inch or two from the end where the torque wrench plugs in. With the torque wrench fitted at 90 degrees to the extension it will give you the desired torque.
You provide us with good thoughtful information, thanks.

[@dakelvinator]

Thanks for your honest videos and for putting your experiences on you tube they are a great help! fair play to you for taking the time to make these vidoes they are really helpful and appreciated. Hope you manage to sort the oil leeks for good!

[@jerrybigrig9475]

😎👍😎
What is it that your doing that you bang around your rear rocker box that constantly causes it to leak..
Isn't that a bit much of that hilow Mar sealant..sounds like your filling holes in your driveway ..

[@ImminghamIronhead]

It's because the rear rocker on the 79-81 models can't easily clear the frame unless you unbolt the engine and tilt it. It will go in without that, but it's a struggle and over 45 years the mating surfaces take a battering. You can never have too much sealant or too thick a gasket where these engines are concerned.

[@matthewnaylor4412]

Can you get the rocker box off with head in situ? Serious rattle in rocker arm on my 77 xlch.

[@ImminghamIronhead]

Absolutely, but it's a wriggle, and ten times worse putting it back on. Remove it from the right hand side; it won't shift from the left.

[@junebug5882]

Great videos.That copper spray is good stuff