I have a '99 softail custom. There is oil leaking badly from the frontrocker box. When replacing the gaskets, whatshould the proper torque setting be?

Thank you,

Ed

 

It's all standard torque specs for the appropriate bolt sizes,

1/4 12 ft. lbs

5/16 22 ft. lbs

The socket heads for the valve covers themselves.... just feel it and don't overtighten them. Just snug and alternate drawing then down. Maybe a quarter turn each at the most at a time. Some Evos from the factory had a problem with the center spacer shifting. They won't leak, but looks like crap. Use the replacement fiber washers UNDER new stainless steel flat washers. You be a lot happier with the results down the road.

 

The last time I used a torque wrench on a rocker box, I snapped the bolt off and had to pull the head. That's the last time I'll use a torque wrench on a rocker box.

After 30 years of wrenchin', I have a "feel" for when it's tight enough and not too tight. Sorry if that doesn't help much, but basically, as you're tightening something, you'll get to a point where it takes more torque to turn the same amount and it feels like it just wants to stop. That's almost always the torque spec right there. The only place I use a torque wrench on a Evo is on the head bolts and brake disks.

 

90 inch lbs on the cover screws"socket heads"and so far ive never broken one,or had a leak.