So - I picked up a 2018 Iron 1200 this past weekend for a steal... 10k miles. Original owner said some issue involving cam failure happened, and he had a local independent shop handle the repairs. According to owner, the shop send the case out to be 'machined out' and fix the issue. While they had the engine apart, the owner told the shop to do a full top end rebuild with OEM parts (no hammer, s&s, etc. - just HD OEM). Owner rode the bike home from the shop and noticed a ticking in the top of front cylinder. Also, oil is leaking under both heads and at the base of the front cylinder.

Bike is BEAUTIFUL and I was looking some small and light bikes to toss in the back of the truck when my wife and I have to take the dogs on weekend trip (tough to fit my 2015 RG with stretched bags next to her 2014 SG in the bed of our truck)... Anyway, I paid the money seller was asking, started the bike up, and drove right up the ramp into the bed of the truck. When I got home, I ran the bike for ~ 2.5 minutes to see if I could hear the 'noise' that owner described. I don't hear any ticking (other than what is normal for a sportster 1200 rubber mount) - but the oil leaks were easy to see.

Closer inspection shows that the gaskets used for this 'top end rebuild' are all James Gasket brand. Strike One.
Even closer inspection shows that the gaskets are all protruding in some way under each head , under the push rod bases , and under the rocket box covers. Strike Two.
I spoke to the owner about the shop that did the work, and he tells me that the shop ultimately agreed to reimburse him for the labor (but not the parts) on all of these 'repairs,' and that the shop told the owner to ride straight to the local dealership and trade the bike without saying a word about the issues. - Strike Three.

NOTE - I am not annoyed or angry with the seller whatsoever. Even if I have to replace the entire engine, I bought it for a smoking price. Seller was very straightforward with the issues, info, etc.

I think the shop - who I will not name, as I was not involved or present when all of this went down - simply had someone who didn't know what they were doing slap this 'rebuild' back together without cleaning surfaces, centering gaskets, running heat cycles, etc. 0
I ordered a set of Cometic top end gaskets for the bike, and I am going to try a disassembly / proper reassembly this weekend.

Does anyone else have any thoughts on the info given so far? I am open to all feedback or tips as I dive into this. I may actually try to take this to Bikertoberfest in a few weeks if I can get the leaks sorted.

PS - we are NOT getting rid of our touring bikes. we just wanted something light and thin to take when the touring bikes are not an option.

 

I'd pull the jugs and replace gaskets with cometic or H-D.

 

Yikes, it sounds like you might have a project on your hands.

 

Thats ok. I bought it cheap enough, and I knew it would be a bit of a project.

Even if I had to buy an entire motor and swap it in, I still would be into the bike for less that 1/2 of the market value for these.

I’ll check the crank and things before putting her back together. If my gut feeling is correct, the cosmetic gaskets and properly prepping the surfaces for top end reassembly will do the trick. However, I’ll be posting pics and progress as I go.

 

Sounds like you got a great deal. With that tank lift, it could be noise just from that. There's probably nothing wrong but crappy gaskets. This is the second time recently I've heard some bad juju about James gaskets.

John