After taking some advice from another thread on here I looked into tool options for this task. The parts are pretty easy to get to.
Here are the tools I used:
-Yost, standard HD manifold bolt removal tool 1/4" -1/2" wrench, that ratchet end worked GREAT -1/8" allen wrench to get 2 bolts out velocity stack -1/4" ball drive hex head socket (bought the wrench from Lowes and cut the end off and stuck it in a socket on a 1/4" drive) -Torx T27 socket 1/4" drive -U-joint 1/4" drive (priceless) -extentions
I removed all the air filter stuff to get to the top of the velocity stacks. I then removed left side air scoop and the right one too. This gave me full access from below to all the bolts at the manifold gaskets (seals).
Access on left side to 1/2" bolts on manifold assembly and to the torx bolt on the cylinder/throttle body mount.
Plenty of room on the right side to access the allen head bolts.
After removing the zip tie holding the throttle adjustment cable and removing the throttle cables the throttle body and manifold came right out.
Here you can see that the front cylinder had an intake leak. This was the reason why it ran so crappy unless under acceleration. When I'd hooked up the Diagnoistic tool to the bike it showed the front cylinder spark was advanced, which made me think it was the front cylinder with the problem.
Reinstallation will happen this weekend with new Genuine James Gaskets (seals).
Nice pics, this needs to be in the KV so other people can find it when they need to change intake seals! Seal part # would be a good addition to the thread.
I just went to the local aftermarket HD shop and picked up Genuine James seals. Anything will be better than genuine HD stuff.
The bike has 13k miles on it, pretty much a daily driver with a couple of longer trips thrown in there.
There are FEW threads that talk about intake manifold seal replacment, at least when you do a search on here. I'm always torn between sticking info here and sticking it in the KV.
wow thanks for the write-up. motivated me to change my intake seals. bike was running very poorly for a long time ( maybe 16,000 miles) so bad lately that it was embarassing. took to riding my stroker sporty 'cause it was so much smoother. XB12 would barely run below 3000 rpm. just put the new intake seals HD part #26995-86B, ran around the block, seems to be running real nice. going to suit up and ride home, test it some more.
definitely running a bunch better. idle is smoother, and the "bad-zone" btween 2500 and 3000 rpm is actually ride-able now. found some pretty hideous black tarry viscous coating inside the manifold, presume that is from the gasoline? running some techron in with this tank of fuel, maybe that will clean out some gunk? hope so, looked pretty disgusting in there.
Reinstallation went well. After it was back together I reset the TPS. Once it stops raining I'll go out and do some longer hauling on the bike and see how it feels now.
Dean, You're still around with the same bike. Nice to see. So it's obviously doing the distance or you would have trashed it by now. I still have my same bike, love it. It's a thing.
Glad I found this mine is doing the same thing. Highway speed runs perfect but trying to go 20mph down main is almost impossible it don't look as hard as I was thinking it might be
Great helpful thread. The old seals on my 06 uly looked fine but with the James .62 in it runs better, good. Can't argue with what works. One 1/2" wrench got chopped shorter, rebent a 1/4 ball end allen wrench, chopped another ball end off to use in a 1/4" socket with a U joint and extensions. All good now.