EVO: Engine Mechanicals

Rocker Box

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Rocker Box Part Numbers

1986-Up Sportster Rocker Box Part Numbers
(Note: an asterisk (*) next to a number indicates that part number is an updated version and not the original part number)
Year ModelLower Box
Part#
Lower Box
Casting#
Middle Spacer
Part#
Middle Spacer
Casting#
Upper Cover
Part#
Upper Cover
Casting#
1986-1988 All17532-86
*17532-86A
17554-86
*17555-86A
17533-86
*17533-86B
17555-86
*17580-95
17501-86
*17501-86A
17556-86
*17556-86A
Notes:17532-85 lower box does not have oval shaped holes on the pushrod side.
(crankcase air escape route to heads)
17554-86 middle spacer doesn't have provisions for head breather umbrellas.
None of this is needed since 86-90 models breath through the cam cover.
But it's important to note that these parts can only be used on 86-90 models.
1989 All17532-86A17554-86A17533-86A17555-86A17501-86A17556-86A
Notes:On L89 lower boxes, Click Here to view TSB M-984 regarding sealing area around middle spacer.
1990 All17532-86A17554-86A17533-86B17580-9517501-86A17556-86A
Notes:Polished set.
1991 All17532-86A
*17532-86E
17554-86A17533-89
*17533-90A
17501-86A
*17501-86B
17556-86A
Notes:
1992-1994 All17532-86A
*17532-86E
17554-86A17533-90
*17533-90A
17555-90
*17580-95
17501-86A
*17501-86B
17556-86A
*17581-95
Notes:Polished set.
1995-2003 All except
883R, 1200C, 1200S)
17532-86B
*17532-86E
17579-9517533-90A17580-9517501-86B17581-95
Notes:Polished set.
1996-2003 1200C17537-96
*17537-96C
17579-95
*17579-95C
17538-9617580-9517551-9617581-95
Notes:Chrome set.
1998-2003 1200S17614-98
*17614-98C
17579-95
*17579-95C
17533-90A17580-9517527-9817581-95
Notes:Silver powder coated set.
2002-2003 883R17532-86B
*17532-86E
17579-9517535-02 17501-86B
Notes:Polished set.
2004-2006 883,
883C, 883L
17532-86C
*17532-86E
17579-95B N/A 17501-0417581-04
Notes:Polished set.
2004-2006 1200C17537-96A
*17537-96C
17579-95B
*17579-95C
N/A 17551-0417581-04
Notes:Chrome set.
17537-96A and 17537-96B lower boxes have slots in the gasket channel on the valve side of the box.
The slots can cause gasket leaks and lower box ..537-96C (no slots) replaced them both.
Click Here to view TSB M-1168A in the Sportsterpedia.
2004-2005
883R, 1200R
17614-98A
*17614-98B
*17614-98C
17579-95A
*17579-95B
*17579-95C
N/A 17527-04
Notes:Silver powder coated set.
2006 883R17614-98A
*17614-98B
*17614-98C
17579-95A
*17579-95B
17579-95C
N/A 17655-05
Notes:Silver powder coated bottom, black powder coated top.
2006 1200R17645-06
*17645-06A
N/A 17655-05
Notes:Black powder coated set.
2007-2009 883, 883C,
883L, 1200N
17532-0717579-07 N/A 17501-0417581-04
Notes:Polished set.
2007-2009 1200C,
1200L, XL50
17537-0717579-07 N/A 17551-04
Notes:Chrome set.
2007-2009 883R, 883N17614-0717579-07 N/A 17655-05
Notes:Silver powder coated bottom, black powder coated top.
2007-2009 1200R17645-07
*17645-07A
N/A 17655-05
Notes:Black powder coated set. -07A is wrinkle black powder coat.
2009 XR120017590-08 N/A 17585-08
Notes:Silver powder coated set.
2010-2016 883C, 883L,
1200N, 1200X
17532-07A17579-07A N/A 17501-0417581-04
Notes:Polished set.
2010-2016 1200C, 1200L,
1200CP, 1200V, 1200T
17537-07A17579-07A N/A 17551-04
Notes:Chrome set.
2010-2014 883R, 883N,
1200CP, 1200CA, 1200CB
17614-07A N/A 17655-0517581-04
Notes:Silver powder coated bottom, black powder coated top.
2010 XR120017590-08A N/A 17585-08
Notes:Silver powder coated set.
2010-2013 XR1200X17591-10 N/A 17615-10
Notes:Black set.
2015-2016 883R, 883NN,
1200CP, 1200CA, 1200CB
17598-07A N/A 17655-05
Notes:Silver powder coated bottom, black powder coated top.

Rocker Box Gaskets

Click Here to reference breather valves/installation/sealing in the Sportsterpedia.

Below is a list of factory gaskets used on Sportster rocker boxes.
Original part numbers are listed first with known superseded part numbers below the original ones.
Pics of the different part numbers are listed to the right in the chart. Click on the link to open a picture of the part.
While a complete updated list is difficult to maintain, this list may help find updated as well as NOS gaskets.
Check the notes section for particulars as gaskets have changed over the years.

Sportster Rocker Box Gaskets
Year ModelPositionPart#NotesPics
1986-1990Upper (cover gasket)17354-86
17354-86A
-86 - cork gaskets replaced in 1989 by -86A.
-86A - rubber gaskets.
-86 1)
-86A 2)
Lower (middle section)17353-86
17353-86A
-86 - cork gaskets replaced in 1989 by -86A.
-86A - rubber gaskets.
-86 3)
-86A 4)
Inner (bottom section)17358-84
17358-84A
Small rectangle gasket on top of bottom section.
-84 - cork gaskets replaced in 1989 by -84A.
-84A - rubber gaskets.
-84 5)
Head (bottom section)(L) 16779-84A
(R) 16778-84
Beaded gaskets between lower section and heads.
-84 6)
Cover screw washer6114
63858-49
Washer seals against air intake or exhaust.
6114 - Reusable copper, replaced by fiber (1987)
-49 - Fiber washer, reusable unless breaks or erodes.
6114 7)
-49 8)
1991-2003Upper (cover gasket)17354-89 -89 9)
Lower (middle section)17353-89
17353-89A
17353-89B
17353-89C
-89 is black, has round breather holes
-A, -B, -C gaskets redesigned
several times for 04-06 models.
Original -89 Ok to use on 91-03 models.
-89 10)
-89C 11)
Inner (bottom section)17358-84ASmall rectangle gasket on top of bottom section.
Head (bottom section)(L) 16779-84A,
(R) 16778-84A
Gasket between lower box and heads.
Cover screw washer63858-49Fiber washer seals against air intake.
Reusable unless breaks or erodes.
Copper washer (6114) Ok to use as well.
-49 12)
Umbrella valve26856-89Not a gasket but rather a breather valve.
Good maintenance to replace when cover is off.
See
Breather page
Full gasket kit17036-91Includes all original gaskets above.
2004-2006Lower (cover gasket)17353-89A
17353-89B
17353-89C
Cover gasket (includes cutouts for breather valve).
-89A has slots and locating tabs over breather holes.
The edges are also rounded.
-89B (2-15-05) has slots but no locating tabs.
It's black and the edges are cut square. 13)
Only use -89C gasket. No breather seal required.
It's brown with slots and locating tabs.
See TT#253.
-89C 14)
Inner (bottom section)17358-84ASmall rectangle gasket on top of bottom section.
Head (bottom section)16800-84One piece gasket between lower box and head.
Breather valves(F) 26010-04Directional and cannot be installed backwards.See
Breather page
(R) 26011-04
2007-PresentUpper (cover gasket)17362-07
17362-07B
17362-07C
Does not include cutouts for the breather valve.
17393-07 breather seal required.
-07, thin orange rubber.
-07A, thin orange crush dimpled rubber.
-07B, thin black rubber.
-07C, thin crush dimpled black rubber.
Inner (bottom section)17695-07
17695-07A
17695-07B
17695-07C
-07 thin orange rubber, top of bottom section.
-07A, orange rubber with crush dimples.
-07B, thin black rubber,
-07C, thin black rubber with crush dimples.

-07A 15)
-07B 16)
-07C 17)
Head (bottom section)16800-84AOne piece gasket between lower box and head.
Breather valves
(plastic units)
(F) 26012-07Not a gasket but rather a breather valve.
Good maintenance to replace when cover is off.
Directional and cannot be installed backwards.
Same breather units as 04-06, seal included.
See
Breather page
(R) 26020-07
Breather valve seal17393-07Required to seal the breather valve into their holes
in the lower rocker box section.
-07 18)

Pushrods

Pushrod lean angle on 91-up engines. The lifters are square to the lifter bore but they're not quite square to the rocker arm slot for the pushrod.
There is a slight lean angle between the lifters and the rocker arms as shown below.
The pushrod tubes line up square with the lifter blocks and hide the lean angle of the pushrods.
In the pics below, a inside bore gauge is lined up app. straight from the lifter bore to the rocker arm slot for the pushrod.
This is the app. lean angle of the pushrods between the lifter and the rocker arm.
The pushrod angle also changes as the rocker arm moves thru it's arc while the valve is opened and closed. 19)

20) 21)



1)
photo courtesy of Deep South Cycles, Link to Eaby Store
2) , 11) , 14)
photo courtesy of Ebay seller, harleyguys Link to Ebay Store
3) , 8) , 12)
photo courtesy of Ebay seller, Robison Motorcycles Link to Ebay Store
4) , 18)
photo courtesy of Fox Cycle Works, Link to Ebay Store
5) , 6)
photo courtesy of Ebay seller, jrsvintageharley1990. Link to Ebay Store
7)
photo courtesy of Ebay seller, 57harleyrider. Link to Ebay Store
9)
photo courtesy of Ebay seller, Rusty Dusty Motorcycle Parts. Link to Ebay Store
10)
photo courtesy of Northway Motorcycle Parts. Link to Ebay Store
13)
HD TSB #M-1168A dated 11-10-2005
15)
photo courtesy of Royal Motorworks Citroen Parts Plus, Link to Ebay Store
16)
photo courtesy of Vintage Acquisitions, Link to Ebay Store
17)
photo courtesy of Ebay seller,1rosesofwood, Link to Ebay Store
20) , 21)
photo by Hippysmack
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