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Start ShoppingCometic C9161 Twin Cam EST MLS Head Gasket Kit - High-Performance Top-End Seals for Harley-Davidson Engines
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Description
Upgrade your Harley-Davidson Twin Cam engine with Cometic's C9161 EST MLS gasket kit, engineered for maximum sealing reliability and high-compression performance. This comprehensive top-end gasket set delivers professional-grade durability for riders demanding peak engine efficiency.
Key Features
- EST Multi-Layer Steel Technology: Advanced MLS construction resists warping and maintains sealing integrity under extreme temperatures and pressures
- Complete Top-End Coverage: Includes head gaskets, base gaskets, rocker box seals, intake/exhaust gaskets, O-rings, and miscellaneous seals for full system protection
- Harley-Davidson Twin Cam Compatibility: Specifically designed for 88/95/96/103/110 displacement engines (verify fitment details with Cometic catalog)
- High-Performance Capable: Built to handle modified engines with increased compression ratios and forced induction setups
Why Choose This Product
Cometic's EST gasket technology combines precision engineering with durable MLS construction to prevent head gasket failures, reduce maintenance costs, and extend engine life. This comprehensive kit eliminates the need for multiple purchases while ensuring perfect sealing for both stock and modified Twin Cam engines. The included sealing components create a leak-proof system that maintains optimal engine performance and reliability under demanding riding conditions.
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Upgrade your Harley-Davidson Twin Cam engine with Cometic's C9161 EST MLS gasket kit, engineered for maximum sealing reliability and high-compression performance. This comprehensive top-end gasket set delivers professional-grade durability for riders demanding peak engine efficiency.
Key Features
- EST Multi-Layer Steel Technology: Advanced MLS construction resists warping and maintains sealing integrity under extreme temperatures and pressures
- Complete Top-End Coverage: Includes head gaskets, base gaskets, rocker box seals, intake/exhaust gaskets, O-rings, and miscellaneous seals for full system protection
- Harley-Davidson Twin Cam Compatibility: Specifically designed for 88/95/96/103/110 displacement engines (verify fitment details with Cometic catalog)
- High-Performance Capable: Built to handle modified engines with increased compression ratios and forced induction setups
Why Choose This Product
Cometic's EST gasket technology combines precision engineering with durable MLS construction to prevent head gasket failures, reduce maintenance costs, and extend engine life. This comprehensive kit eliminates the need for multiple purchases while ensuring perfect sealing for both stock and modified Twin Cam engines. The included sealing components create a leak-proof system that maintains optimal engine performance and reliability under demanding riding conditions.| SKU | GM9A79F025 |
|---|---|
| MPN | C9161 |
| Brand | Cometic |
| Category | Gaskets/Seals |
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Frequently Asked Questions
C9161 is a Twin Cam top-end gasket kit, but exact fitment (years, models, and displacements like 88/95/96/103/110) depends on its specific bore and thickness configuration. You must confirm against Cometic’s official catalog or a retailer’s verified fitment tool using your Harley-Davidson’s year, model, and engine size.
Yes, Cometic EST MLS head gaskets are designed for high-performance and high-compression applications, provided you select the correct bore and thickness and maintain proper piston-to-valve and piston-to-head clearances. Many builders choose Cometic MLS for big-bore and cammed Twin Cam builds.
C9161 is a top-end kit and generally includes head, base, and rocker box gaskets plus related seals, but it may not include lower-end gaskets (primary cover, cam cover, transmission, etc.). Review the contents list or packaging and compare it with your planned work to see if you also need a full engine gasket set or primary/transmission gaskets.
On most Harley-Davidson Twin Cam touring and Dyna/Softail models, top-end service can be done with the engine in the frame, but access can be tight and requires careful adherence to the service manual. Some builders prefer to remove the engine for thorough inspection and easier access.
Generally no—MLS head gaskets are designed to be installed dry on properly prepared metal surfaces unless Cometic or your service manual specifies a particular sealant in localized areas. Using silicone or RTV over the sealing surfaces can interfere with proper sealing and is not recommended.
Installation Guide
Difficulty
Hard
Est. Time
4 hr 0 min
Tools Required
- Factory service manual for your exact Harley-Davidson model
- Standard and metric hand tools (socket set, combination wrenches, Allen/Hex keys, Torx bits)
- Torque wrench (capable of Harley head-bolt torque specs and sequence)
- Angle gauge (if your service manual specifies torque-angle for head bolts)
- Feeler gauges
- Soft-faced mallet
- Gasket scraper or plastic razor scraper
- Brake cleaner or non-residue solvent for gasket surfaces
- Shop rags and lint-free towels
- Thread chaser or tap for head bolt holes (if needed)
- Straightedge (to check head/cylinder deck flatness if heads were overheated)
- Piston ring compressor and micrometers (only if you go deeper than top-end gasket work)
Pro Tips
- Always verify that the head gasket bore and thickness in kit C9161 match your piston size and desired compression ratio.
- Dry-fit heads and cylinders first to confirm proper alignment dowels and that gaskets sit correctly on locating dowels.
- Clean head and cylinder surfaces thoroughly with a plastic scraper and non-residue solvent; surfaces must be smooth, dry, and free of old gasket material.
- Use a calibrated torque wrench and follow the Harley-Davidson service manual torque sequence and steps exactly for head bolts and rocker box fasteners.
- If installing with high-compression pistons or performance cams, check piston-to-valve and piston-to-head clearance with clay or solder before final assembly.
- After first heat cycle, re-check for oil and coolant (if applicable) leaks around head, base, and rocker gaskets and verify proper engine operation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Reusing old head bolts or torque-to-yield hardware when the service manual requires replacement
- Not following the specified head bolt torque sequence and stages for Twin Cam engines
- Installing MLS head gaskets on dirty, scratched, or uneven head/cylinder surfaces
- Using RTV/silicone or sealants on MLS head gaskets where none is specified
- Mixing up pushrods or rocker components if applicable (not keeping valvetrain parts in order)
- Failing to properly bleed hydraulic lifters or adjust pushrods (where adjustable pushrods are used)
- Not verifying piston-to-valve and piston-to-head clearance after a performance build with thinner gaskets
Comparison vs Stock/OEM
Cometic EST MLS head gaskets are designed as a performance and durability upgrade over typical OEM composite-style gaskets used on many Twin Cam engines.
Improvements
- Multi-layer steel (MLS) construction designed to better handle high cylinder pressures and high-compression builds
- Improved long-term sealing under repeated heat cycles compared to many OEM composite gaskets when surfaces are properly prepared
- More consistent bore and thickness options for tuning compression ratio in performance builds
Considerations
- Requires very clean, smooth, and flat head and cylinder surfaces for best sealing; more sensitive to surface prep than some composite OEM gaskets
- May transmit slightly more mechanical noise than softer composite gaskets due to metal construction
- Must match bore and thickness to the exact engine build; ordering the wrong spec can adversely affect compression and clearance
Durability & Warranty
Expected Lifespan
When installed correctly on flat, clean surfaces and used within design limits, MLS head gaskets are typically comparable to or longer-lasting than OEM gaskets over many tens of thousands of miles.
Warranty
Cometic generally offers a manufacturer warranty against defects in materials and workmanship; specific terms and length should be checked on the product packaging or Cometic’s official documentation.
Maintenance
No periodic maintenance on the gasket itself; monitor for any signs of oil weep or combustion leakage around head and base joints. Follow standard Harley-Davidson maintenance intervals for valve-train inspection and engine health.
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