SuzukiSavage.com - head gasket replacement

sunny Senior Member 2004 No Login Offline rock this town Posts: 293 d/fw texas Gender:	Re: head gasket replacement Reply #15 - 09/01/04 at 07:43:34 judging from the friend's reaction when i told him about this problem, this is a difficult thing to do. am i correct? or is he just being a control freak again?
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Savage_Greg

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Re: head gasket replacement
Reply #16 - 09/01/04 at 14:37:07

sunny wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09:

judging from the friend's reaction when i told him about this problem, this is a difficult thing to do.
am i correct?
or is he just being a control freak again?

Well, this ain't just shade tree experiments with jets Tongue

First, you have to have tools, a torque wrench, a manual, and the patience to do it yourself. If you want.

It can be done with the engine in the bike, but I won't kid you, you have a lot of work to do. You'll have to seal the headcover, the plug, and adjust the valves too. I can guide you through it, if you are committed. Here is what it looks like....

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sunny Senior Member 2004 No Login Offline rock this town Posts: 293 d/fw texas Gender:	Re: head gasket replacement Reply #17 - 09/22/04 at 08:32:28 update: in light of the fact that it was only seeping a little and i still had compression i opted to just wait. now this morning it is doing a slow very messy, drip. but i still have full compression. so tonight i am going to see if the bolts need tightening.
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Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: head gasket replacement Reply #18 - 09/23/04 at 03:06:47 sunny wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09: update: ....so tonight i am going to see if the bolts need tightening. How are you going to do that ???
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sunny

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Re: head gasket replacement
Reply #19 - 09/24/04 at 07:38:13

didn't get to it due to getting sick. blech.

but aren't there two bolts on the cam chain tunnel side to hold the upper part to the lower part?
i'll look and see.

the part of the engine where the head gasket actually is located is still clean. and it's still clean underneath the plug. just from the seam downward, very big mess.

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AL_DOWN_UNDER Ex Member	;DRe: head gasket replacement Reply #20 - 09/24/04 at 13:59:57 ANYBODY NOT SURE IF ITS THE PLUG OR THE HEAD GASKET . THERE IS A SIMPLE TEST WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD PUSH SOME WHITE RAG DOWN THE COOLING VENT NEXT TO THE EXHAUST PORT . LET IT SIT OVER NIGHT, THEN PULL IT OUT IN THE MORNING IF ITS GOT OIL ON IT THEN YOUR PLUGS LEAKING.
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Savage_Greg

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Re: head gasket replacement
Reply #21 - 09/25/04 at 02:22:36

sunny wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09:

didn't get to it due to getting sick. blech.

but aren't there two bolts on the cam chain tunnel side to hold the upper part to the lower part?
i'll look and see.

the part of the engine where the head gasket actually is located is still clean. and it's still clean underneath the plug. just from the seam downward, very big mess.

There are 2 nuts, front and rear center, for 2 upside down studs for the head, but I don't believe that just tightening them will help anything. There are also 2 chrome nuts on the cam chain tunnel for the cylinder (near the crankcase). Again, those only hold the cylinder. Any other "tightening" requires the head cover removal.

You say that it is NOT the plug, right?

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sunny

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Re: head gasket replacement
Reply #22 - 09/27/04 at 07:41:25

head seal plug
i am not so sure now.

but what i find incredibly unclear is just where in this array of pictures the bleeping head seal plug is?

all bolts were properly tight when i and my friend checked them this weekend.
i changed the oil and filter saturday and now the right side of the engine is covered in a nice film of clear, clean oil...

i am feeling very frustrated by my own incompetance.

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Savage_Greg

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Re: head gasket replacement
Reply #23 - 09/28/04 at 02:33:24

sunny wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09:

head seal plug
i am not so sure now.

but what i find incredibly unclear is just where in this array of pictures the bleeping head seal plug is?

all bolts were properly tight when i and my friend checked them this weekend.
i changed the oil and filter saturday and now the right side of the engine is covered in a nice film of clear, clean oil...

i am feeling very frustrated by my own incompetance.

He has a photo there (in that amazing collection) but it is a little fuzzy. This is the plug...

It is located above this nut....

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Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: head gasket replacement Reply #24 - 09/28/04 at 02:48:59 And I should refer you to this topic, where I posted about the same problem as discussed in Rider magazine. To tighten cylinder head nuts or not? PS- I got a general confirmation email back from Rider, and I'm waiting to see their answer
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sunny

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Re: head gasket replacement
Reply #25 - 09/28/04 at 08:14:19

looking at all the pictures, it looks that the head seal plug is a new problem. oh boy.

i reckon that when i decom the bike for winter that replacing the gasket will solve the earlier problem of seeping because the seeping wasn't coming from where the plug leakage is, which is around the front. the seeping was only on the right side...

and i'll prolly get the plug done this weekend. ::crosses fingers::

twofold problem=pita

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Munson_kl279

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Re: head gasket replacement
Reply #26 - 09/28/04 at 10:52:01

I'm having the same problem with my '86. But it seems to be seeping around the whole area. I haven't really had any problems thus far and it really only seems to happen badly when I've been riding for a longer period of time (more than 1-1/2 to 2 hours straight riding).

I figure since it's almost time for the snow to fly I'll live with it the way it is and when I take the whole bike apart this winter I'll fix it then.

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