headgasket question

[Iceman71]

Got a quick question here,

I have an 850GLZ that has recently developed a head gasket leak on the right side at cylinder #4, it started about 2 weeks ago as a seep and has been getting worse since ( I end up with a wet stain on the block at the head/block seam.) I completely cleaned up the surface where the stain was and drove it to work (about 60 kms round trip), and on returning the stain was back. I don't drive the bike hard and I really neeed it to last until at least the 25th of October as that is when i go in for my driving test.
My question is this, can I try a retorque of the outer 2 bolts on cyl 4 (just tighten them back down to spec, or do I back them off a bit and then tighten to spec?), and will I cause damage to the engine by driving witth this leak (this is the transportation I use to get to work and back?)

thanks for any help..

[Dink]

Yes you can fairly safely ride it for another three weeks, leep an eye on the oil level.
You could try re-torquing the head (the entire head) follow the correct sequence, as you do each nut back it off a quarter of a turn and then re-torque it to spec (only loosen one nut at a time!!!) do it with the motor overnight stone cold!!!

Dink

[Iceman71]

Dink,

Thanks for the advice, I was hoping I could limp the old girl along until the 25th. As it is an 82 with about 25k on the clicker I didn't think it was anything other than age that was causing the problem but not yet being very familiar with bike and with no manual yet an no specs, I am kinda up against the wall right now.
I plan on tearing it down completely this winter (providing I can lay my hands on a shop manual) an freshen everything up.

[mark]

right, don't just torque the outer bolts (or nuts really), retorque the head from the inside out in proper order.

[Road_Clam]

Blowing a 22+ year old GS head gasket is very common. (myself included). The gaskets simply become brittle, break down and start weeping. Many have tried a quickie re-torque with no luck. My h/g $hit the bed 100 mi AFTER my total restoration, man was I SOOOOOOO pi$$ed off. I pulled my whole engine out during the winter to extract a broken valve cover bolt, then in the spring, after only 100 mi. my head gasket started spitting oil in the front near the cam chain passage! Needless to say I DO know how to do a top end on a GS..

PLEASE take this tip...... if you do end up replacing the head gasket, spend a few more dollars and replace the BASE gasket. You will disturb the cylinder yanking off the head, and I guarantee down the road the base gasket will start weeping if you don't put a fresh one on!

[Iceman71]

Thanks alot guys!

Your advice has been great, I think I am just going to park it until the 25th...as I don't think retorquing will probubaly help too much ( this bike had sat outside for who knows how long before I found it, and like road clam and mark said the gaskets are likely brittle as all get out), then i'll when I do the tear down this winter i'll have a better idea what I need.
besides without the manual or the specs...just don't want to warp the head or make the leak so bad it's not drivable.

once again thanks to all who offer their hard earned advice, it is greatly appreciated!!!