Replacing the Head gasket

[bostrom155]

Hello everyone,
Well I've had enough of the leaking oil, I have it down to the front head gasket, where the cam chain is basically. I'm going to go ahead and replace this gasket myself, starting this weekend, plan to have it down most of the summer to do other repairs. BEFORE I start to break it down is thier anything I should check. After doing some reading I'm going to get a compression gauge this weekend and test that. Anything else. I want to do valves and cam componets aswell. maybe[-o<

[Boozy Creek Beast]

Is the head leaking bad? What year is the bike? Did you re-toqure the bolts first? Over the years with the engine heating up and cooling down head bolts can there Toqure. My 1100 had that problem and after re-toqureing the head it took care of the problem. If your need to proceed buy a complete gaskit kit and replace everything. Better to replace them all the first time than to have another one start leaking and then need to take it apart again.

The Beast

[ericox]

Its hard to say without knowing the details on the engine, like milieage.

[Jethro]

Many folks do not torque the head down at the required intervals causing leaks and such. Make sure you loosen the bolts first before torquing them.

[retrex]

Done this too.

Many folks do not torque the head down at the required intervals causing leaks and such. Make sure you loosen the bolts first before torquing them.

I would also loosen the exhaust bolts and maybe slip them off. I have done this in the past before retorquing the head bolts. My thinking is that the headers can cause upward force on the head if left solidly attached both to the frame and head. My .02

[Big Jay]

You should have a leak-down test done before tearing it down. It can tell you things that need service that you might miss with visual inspection.


Also, if you are going to try the retorquing, DO NOT LOOSEN THE NUTS FIRST.

Jay

[bostrom155]

You should have a leak-down test done before tearing it down. It can tell you things that need service that you might miss with visual inspection.
Also, if you are going to try the retorquing, DO NOT LOOSEN THE NUTS FIRST.
Jay

I tried retorquing the head bolts, a few times last winter. The Odo says 50,000, Its a 1082 GS1100E.
never heard of a leak down test, I'll lookinto it, so at least a compression test, then, and yes it's leaking real bad now, dripping on my pipes at the traffic light smoke everywhere.

[Road_Clam]

The Odo says 50,000, Its a 1082 GS1100E.

Your bike must be a VERY EARLY year production run, I don't even think they had horse drawn buggies back in 1082.....

50K is a LOT of mi., dude. That engine even well maintained is SPENT. Yoy can try a simple re-ring/re-gasket, but I think you will be throwing good money for bad in this specific case. I about guarantee the head needs to be rebuilt.

[bostrom155]

50K is a LOT of mi., dude. That engine even well maintained is SPENT. Yoy can try a simple re-ring/re-gasket, but I think you will be throwing good money for bad in this specific case. I about guarantee the head needs to be rebuilt.

Thats not good, I dont want to get rid of the bike, but hopefully the compression test will be ok. A rebuild will be way more than I want to spend this year

[Boozy Creek Beast]

For a bike that old even as great as it is you would spend almost more than its worth haveing it rebuilt. Replace the gaskits to stop the leaking. That will allow you to get back on the road. If you are like most of us at this site working on the bikes are more than half of the fun. At least that is how it is at my shop.

The Beast

[edbot]

Seems to be a difference of opinion on whether or not to loosen nuts before retorquing. Which is it?

[bostrom155]

Seems to be a difference of opinion on whether or not to loosen nuts before retorquing. Which is it?

Well when i did it last winter I did not loosen first, maybe I should try this.

[Ghostgs1]

Never heard of loosening bolts prior to retorquing a head or any compressed gasket. I would be afraid the gasket could tear or crack. Ray