Blown Head Gasket

[Sentinel]

My bike is a 1983 Suzuki GS450E.

Tonight I noticed I've got a blown head gasket. This is a job I've never done myself, so I'm here just asking for any pointers, tips, or whatever other info you can share with me that my help me get it done right.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Big Rich]

It's not too bad - just read what you can in the service manual. Pay special attention to the cam chain tensioner, cylinder stud torque order (they are numbered 1-8 on the head too), and make sure everything goes back on the same orientation it came off.

Now is a great time to check valve seals, replace the crush washers where needed, valve clearances, etc,etc, too.

 

[Guest]

What every do, use Suzuki gaskets only.

 

[posplayr]

Blown head gaskets are usually measured not noticed. What did you notice?

 

[Sentinel]

It's not too bad - just read what you can in the service manual. Pay special attention to the cam chain tensioner, cylinder stud torque order (they are numbered 1-8 on the head too), and make sure everything goes back on the same orientation it came off.

Now is a great time to check valve seals, replace the crush washers where needed, valve clearances, etc,etc, too.

OK, and I just did the valve adjusment too damn it.

What every do, use Suzuki gaskets only.

OK, thanks.

Blown head gaskets are usually measured not noticed. What did you notice?

Seepage.

 

[posplayr]

OK, and I just did the valve adjusment too damn it.

OK, thanks.

Seepage.

Retorque the head and do a compression test; they all seem to leak oil.

 

[Sentinel]

Retorque the head and do a compression test; they all seem to leak oil.

OK, it's really wet and coming from one corner. Thanks for the advice, I had just come to the very painful conclusion that if it did come to having to tear the head down and do the replacement and all else involved with it and fix other things along the way it's time to call it quits on this bike. If the re-torque fails then that will be the end of it for me with this bike. This really sucks, and I'm the original owner. I bought this bike when I was just a teenager. I just don't have the time or place and can't risk the money doing anymore to it. I've already sunk several times over what this bike is even worth over recent years.

 

[posplayr]

Sorry to hear that. Good luck with the retorque. If it doesn't work just park it for a while till you can tackle the job. If it is leaking that bad it is not much better than a parts bike and the time invested to fix it would be well worth it.

 

[Sentinel]

Sorry to hear that. Good luck with the retorque. If it doesn't work just park it for a while till you can tackle the job. If it is leaking that bad it is not much better than a parts bike and the time invested to fix it would be well worth it.

OK, thanks for your help. In my other thread you can see it's also got a drivtrain issue that hasn't been diagnosed, http://thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=222690 and on top of that it needs a new brake rotor, lines, pads, and rear needs at least shoes, and also front and rear wheel barrings (originals still in there) have lost their grease and need replacement soon, and new tires.

Another lose here is that I also recently purchased about $100 in parts to rebuild the carbs and fuel system that I'm out now because I doubt the place I bought them from will let me return them because it's been like 2 months.

Sadly I think it's time to part with my first love and try and find a decent, used, and inexpensive replacement somewhere.

Do you have any advice on how to part out the bike, or should I just sell it to a salvage yard?

 

[Guest]

Where are you located? Probably someone from the forum will buy it from you. Taking it to a salvage yard will net you about $30 bucks

 

[Sentinel]

Where are you located? Probably someone from the forum will buy it from you. Taking it to a salvage yard will net you about $30 bucks

I'm in SoCal, just outside of LA.

 

[Nessism]

How many miles on the engine and what's the cosmetic condition like? I'm in Torrance and always keeping my eyes open for a nice project bike (if the price is right).

Can you send me some photos?

 

[Sentinel]

How many miles on the engine and what's the cosmetic condition like? I'm in Torrance and always keeping my eyes open for a nice project bike (if the price is right).

Can you send me some photos?

It's in "decent" cosmetic condition. The tank has a ding and scrap on the top right edge, and has a dent at the base of the back. One of the mufflers is dented, bu tins spite of that I thin it overall still looks pretty nice. I'll get some pics of it soon. I'm so ****ed about this whole thing. I was really excited about how well it was coming together, and the new clutch made it shift buttery smooth. Oh, the engine has about 14.00 if I remember correctly, and aside form this leaking gasket runs perfectly and strongly. Also I just adjusted the valves.

 

[Nessism]

It's in "decent" cosmetic condition. The tank has a ding and scrap on the top right edge, and has a dent at the base of the back. One of the mufflers is dented, bu tins spite of that I thin it overall still looks pretty nice. I'll get some pics of it soon. I'm so ****ed about this whole thing. I was really excited about how well it was coming together, and the new clutch made it shift buttery smooth. Oh, the engine has about 14.00 if I remember correctly, and aside form this leaking gasket runs perfectly and strongly. Also I just adjusted the valves.

Changing the head gasket isn't the end of the world. Did you keep up with the head nut torque maintenance like the manual dictates? That seems like an often neglected item, right up there with valve adjustment. At any rate, shoot me some photos and give me a ballpark price. I'm not in the market per say, but if it's cheap enough so I don't wind up upside down on the deal after I sink parts money and labor into the thing, than maybe we can work something out.

 

[Sentinel]

Changing the head gasket isn't the end of the world. Did you keep up with the head nut torque maintenance like the manual dictates? That seems like an often neglected item, right up there with valve adjustment. At any rate, shoot me some photos and give me a ballpark price. I'm not in the market per say, but if it's cheap enough so I don't wind up upside down on the deal after I sink parts money and labor into the thing, than maybe we can work something out.

Yeah, I must have overlooked the torquing the head part or just thought I didn't need to or shouldn't for any reason. Tomorrow I'm gong to see if I can possible return this box of new parts I recently bought for the carb and fuel system rebuild. That's over $100 right there.

 

[Sentinel]

UPDATE:

I have since had to purchase another bike because this one was my only personal transportation. Now I've turned my focus back to getting this bike repaired. I re-torqued the head and sure enough no more leakage.

Now I've got to get this electrical issue dealt with. I'll go past in that thread now.