Head gasket

by **big_gareth** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 11:56 am

I have a slight oil leak from my head gasket, is it worth changing or just giving it a nip up? I don't fancy popping a thread so i haven't tried anything yet. the motor is out the frame because Im stripping and spraying it. its a bandit motor if that helps.

Cheers Gareth.

by **Captain Chaos** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 12:02 pm

big_gareth wrote:I have a slight oil leak from my head gasket, is it worth changing or just giving it a nip up? I don't fancy popping a thread so i haven't tried anything yet. the motor is out the frame because Im stripping and spraying it. its a bandit motor if that helps.

Cheers Gareth.

it being a Bandit motor doesn't help. You would not only need to replace the head gasket, but also the four drain pipe o-rings on the front. Use original Suzuki ones unless you want to do the job twice.

Are you sure it's leaking from the head gasket? If the rocker cover gaskets around the spark plug holes have not been installed correctly and start leaking, oil is coming from (one of) the spark plug drain holes just above the head gasket on the front of the engine.

by **Baldrick** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 2:11 pm

As the motor is out of the frame it would make sense to change it, no?
Use genuine suszuki gaskets, and oil o rings, as the captain says. and make sure they are seated right before dropping the head down on to them.
Also, torque the head bolts down in the correct sequence, and make sure you re-anneal the copper head washers, cos you don't want it to leak, and ten minutes with a blow torch is a small price to pay. heat them cherry red, then quench in cold water, and they can be reused.
Use new o rings to the stud s as well. You could chance it, but they are cheap as chips.. remember the torque wrench
if you have gaskacinch, use this too, but its not vital for the layered head gaskets, its just extra insurance.
There is a product for sealing the rubber cyl head ring down in its groove (man) , but i can't remember what its called cos im old and have a crap memory, and when you have done all this, you will have no head based worries for many many miles.
I could also add that i have personally never been succesful nipping up gaskets when they have started to blow. , but i have the luck of Jonah, on a bad day!!

good luck

Oh rememer to do the valve clearances too.

by **big_gareth** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 8:39 am

It could be coming from above the head gasket, i wasn't sure if whilst riding wind was blowing oil up in to that gap in the head where the long bolt is, I'll give robinsons a bell and get some kit ordered. i have never replaced one before can i take the head off with the pistons in or do i need to remove them from the crank?