TOPIC:

swest wrote: I'd go ahead and replace them and be done with it.
Steve

That's where I'm leaning

It must be Halloween! I found a head in a box!

What? You're going to make us wait to see it?
Steve

It's black so it must be an evil Z

I'll post pics when I get a chance to spread stuff out. I have the cylinder block and pistons too. I'm going to prepare to split the engine completely down. No point tearing it half way down just to figure out I have something going in the crank case even if it's just a leaky seal.

I completely forgot that I'd posted this much on this thread!

I was only reminded of it because i was trying to find a thread I started about bike and helmet cams that seems to have disappeared. Oh well, no one seemed interested anyway.

So I've been in a complete slump on this bike. I started just taking things off about a month ago just because If I didn't make the point of it It would never get done. I got the complete top end apart a few weeks ago and it took until this morning to verify that the cam chain is within serviceable limits so i don't have to tear it down any further.... for now.

Here it is as of now.




So I guess I need to look at the rings on the pistons that came with my replacement cylinders to see if they need replacement. Does anyone have a good guide for evaluating them? They looked pretty good when I pulled them out of the box but i'm far from being an expert.

I guess I then need to order a set of gaskets and seals so i can get it back together. I hope nothing is too much of a pain. One thing I should mention is i bought a '78 head instead of a '79 because of the price and I hope that isn't going to be an issue.

OK so I went with swest's recommendations and loaded up my ebay shopping cart with his gasket guy's stuff. I just need to get the money from my brother to buy them. I don't see a one piece head gasket option so I guess i'll get it from him as well.

I do need an ignition timing housing and cover. Some PO had an over-sized mismatched aftermarket cover forced on to it, The mismatched screws were bent to get it to seat. Since the threads are probably toast I want to get the whole thing. At least it's a separate piece on these engines. So the quest begins.

Look for Cometic head gaskets on eBay.
Steve

swest wrote: Look for Cometic head gaskets on eBay.
Steve

Got it!

Can't find the 1015 cc/ 70 mm bore size. Would the 1075 cc/72 mm be OK?

That will work. I have one in mine.
Steve

So I have the gaskets on the way. Most of them anyway. I couldn't find another one piece head gasket so i just got the 2 piece. That's OK I'm just trying to get it running right now.

It also occurred to me as i was looking at the cam cover gasket that the cover is going to be different too. So I have one off a 77 on the way for $35. I'm sure it's not the prettiest but like I said I'm just trying to get it running. i'll pull the head, cylinders and pistons out of the box this weekend and give the rings a good look to see if I need to replace those too.