Head Gasket Replacement from oil leak KZ1000

I have a 77 KZ1000A1 with 15k miles that is new to me this year. The head gasket has an oil leak on the front left that started slow and is now to the point where it's on my boot when at highway speeds. (the head gasket is definitely the source)

I have read the process of changing the head gasket in the manual and feel fairly comfortable in doing it myself.

1) Would you use any gasket sealers on the head or valve covers? There are so many opinions, but I sure don't want to have to do it again.

2) With so few miles and it has been running well, is it recommended to check valve clearances, or is that only necessary for higher miles?

I would appreciate any insight

Welcome,Oldkaw.
Just for the hell of it,try torquing the head nuts,and see if that makes a difference,before you tear the top end off.You MAY get lucky.
And yes,you probably should check the valve clearances with 15k on the clock.You don't know if and when it was done last.

the answer to your first question is no sealers are needed or nessesary, just make sure you do a very good job of cleaning gasket surfaces use gasket remover and let it soak for a few minites then scrape it off. you might have to do this a few times as the gasket will be baked on pretty good don't use any abrasives you don't want to gouge the surfaces. and yes to the second question adjust the valves your going to have the valve cover off anyway.

My 750 twin head gasket has seeped oil ever since it was new, including two rebuilds. It seeps at the very front where the gasket area is thinnest. I have had the head and cylinder verified for flatness, the thing just seeps oil.

Kawi put some small 10mm bolts pointing upward into the head at the very front and rear on my engine so they clearly knew about the problem.

As far as sealers, a head gasket should not need it. If it continues to seep, they do make copper based spray on sealers that may help.

My "fix" is to roll up a small section of paper towel and use a popsicle stick tp force it in between the fins at the front where the gasket seeps to keep the oil from migrating left and right.

copper coat only works on copper gaskets all it does is fill in imperfections in the copper.

timebomb33 wrote:

copper coat only works on copper gaskets all it does is fill in imperfections in the copper.

I thought all the OEM type head gaskets for the bigger Kawis were copper sheets over fiber innards. Mine is.

yes they are but when you are racing you have straight copper head gaskets and the copper coat fills in imperfections in the surface it wouldn't work on fiber covered stock type head gaskets.

I had the same problem with my bike. Re-torquing the head fixed the problem temporarily for me. But the head gasket needed to be changed.

blown head gasket

Definitely don't use sealant on the head gasket and don't use sealant on the valve cover gasket.

Checking valve clearance is a very simple maintenance task. You should check your valve clearance.

I appreciate the input. I am tearing it down to powdercoat the frame and will know in a month or two if that cures the leak. Thanks again

77oldkaw wrote:

I am tearing it down to powdercoat the frame and will know in a month or two if that cures the leak. Thanks again

Just so you know,powdercoating the frame won't cure an oil leak.:laugh:

Sandy, that wasn't nice... hahahahahahaha :laugh:

Question, why not use a very light coat of gasket sealer in conjunction with your gaskets?

Wouldn't that fill in small blemishes, nic's, imperfections and such...

Edit NOTE: I realize that spec dictates not required, don't use but on a 30 year old bike and if the cases aren't not true, is there a problem with using a sealer should be the question.

Not trying to start a flame war, just trying to educate my old ass mind... Knowledge is power....

OMR

When I got my 77 last summer it had around 14K on it. The valves were all really tight and it looked like no one had been in the motor ever. If your going with a new head gasket take the extra hour and check the valves.