Head Gasket Replacement from oil leak KZ1000

Sandy wrote:

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:

No, dude.... the powder coating is to make the frame oil proof from the leak spray.:laugh:

donthekawguy wrote:

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.

I've had such rotten service with valve seals I would replace them for sure and you might as well lap the valves.

check valve cover gasket and cam plugs 1st,you might be suprised.

Old Man Rock wrote:

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

In theory u should not need sealant on the head gasket. But u know how those theories turn out.
I can speak of my personal experience and that has been that the kz’s like to leak, and extra measures make me feel more confident.
I have 1000miles on my last build with a fiber had gasket and no sealer. It is starting to seep at the ends ,at the small bolts. I have retorqued to no avail. !0:1 pistons with 40 ft.lb torque,(stock torque is about 32 I think)
I have heard from a guy that has built a dozen KZ motors and swares by Copper coat on fiber gaskets. I may try that next myself. I talked to Fast by Gast recently and he advises a skim of silicone around the 4 corner studs on both sides of the gasket.
I also had to reseal every stock gasket with silicone after every 1 seeped with no sealant.

All done and thanks for all the insight (and humor). So far no leaks and it was obvious where the old gasket was bad around the oil gallery. There were four shims out of tolerance and the local cycle shop was kind enough to simply exchange for the correct size with me.