Head Gasket Anger

Don't forget new o-ring's

Dont feel bad. I just built my motor and got it all together and my base gasket leaks like a mofo. I got it pull it off and try to find a fiber base gasket instead of a copper base gasket.

I don't know what bike your working on but if it is a 1000 cc engine be very CAREFULL when removing the head. You can disturb the base gasket and not know it then when you put it back together you get an oil leak at the base.

Powerstroke_fan

Do you put the copper base on dry. I always use Gasket Synch, both sides, have never had one (can't remember any) leak.

don

Do Not Surface the head if it is warped!!!!

APE Jay wrote: Do Not Surface the head if it is warped!!!!

Please expound kind sir

Did you use original or new one piece with rubber O-ring...?

BTW, try not to get get angry with her for she's 30 years old after all, just part of life building these old beauties back to their previous magnificent glory...

It was a new gasket, and I used the two rubber o-rings at each side.

Old Man Rock wrote: Did you use original or new one piece (Gasket maker in the O-ring groove) or two piece head gasket with rubber O-ring...?

BTW, try not to get get angry with her for she's 30 years old after all, just part of life building these old beauties back to their previous magnificent glory...

It was a new gasket, and I used the two rubber o-rings at each side.

steell wrote:

APE Jay wrote: Do Not Surface the head if it is warped!!!!

Please expound kind sir

The way these overhead cam cylinder heads are made is from the flat head surface, the cam journals are line bored.

If you remove the head, and it has a warp or bow in it, so does the cam bores. Most I have seen that had slight bow, when reinstalled with good studs, pulls the bow out and the cam bores are straight once again.

We have had cases where the head had signaficant bow, and we put it in the press and bent it back close enough that the studs could handle the rest.

If however, you have the head off the motor and it is bowed or warped, and you surface it flat, the cam bores are now perminately screwed.

We do surface heads, to remove imprefections, raise compression, etc, but never to remove bow or warp.

steell wrote: You can not put RTV on a head gasket and expect it to seal.

Yes, you need a new gasket, and don't use anything on it.

+1 never use RTV on a head gasket. There is some spray on copper adhesive specifically made for head gaskets, but you should not need it with a new gasket if the metal surfaces have been properly cleaned.

Make sure and clean the RTV off completely.

Powerstroke_fan wrote: Dont feel bad. I just built my motor and got it all together and my base gasket leaks like a mofo.

My 750 twin came from the factory with very strong sealer on the base gasket. Unbeleivably hard to get the cylinder off, the gasket stayed sealed to both surfaces and tore in half when it separated. I guess they didn't want it to leak.....

APE Jay wrote:

steell wrote:

APE Jay wrote: Do Not Surface the head if it is warped!!!!

Please expound kind sir

The way these overhead cam cylinder heads are made is from the flat head surface, the cam journals are line bored.

If you remove the head, and it has a warp or bow in it, so does the cam bores. Most I have seen that had slight bow, when reinstalled with good studs, pulls the bow out and the cam bores are straight once again.

We have had cases where the head had signaficant bow, and we put it in the press and bent it back close enough that the studs could handle the rest.

If however, you have the head off the motor and it is bowed or warped, and you surface it flat, the cam bores are now perminately screwed.

We do surface heads, to remove imprefections, raise compression, etc, but never to remove bow or warp.

I would be curious what a "signaficant bow" is? 2 thousands across the whole head gasket surface??
4 thousnads??

Do you mount the head in some type of fixture to bend it back close?? Are you using hydraulic pressure of some sort to bend it back?

Are you heating the head up before you attempt this??

You have sparked my curiosity on this one!!! Makes a bunch of sense on what you said about the cam journal alignment though.