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Author Topic: head gasket leaks  (Read 1056 times)

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Offline Neverdie38

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head gasket leaks
« on: June 09, 2013, 06:11:52 PM »
i have a 73' 350F that I just got running after 10 years and head gasket leaks. also i'm building a 74' cb550 and just by cranking over motor by jumping solenoid, the head gasket also leaks. is this a common problem or do I just have bad luck?
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1973 cb350f
1974 cb550 (painted IU theme)
1978 kz400b
1981 cm400a (painted ww2 theme)
1985 xj700

Offline crazypj

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Re: head gasket leaks
« Reply #1 on: June 09, 2013, 06:14:55 PM »
It's common to have oil leak on 550 from ends of block where there is an oil feed but actual gaskets leaking from cylinder are really rare
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Offline Neverdie38

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Re: head gasket leaks
« Reply #2 on: June 09, 2013, 06:15:58 PM »
i am getting oil on fins right where head gasket is. i assumed it was leaking. so is this a serious issue or can i just run it and add oil whenever?
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1973 cb350f
1974 cb550 (painted IU theme)
1978 kz400b
1981 cm400a (painted ww2 theme)
1985 xj700

Offline MCRider

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Re: head gasket leaks
« Reply #3 on: June 09, 2013, 08:39:23 PM »
Quote from: Neverdie38 on June 09, 2013, 06:15:58 PM
i am getting oil on fins right where head gasket is. i assumed it was leaking. so is this a serious issue or can i just run it and add oil whenever?
You can run it as long as you can stand the mess, keeping the level topped up. Some bandaids: Clean very good. Then cram a length of cotton rope in the fins where the headgasket is. A little more aggressive, remove the valve train and retorque the headnuts.

Finally you'll need to pull the head and relace the gasket and ORings.
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Offline crazypj

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Re: head gasket leaks
« Reply #4 on: June 09, 2013, 11:31:52 PM »
I usually wait until leak is '3 fins down' before getting in there and changing gasket/'O' rings
Ended up making a solid copper gasket for 550 and fitting dowels into oil feed,that cured the problem
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I fake being smart pretty good
'you can take my word for it or argue until you find out I'm right'

Offline Neverdie38

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Re: head gasket leaks
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2013, 02:48:19 AM »
wow...well 39 years old doesn't come without problems right?
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1973 cb350f
1974 cb550 (painted IU theme)
1978 kz400b
1981 cm400a (painted ww2 theme)
1985 xj700

Offline crazypj

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Re: head gasket leaks
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2013, 07:19:39 PM »
Dunno, I did mine in 1979  ;D
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I fake being smart pretty good
'you can take my word for it or argue until you find out I'm right'

Offline Neverdie38

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Re: head gasket leaks
« Reply #7 on: June 11, 2013, 07:02:10 PM »
haha touche!
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1973 cb350f
1974 cb550 (painted IU theme)
1978 kz400b
1981 cm400a (painted ww2 theme)
1985 xj700
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