Topic: Blown head gasket *

[josherr]

Hi i got a 75 CB 550 about a year ago and finally had the time to put it together and even did a top end rebuild with new gaskets and valve guides and I took it to a shop to finish the electrical and get it running and he calls me back and tells me I have a blown head gasket and will cost upwards of 1500 to fix
So I just wanted to get some feedback on different opinions on what I could do

I was really looking forwards to riding this summer went ahead and got my license and my gear but now that's on hold .... What a bummer




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[calj737]

"Blown head gasket" is generally a reference to a water-cooled engine. These are air-cooled. So, exactly what does "blown" mean in his vocabulary?

If the bike is not running, how has he discovered or determined there is an oil leak necessitating replacement? And honestly, I would not pay a shop $1,500 to replace a head gasket when it is likely not the issue (if there is a legitimate issue) anyway.

Under your valve cover, there are 8 rubber "pucks" that need to be installed above the head stud nuts. Did you get and install new ones? Did you install the head, torque the head properly (with a torque wrench) and repeat the process after 24 hours? If not, its very possible the head needs simply to be re-torqued.

So, lets get some more details before you authorize $1,500!!!!

[Swoop]

"Blown head gasket" is generally a reference to a water-cooled engine. These are air-cooled. So, exactly what does "blown" mean in his vocabulary?

If the bike is not running, how has he discovered or determined there is an oil leak necessitating replacement? And honestly, I would not pay a shop $1,500 to replace a head gasket when it is likely not the issue (if there is a legitimate issue) anyway.

Under your valve cover, there are 8 rubber "pucks" that need to be installed above the head stud nuts. Did you get and install new ones? Did you install the head, torque the head properly (with a torque wrench) and repeat the process after 24 hours? If not, its very possible the head needs simply to be re-torqued.

So, lets get some more details before you authorize $1,500!!!!

+1

[Duanob]

Get your bike out of that shop ASAP. Obviously the guy is looking for cash from some poor sucker.

[madmtnmotors]

Shyster alert! Take your bike back pronto! Pay for the work that has been done and get your bike back.

[josherr]

Alright I did a top end rebuild with the following


And I installed these rubber seals



And bought this video and followed the dudes instructions

I can't remember what I I exactly torqued it too but I did not do it twice

And when I got it back in the frame and added oil it started leaking oil from the top








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[calj737]

So when you poured oil in the "top" it began leaking... where? Did you fill the oil via the dipstick hole by chance instead and just add some oil to the top end?

The reason I ask is, these engines pump oil up from the bottom end. So unlike a car, you don't pour oil through the valve cover (at least not all of it) and expect it to drain. So quite possibly its literally overfilled. Or theres more to your issue.

It seems you did a lot of the things correctly. But there are nuances to doing them that perhaps can solve your problems. Any picture of where its leaking? And most importantly, did it leak while sitting or after/during running?