Topic: Blown head gasket?

[noobie dave]

I recently replaced my head gasket on my '78 CB550k.  I looked the other day and saw a little bit of gas or oil around the gasket area of cylinder 1.  a) Does this mean my head gasket is "blown"?  b) Do these bikes need re-torquing after a warm-up when new head gaskets are installed?  I didn't do that.  Might simply re-torquing the head bolts fix my problem?

I had also overfilled the engine with oil substantially (I forgot to center the bike when filling it).  Could this have contributed to the problem?

[Johnny5]

It cant hurt to back off the nuts and retorque. Especially if it's a new gasket. Check it after this, it shouldnt leak anymore.

[speedy gonzalais]

the oil could have come from anywhere and yes the should be re-torqued and the bike would sound different if the gasket had blown and prob wouldnt run all that well.

[WFO]

Just wash it real good so you can observe any new leakage after the re torque.

[KingCustomCycles.com]

Seepage is common with new gaskets as the heat migrates any residual oil out of the cracks and crannies.  Bet you didn't know you had crannies? 

[Patrick]

I had those once, King. They make an ointment for it.....

[kghost]

King respectfully I've never seen a new headgasket on a Honda weep.

Too many O-rings in the oil passages and such.

If you have a seep retorque it.

[noobie dave]

Ok.  I haven't re-torqued it, but I think I might know what the problem is.  Bear with me as I don't know the proper terminology.

When I dissassembled the engine head, there were these small steel dowel pins that joined the oil shaft (that shoots oil up to the cam in the valve cover).  One was stuck, and to remove it I accidentally bent it.  I tried to bend it back to shape when I re-installed it, but it was far from perfect.

So the oil is probably seeping out of that joint, where the dowel pin is warped.

So, question:  is this going to potentially be a serious problem, where I would want to buy new dowel pins and replace them--with the ensuing cost ($75) of buying a new head gasket (because you're not supposed to re-use old ones, right?)?

Or can I just live until my next scheduled head gasket replacement (a few years) knowing that I'll just be burning a little bit of oil?

[speedy gonzalais]

did you replace the o-rings

[noobie dave]

yes, I did replace the O-rings.  The steel dowel itself was warped, though, and likely didn't have a perfect seat against the block. 

[speedy gonzalais]

the dowels just hold the gasket and head in place making them easier to fit, the o-rings seal the oil passage.
Are you sure the oils not running down from the cam? also re-torque those bolts they are made to stretch, Unless there is oil squirting out or a cylinders breached the gasket i wouldnt really worry about it.