Topic: 1979 CB650 Gasket Question

[mcgriffle]

Recently bought a 650 and I've heard the gaskets on this engine can go out fairly easily. There are places where the gasket is squeezed out between the block and the head. There's also a lot of gunk. Is this just normal road and oil residue or is it leaking..? because I can't tell.

I wanted to link a video I uploaded to youtube of the engine but I guess "I'm not allowed to..."?

[davesee]

do you mean squeezed out in an irregular hernia type way, or just that you can see the gasket evenly all the way around? this model is plagued with head gasket leaks, so it's a safe bet it's leaking. it's kinda ghetto, but you can roll up a bit of shop towel and put it next to the gasket leak, and just change it when you wash your bike. if it doesn't use much oil, just ride it.