First, does anyone know whether the rounded side of the copper crush washers under the head bolts (on a CB400f, if it matters) are supposed to face up or down? I feel like I should know this, but I just wanted to make sure. I installed them facing up, BTW, so I hope this was right!
Also, just wanted to double check whether this made sense to do: I recently rebuilt my top-end with a big bore kit and new gaskets. I used a thin film of gray hondabond around the oil passages on the sides of the heads, but still ended up with a very slight, intermittent leak on the left side, even after re-torquing. I will say that while the heads were decked by the machine shop, the mating surface of the jugs were only cleaned up, and I did not think to check for any warpage at the time...
Fast forward to last weekend, and I thought that since I had re-used the old copper crush washers on the rebuild, I'd try replacing those. So I ordered new ones, and replaced them one by one, starting with the outer washers and working my way in, and torquing them to spec as I replaced them. Afterward, I gave the slightest additional turn to all the head bolts in the standard tightening pattern (inside to outside).
My thinking was that the old washers may have outlived their usefulness, and were contributing to the head not sealing all the way. But I that theory could be totally bunk of course! So can anyone tell me, did I replace them the right way, and was it even necessary? Thanks
