Topic: Options for a Warped Head '76 CB550

[cleodius]

So I blew the head gasket on my CB550 about a month ago, and after pulling the head and replacing the head gasket with gasket sealer there was still smoke coming from the gasket space. I pulled it a second time to make sure everything was sitting properly and after replacing, the same thing happened, in the same spot. It's very possible that my engine overheated and the head warped, since I have no gauges whatsoever 0__o 

So I'm wondering if its possible to have my head machined back to spec, I read about this somewhere but I'm just concerned about the integrity of the head if its warped pretty bad. Should I just buy a new head, will all '70 years be compatible?  Oh and I noticed little notches on the outside of the head gasket, the front right notch is where the air keeps escaping, is the gasket only compatible one way or could I have possibly put it on wrong?


This is my first post since I've only had my bike since April, I love the site and my bike! Thanks!

[lucky]

When the head is off you need to put it on a flat surface and try putting a thickness gauge between the flat surface and the cylinder head.

Since you do not know where that tab was supposed to be on the gasket, it could be upside down.

Of course the gasket will need to be replaced now so there will be another chance to get it correct. Some gaskets can go either way. You just have to look at how the gasket lines up with all of the oil galley holes etc.,.

Sometimes you could have a locating sleeve that is too tall, keeping the cylinder head from sitting down all the way if you were working with different engines and parts.
If you torqued the head down on a locating sleeve that was too tall then the head might be warped now.

If you reused a head gasket then that is why it could be leaking.

The head if warped could be resurfaced IF IT IS WARPED. It needs to me measured.

[Stev-o]

Yes, you can have the head machined. Where are you? APE is in Cali and MRiek is near east coast.

[cleodius]

I'm in Evansville IN, I'm going to pull it and take it to my local machine shop to see what they say.

[Stev-o]

I'm in Evansville IN, I'm going to pull it and take it to my local machine shop to see what they say.

Good idea. Let us know what they say.

[trueblue]

You can Machine the head to get it flat but if it is bent far enough it will cause issues with your cam tunnels being out of true.  A good engine reconditioner should be able to pull it back straight with a little clever use of an oxy-acetylene set.  Then it will only need an ever so slight skim on the head facer to give you a flat surface for the gasket to seal on.