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Author Topic: Leaking head gasket.  (Read 1930 times)

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Offline tylersilicate

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Leaking head gasket.
« on: August 18, 2011, 04:45:42 PM »
I have a very slow oil drip coming from my head gasket. It looks the gasket set will be around $100 and the guy who wants to put it in said he charges $350 in labor.

Does this seem reasonable, and is it that big of a deal? I don't really mind having it leak oil.. but I don't want my engine to blow up or something while I am riding it?

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Offline MCRider

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Re: Leaking head gasket.
« Reply #1 on: August 18, 2011, 04:52:17 PM »
What bike?

If its a CB750, they'll live forever with a leaky head cheeze. Its just a nuisance. Its usually the low pressure return side of the system that's leaking. If it was the high pressure side (2 spots, one on either side of the cam chain tunnel on the back side) you'd worry but I've never seen one leak there.

The prices are reasonable .

Many have just stuck a length of cotton rope in the fins to absorb it and change it out every now and then.
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Offline tylersilicate

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Re: Leaking head gasket.
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2011, 04:54:57 PM »
DOH! sorry I thought i put the bike in.

1978 cb550k
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Offline WarwickE36

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Re: Leaking head gasket.
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2011, 05:37:14 PM »
Run it, mine leaks there too.  I replaced Cam Pucks and valve cover to address my leaks.  I took care of about 80% but the head still leaks.  I just take a paper towl to it every week or so. 

Take care of it when you need to do more major motor work.
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You made me think about it after I cheered knowing someone else would like to know what these control freaks are up to.
 Every time any owner strips whatever precious Honda part the horrified purists parts go up in value. That's not the part that bothers them.
 What bothers them is they sat up late at night, their breast full of wonder and estrogen, unable to sleep, dreaming about their lovely darling and all her glory... and next thing you know someone else doesn't share their emotional deluge and their reaction is they must spread their mind museum as far as they possibly can, taking over as much of the real world as possible.

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Offline Duanob

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Re: Leaking head gasket.
« Reply #4 on: August 19, 2011, 09:51:51 AM »
Just stuff a tampon in each side of the engine where the head meets the cylinders, check the oil level every so often, fix it yourself next winter. It's a pair of 25 cent o-rings that dries out and leaks.
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Offline bryanj

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Re: Leaking head gasket.
« Reply #5 on: August 20, 2011, 06:22:14 AM »
Yup it is the "O" rings BUT you need to replace every gasket down to base gasket to do the job right, HondaFRT time is 3 hours but with gasket cleaning i would say 4.5, as i don't know the US  labour rates i cannot comment on cost
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Offline ADW

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Re: Leaking head gasket.
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2012, 02:39:57 PM »
Quote from: MCRider on August 18, 2011, 04:52:17 PM
Many have just stuck a length of cotton rope in the fins to absorb it and change it out every now and then.

How much/how long/where do you put in the rope? I have some rope, but do you just stuff say a couple inches in around the front corner of the fin area where the head and cylinders meet? Or do you run it all around the groove where the head and cylinders meet the full circumference of the head (as much as is practical).

I understand completely what we're doing here, but don't know whether I need just a bit of rope at the o-ring area or whether you run a fairly long hunk of it. Thanks in advance for the help!
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Offline jonnycakes

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Leaking head gasket.
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2012, 02:49:32 PM »
My CB750 started leaking shortly after a rebuild. Took off the cam and torqued the head back to spec. Stopped the leak.
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Offline lucky

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Re: Leaking head gasket.
« Reply #8 on: February 10, 2012, 02:58:34 PM »
Quote from: tylersilicate on August 18, 2011, 04:45:42 PM
I have a very slow oil drip coming from my head gasket. It looks the gasket set will be around $100 and the guy who wants to put it in said he charges $350 in labor.

Does this seem reasonable, and is it that big of a deal? I don't really mind having it leak oil.. but I don't want my engine to blow up or something while I am riding it?

« Last Edit: February 10, 2012, 03:02:44 PM by lucky »
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Offline Duanob

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Re: Leaking head gasket.
« Reply #9 on: February 10, 2012, 03:00:47 PM »
I'm in the process of changing my headgasket right now because of this leak. I did the top end last winter and the after market gasket never did fit right on the left side around the oil passage. I thought if I torqued it down it would be fine. Wrong! I've gone through too many pairs of pants and my left boot is covered in oily dirt. I have to have an oil pan underneath whenever I park it inside the garage.

I bought an OEM gasket for $65 but those o-rings have proven yet again to be a huge PITA! I couldn't find them anywhere in the US! Couldn't find anything close locally. I finally bought them from powersportsplus.com but even they had to buy them in and that took 7 days. My head has been off the bike for 2 weeks. I just got the o-rings and pucks yesterday so I'm ready to go. This time I plan on spraying the gasket with copper gasket sealer and spray a little heavy around the places where oil leaks. Like the oil passages and the front and rear center. I'll let you know how it goes.

Other than that taking the head off isn't a big deal. I had everything off in < 3 hours starting with a running bike.
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"Just because you flush a boatload of money down the toilet, doesn't make the toilet worth more",  My Stepfather the Unknown Poet

1974 CB360T
1976 CB550K2 Resurrected
1976 CB550F2 Barn Find
1979 CX500 VG "HONDA-GUZZI"
2007 Moto Guzzi Breva 750ie
2015 BMW F700GS
Another 1976 CB550K Cafe?

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Offline dhall57

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Re: Leaking head gasket.
« Reply #10 on: February 10, 2012, 04:48:26 PM »
Like it's been discuss in threads before, a little seepage in headgasket area is pretty common on these 40 year old bikes especially the 750's. IMO if your bike or bikes are not show bikes and just ever day riders like mine are until the leakage gets bad I'll continue to use the paper towel trick. Rolled up section of paper towels painted silver and push in between the fins neatly. Hardly noticeable and works great. Try it.
« Last Edit: February 10, 2012, 04:51:22 PM by dhall57 »
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Offline LesterPiglet

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Re: Leaking head gasket.
« Reply #11 on: February 10, 2012, 04:54:49 PM »
Quote from: ADW on February 10, 2012, 02:39:57 PM
Quote from: MCRider on August 18, 2011, 04:52:17 PM
Many have just stuck a length of cotton rope in the fins to absorb it and change it out every now and then.


I understand completely what we're doing here, but don't know whether I need just a bit of rope at the o-ring area or whether you run a fairly long hunk of it. Thanks in advance for the help!

Whatever size you need basically. Try different sizes until you find what works.
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Offline ADW

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Re: Leaking head gasket.
« Reply #12 on: February 10, 2012, 05:41:37 PM »
Quote from: LesterPiglet on February 10, 2012, 04:54:49 PM
Quote from: ADW on February 10, 2012, 02:39:57 PM
Quote from: MCRider on August 18, 2011, 04:52:17 PM
Many have just stuck a length of cotton rope in the fins to absorb it and change it out every now and then.


I understand completely what we're doing here, but don't know whether I need just a bit of rope at the o-ring area or whether you run a fairly long hunk of it. Thanks in advance for the help!

Whatever size you need basically. Try different sizes until you find what works.
Well, I guess I'll stuff the whole perimeter full and keep an eye on it. If it stays fairly dry I guess I can start cutting back.
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Offline LesterPiglet

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Re: Leaking head gasket.
« Reply #13 on: February 10, 2012, 06:06:00 PM »
Dunno about you guys but I wouldn't want to be replacing it every week.
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'Then' and 'than' are completely different words and have completely different meanings. Same with 'of' and 'have'. Set and sit. There, their and they're. Draw and drawer. Could care less/couldn't care less. Bought/brought FFS.


Les Ross.            Certified by a Professional

Offline dhall57

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Re: Leaking head gasket.
« Reply #14 on: February 11, 2012, 04:07:11 AM »
My K6 has some blow back on the sidecovers and a few oil spots on my paint legs, just enough to be bothersome. But with some small section of paper towels between the fins no blow back or oil anywhere. I think I've replaced the paper towels maybe twice last year. As long as it stays like this Im happy ;D This is what I call minor seepage and does not require engine removal unless your just bored to death and want something to do ;)
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1970 CB750KO
1971 CB500KO-project bike
1973 CB350G- project bike
1974 CB750K4-project bike
1974 CB750K4
1976 CB750K6
1977 GL1000
1997 Harley Wideglide

Offline eldar

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Re: Leaking head gasket.
« Reply #15 on: February 11, 2012, 08:39:15 AM »
I don't feel so bad. I have the oily dirt buildup on the sides of my motor. I had a couple of short trails but those wiped off and only happened twice.
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