Head gasket
- Thread starter IEFVet
- Start date
BWG56
Guru
Don't have to pull the engine
Top-end Rebuild
Top-end Rebuild
SKOGDOG
One of the old ones.
I see many who know what they're talking about say that running hard with a not yet warmed up engine will blow head gaskets....
That's a good thread that Ker posted. It involves the TP rocker boxes, but it's good a step by step. I hope you have a manual and a torque wrench too. Raywood's advice on organization is good. Not a bad idea to take pictures and organize everything as you disassemble it. I use a magnetic bowl for nuts, bolts, and other parts--in fact I use several--one for the rocker box stuff, another for the tappet blocks, etc. Labeled sandwich bags are useful too.
I had a problem with the S&S rocker box bolts stripping when I followed torque specs, so I bought chrome ones 1/4" longer than stock. The extra thread contact helped.
You technically don't have to pull the jugs to replace the head gasket, but you'd be wise to do just that and replace the base gasket. Imagine how you'd feel if after all that work you had the gasket seep at the cylinder base. But you'll need a ring compression tool to re-install the pistons into the jugs.
There are those who insist that if you pull the front, you may as well do both cylinders and install new rings, hone the cylinders, and maybe deck the jugs and install a hotter cam..... But if your engine is good with low miles and the head gasket is the only problem, you can get away with replacing it.
Pay attention to torque specs and Loctite use..I like to clean threads with a wire wheel and clean internal threads with a bottom tap to make sure it goes together right. Here is a chart of most torque specs and what Loctite to use:
That's a good thread that Ker posted. It involves the TP rocker boxes, but it's good a step by step. I hope you have a manual and a torque wrench too. Raywood's advice on organization is good. Not a bad idea to take pictures and organize everything as you disassemble it. I use a magnetic bowl for nuts, bolts, and other parts--in fact I use several--one for the rocker box stuff, another for the tappet blocks, etc. Labeled sandwich bags are useful too.
I had a problem with the S&S rocker box bolts stripping when I followed torque specs, so I bought chrome ones 1/4" longer than stock. The extra thread contact helped.
You technically don't have to pull the jugs to replace the head gasket, but you'd be wise to do just that and replace the base gasket. Imagine how you'd feel if after all that work you had the gasket seep at the cylinder base. But you'll need a ring compression tool to re-install the pistons into the jugs.
There are those who insist that if you pull the front, you may as well do both cylinders and install new rings, hone the cylinders, and maybe deck the jugs and install a hotter cam..... But if your engine is good with low miles and the head gasket is the only problem, you can get away with replacing it.
Pay attention to torque specs and Loctite use..I like to clean threads with a wire wheel and clean internal threads with a bottom tap to make sure it goes together right. Here is a chart of most torque specs and what Loctite to use:
Last edited:
IEFVet
Member
Thanks for the replies. MY father is gonna help me. Rebuilt engines his whole life and is so particular on clean and concise. He has his personal Bike only has alittle over 11K and I just had the compression releases done last year. I noticed the head gasket seeping at a stop and about 3 miles back to home it went out. Not gonna do a complete build.
BadDawg Bill
Well-Known Member
Head gaskets don't blow unless you blow them. If you don't let the bike warm up to the point where you can't touch the heads and rev it up, there goes your head gaskets. If you don't re-torque your heads every 15k - 20k then there goes your head gaskets. It's pretty much a simple although timely fix. I'd just do the heads unless you have a lot of miles on the motor. While the heads are off have them redone and put on new gaskets. In my life I've only blown a head gasket once when my buddies were taking off and I left with a cold engine. Good luck.
john sachs
Well-Known Member
Also be sure you're not pulling a stud out of the case. Measure the studs installed length.
John
John