Head gasket replacement

[omslaw]

Well, after losing coolant for all of last year, and not seeing any of it externally, (oh and smelling it in the exhaust) - I finally decided that it was time to tear into it to get it done by the Bash! ;-)

So, I get the head off this evening (OK you perverts - don't say it!)...and there's a good 2 tablespoons of coolant in #2 cylinder....which is the one I suspected all along based on looking at the plugs.

What caught me off-guard was the Head Gasket...this thing is THREE plys! For those who have never seen the OEM gasket, you heard me right...THREE plys!

There seems to be some sort of adhesive between the plys to bond them together. However, when I removed the gasket, one of the plys was already separated...making me wonder if *this* is where the leak started. Anyone else seen this?

A quick inspection of the head and cylinder mating surfaces shows no flaws. I'll try and put a steel to them in the next couple of days.

Anyway, I'm looking to get a Cometic gasket to replace it.

Now, all that said, does anyone have any recommendations for anything else that I should do while I have it torn apart? I plan on checking the valve clearance when I reassemble the cams since I have a little over 12K.

Any tips/tricks for re-assembly? Should I replace the Valve cover gasket? What about other gaskets/washers, etc?

I've done all this with the motor in the bike.


Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated!


Thanks!

--Omar

[omslaw]

UPDATE:

After having some daylight to inspect the head, gasket, and cylinder block...I can't see ANYWHERE that coolant was leaking in.

I know it's getting in there, but not sure how. My experience is that if it's the gasket that's failed...it's fairly obvious where the coolant is leaking.

Anyone have any other advice?

Should I get the head checked/magnafluxed?

[davsbusa]

Base gasket maybe?? Just a suggestion.

[GIXERHP]

I personally wouldn't recommend a Cometic gasket, Go with the stock one, from the dealer, i was told that the cometic gasket are not as good as the stocker! Did you ever over heat the bike??? Thats one reason the gasket could have failed.. I just went thru this when i bought my 1397 kit, it was recommeded to me by several place to use a modified stock gasket.???

[BusaWhipped]

Did you check to make sure the head isn't warped?  If it's straight, I'd have it fluxed before putting it back on the bike.  Its not that expensive, and I'd hate to go through all of that work to put a cracked head on and have to go through it all again.



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