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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> 88 savage head gasket and plug
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Message started by charliebrown on 12/12/09 at 08:17:15

Title: 88 savage head gasket and plug
Post by charliebrown on 12/12/09 at 08:17:15

Ok so im new to engine work and my savage has been sitting for 2 years not by my choice. but any ways before i stopped riding the bike oil started to show up on head so i think i need to replace the head gasket or the plug cap thing. i have a full engine gasket set and the cap sitting next to me now. my question is can this be done easily or is it something i should have a shop do. im comfortable working on my bike and dirt bikes but have never jumped into engine work. this forum is so good i fig if its something not to hard or requiring spec tools then i could get it done. thanks again

Title: Re: 88 savage head gasket and plug
Post by BurnPgh on 12/12/09 at 08:53:20

It's easy if you take your time and have a manual to guide you. Of course we'll all help as well. The hard part is you MIGHT have to remove the engine from the frame which isnt a big deal...getting it back IN the frame is a PITA. You might not have to do that though. It varies from bike to bike. In any case I wouldnt worry too much about it unless the bike is spewing large amounts of oil. If the leak is by the left side of the head pipe (looking at the bike from the front) then its probably just the plug leak. Keep your oil topped off and go ride. Its a little messy and gets tiresome checking and topping off the oil but as long as you dont let the bike run dry you can ride without a problem until you decide to fix it.

Title: Re: 88 savage head gasket and plug
Post by charliebrown on 12/12/09 at 19:46:17

ok so i just bought a 302 piece craftsman tool set from sears so i can do the job i just need a how to. i know there is a thread about this. i have a straight pipe on the bike so i was told the head gasket will blow often. any spec tools needed? i know i need some kind of sealer also any thing i should check at the same time as changing the head gasket and prob plug. anything i should check for because of the downtime? thanks agin

Title: Re: 88 savage head gasket and plug
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/13/09 at 05:05:50

Dont open that gasket kit. Odds are, youll use the plug, only. Pipe or no pipe, this thing isnt a head gasket eater, its a leaker, first. Itll fix, not that hard to do.

Title: Re: 88 savage head gasket and plug
Post by BurnPgh on 12/13/09 at 10:06:44

who told you you'd blow head gaskets with a straight pipe? Maybe im wrong but that doesnt sound right at all. And I don't think I've seen a real case of a blown head gasket here. Usually someone has a leaking head plug, they go to a dealership, and the dealership quotes them a bunch of money to replace a perfectly good head gasket without doing anything to the plug.

Title: Re: 88 savage head gasket and plug
Post by charliebrown on 12/13/09 at 10:36:09

thats what the prev owner told me is the lack of back pressure would blow head gaskets. could be total bs. so i should leave it alone or just check/replace plug.

Title: Re: 88 savage head gasket and plug
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/13/09 at 11:45:01

Let me see.. less pressure = blown gasket,, hownahekks that sposed to add up?

Betchya a dollar its the rubber plug & not one thing wrong with the gasket.. Heres an idea, IF oil can get past the hole, then air has to be too, cuz theres a lot more air than oil in a combustion chamber.. Find where its puffing out. I bet its not. IF someone tightened his head bolts, then bet its the plug. Ive had no problem with the plug ( but, mine is an 05, so it shouldnt) & Ive never touched the head bolts & my gasket is just fine.

Besides, if anything is gonna blow the head gasket, its the combustion. Changing the exhaust doesnt affect the highest pressures encountered in the chamber by much. Hopefully, a bigger charge can be coaxed into it & then with Jetting & a cam you might jack max pressure in the jug a bit. But, IF that would blow the gasket, then it wouldnt make sense other engines operate at such higher compression ratios.. at least, not to me. BUT, since I am a moron, Mick will show up soon & explain why I am wrong.