having gone over what is wrong with my bike i have encountered a major problem: [glow=red,2,300]terminology. [/glow]

the head seal plug i first thought was on the side of the cylinder is actually located on the side of the cylinder. just like i first thought.
the part that you guys label as the head seal plug is, in reality, the cylinder head cap.

the question i now have is this: under the cylinder head cap there are two other parts: a gasket and a nut. do these parts have to be replaced when i replace the cylinder head cap?
and just exactly HOW does the cylinder head cap come out? does it screw in/out? does it get pushed into place and pried out of place?

i do NOT have even a carport under which to do this job so if this EVEN requires the dissassembly of the head then this is no 5 hour job for me to do on any day, whether rainy or sunny.

and yeah, i am rather pissed about the misused terminology. it has caused a whole lot of confusion on this end.

sunny wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09:


Geez...I don't think that all of us "shade trees" are trying to confuse anyone with misused terminology.  I've heard it called a plug, cap and seal but I use photos to reinforce whatever term I used to at least clarify what it is and where it is located.

Now, there are a lot of types of "gaskets" in the engine and based on their purpose they have different names too.  Underneath this particular cylinder head cap seal plug in question there is actually just a nut and a copper washer which is visible in one of the photos that I posted.

the problems in terminology REALLY come into play when you go to the suzuki place and try to order the parts. had to make two trips in dallas lunchtime traffic...
it just really helps us technical (i am in IT) types to use the same identification that are on the microfiches which is what the suzuki folks use.

incidentally, the piece under the nut is called a gasket on the fiches. i also ordered that and the nut just in case.

sunny wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:


Needless to say, that is why I usually go around the counter to look at the fiche or the display to help the dealer identify the part.  As I am also technical and usually the parts person is not, this makes the whole thing easier.

Another funny part is that a "cap" usually goes down over something like your head, whereas a "plug" is usually stuck inside of something like a hole.  In this case, we have a cap that plugs a hole which makes no sense.  Therefore, "plug" makes more sense from a functional description no matter what is printed on the fiche.  After all, the bolt that is removed to change the oil is universally called a "drain plug" and not a cap.  Go figure why the rubber plug is called a cap.

BTW- unless you are changing all 4 of the copper washers (or gaskets) buying just one doesn't get much done.  There is one copper "gasket" (or washer) that actually seals an oil passage and that is the right rear "gasket washer" and not the one under your leaking "cap plug"....and before changing any of the cylinder head nuts you best have a torque wrench with a 14 MM socket and extension or you will have a leaking head gasket.

Gee, I wonder why they didn't call the cylinder head a cylinder cap or for that matter why they named the camshaft cover a head cover rather than a head cap or camshaft cap?   Either way, I think that I'll continue to call it a plug and point at the picture.

Dealers don't keep a stock of parts anymore so they seldom have special items on hand.  Too bad there are not motorcycle parts stores like Auto Zone or NAPA.