SuzukiSavage.com - Curious about cylindor head gasket replacement

crustyxpunk

Ex Member

Curious about cylindor head gasket replacement
05/03/07 at 18:27:55

I'm about to do the cylindor head on my savage (23k on it and its starting to leak oil from the head) and was wondering since I am going to all the trouble is it worth it to replace the chain guides. I looked them up on bikebandit and the one side was running 26 and the other that has the tensioner on it as well was like 50, which is a little pricey for me right now. I'll replace them if I have to, but I dont really want too. This is my first bike and so I'm not to savy on all of the maint. that comes with them just yet. I know all about cars, but bikes are a bit foreign to me, so any advice would be great.

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Curious about cylindor head gasket replacement Reply #1 - 05/03/07 at 18:47:03 I would replace them if they are worn. Or the tensioner is way out. You could order them when you need them, only it took 2 weeks to get mine. I'm about to go freaking nuts. I need a ride! good thing I don't work in a post office, go to school...
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Reelthing

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Re: Curious about cylindor head gasket replacement
Reply #2 - 05/03/07 at 20:57:59

crustyxpunk wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:05:

I'm about to do the cylindor head on my savage (23k on it and its starting to leak oil from the head) and was wondering since I am going to all the trouble is it worth it to replace the chain guides. I looked them up on bikebandit and the one side was running 26 and the other that has the tensioner on it as well was like 50, which is a little pricey for me right now. I'll replace them if I have to, but I dont really want too. This is my first bike and so I'm not to savy on all of the maint. that comes with them just yet. I know all about cars, but bikes are a bit foreign to me, so any advice would be great.

Most likely your rubber head plug has started to leak and not the head gasket itself read up on the head plug it's fairly simple to fix. Tech section has heavy documentation on how to do it - read it all so you don't end up with strip'd broken bolts and such that creates far more work than the leaking plug is in the first place.

Yes, at 23k you should pull the clutch side case off and have a look at the cam chain, tensioner, and guides - several excellent post going right now, some pretty interesting fixes if your tensioner is out over the limit.

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K1200LTryder Ex Member	Re: Curious about cylindor head gasket replacement Reply #3 - 05/04/07 at 06:07:19 I concur with realthing...probably leaking head plug/cap.
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Savage_Rob Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Mechanically Inclined Amateur Posts: 6972 Texas (Dallas area) Gender:	Re: Curious about cylindor head gasket replacement Reply #4 - 05/04/07 at 06:48:30 I agree on both counts. It's likely the head plug and, at 23k it's time to evaluate the condition of the cam chain and tensioning components.
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crustyxpunk

Ex Member

Re: Curious about cylindor head gasket replacement
Reply #5 - 05/04/07 at 11:36:31

Thanks to everyone for their comments and suggestions. I really dont think it is the rubber head plug because no oil is leaking from uo there. The oil is leaking out down by the bottom of the cylindor head and the top of the jug itself. I think I may go ahead and eplace the guides and check the chain for wear. If the rubber head plug can cause the oil to leak all the way down that far please let me know and I will save myself the money, but I really do think it is the gasket. When I get a chance I'll post pictures up. Thanks again!

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K1200LTryder

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Re: Curious about cylindor head gasket replacement
Reply #6 - 05/04/07 at 11:41:38

Hey there Crusty, the head cap plug leak really makes it look like a leaking head gasket, oil all over the cooling fins on the head and the jug.

Also the elongated O-ring on the head cover should be looked at.

Head Gaskets on these engines rarely fail, and when they do, you would "hear" it , as well as see it.

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slavy

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Re: Curious about cylindor head gasket replacement
Reply #7 - 05/04/07 at 23:10:03

So far I haven't seen any bad head gasket.
The best thing is to pull the head cover and double-check the guess. Also pull the clutch cover and check the tensioner. Decide AFTER you have the facts. Before You start the project , get at least the plug and the clutch cover gasket. If You decide to do all the 9 yards, don't install the new parts untill You do all the work- just slap it together with silicone in the 3 places /plug, head cover and clutch cover/ . Degrease it good, wait overnight. Ride it this way untill all the parts are in Your hands. If it leaks in the mean time- so what, You will survive 10 days while checking the oil every day.

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justin_o_guy Ex Member	Re: Curious about cylindor head gasket replacement Reply #8 - 05/05/07 at 02:01:18 Folks may laff, but one thing I did was run screws back n the holes while I was cleaning, to displace the oil, so I could clean it up & not have it coming up out of the threads as I installed them. I dint want the oil coming out of the bolt holes & running on the liquid gasket sealant.
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