Update...

SSM specs says 142 to 200 PSI with the engine hot so:

Compression test dry and cold = 180 PSI
Compression test wet (oil in cylinder) = 190 PSI

I also squirted WD40 around the head gasket and I see no bubbles or feel any leaks...hmmm

Now, the purpose of these photos is for a lesson to all on this forum.  I know that I've never seen anything like this either.  I'm definitely not posting these to give Nervkiler a hard time about this bike...because actually this 1997 is in great shape with only 1600 miles.  The chrome is excellent and it looks well kept for 11 years...but unfortunately, it looks like a previous owner did a little bit of tinkering on this bike.

When the bike came here, I noticed this muffler with the packing sticking out, as you see it.  It looks as if someone cut off the end, removed the guts, welded in a new baffle, and painted it.  They installed a pipe nipple in the end...and the packing was sticking out when I first saw it.



Then last night I decided to check this muffler.  The packing was packed hard against the muffler outlet (and that stuff will cut you too).  With further checking I decided to remove the packing.  What a job, but I got it out.

All this packing and carbon was all the way up in the pipe (which has no guts) and stuck hard against the outlet.  I think this is what caused the exhaust gasket leak that was confused with a bad head gasket.  The muffler was plugged.

Who could expect this kind of "time bomb" when buying a used bike?



The "Good News" is that I'm gonna take a chance and put this engine back together.  I don't think it needs a new head gasket.  I'll re-torque the head, seal the headcover and adjust the valves, and I'm betting the bike runs just fine.

well im gonna cross my fingers just hoping the bike will get running soon.

guess itll be time very soon to replace the muffler... hopefully ill have the funding available soon.

funny on the chevy truck i traded for the bike.. had sort of the same thing, clogged cataletic convertor which i replaced prior to the trade.. hmmm

unless it had enough flow to maintain a burn of the material - might have set record backfire  

I'm sure if it is hot and has sufficient oxygen it will burn (oxidize) rapidly. Seems like we used to burn out smitty's glasspacs used in my misspent youth. I even remember some were sold as steel pacs and lasted a little longer. I found an old one and it lasted a couple years on my 1988 GMC PU, found another in the road to replace it. Had to throw cycle money at an old PU. Max

nervekiler wrote on 01/24/08 at 18:13:31:

I had your bike running tonight.  All back together AND with a jump start (battery is really weak) she start right away.  That was with 1/2 choke.  She idles really smooth too.  It's only above idle that it starts acting up.

For starters, the bike needs to be rejetted and it does pop and backfire.  I saw the smoke puffing as you mentioned, but I am pretty certain that the exhaust gasket is leaking really bad.  That and the open exhaust is making it really lean (you noticed the bluing on the header, right?).  I checked the compression with the engine hot and the reading was 165 PSI this time.  Still in the range.

Oh yeah, the head nuts were really tight when I checked that...and the valves needed an adjustment.  They were a bit loose.  The top end looks really good and clean though.  I think we are the first ones to go in there in 11 years

I'll mess with it again tomorrow, but I'm sure it needs a new exhaust gasket.  If she finally turns out to not need a head gasket, the good news is that I do

Max_Morley wrote on 01/24/08 at 20:09:54:

It seems to me that when I was searching for packing for my Raask, that I saw steel wool listed somewhere.  Maybe for dirt bike spark arrestors.  I don't know.

verslagen1 wrote on 01/24/08 at 20:15:35:

doesn't take quit that much - just grab a wad and put a lighter to it or use a 9-volt battery

but for a really good time ....

http://dangerouslyfun.com/fire-wire