SuzukiSavage.com - How much oil should be in the head cap?

Mattdw

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How much oil should be in the head cap?
09/18/09 at 07:10:08

Ok...I "think" I have the infamous head plug leak.
I have oil on the fins, etc.
I took off the head cap last night, and the wells around the valves were mostly full of oil. Is this normal?
The head cap that was in there, was the old style, but was in TIGHT. There wasn't any sealant around it though.
I couldn't really tell if it was leaking per-se, but, I know old can get through the slightest gap, even if not visible.

Also, I'm not sure how well the previous owner took care of her, so I doubt they did any of the beginning maintenance.

Is there any harm in re torquing the head bolts while I have the cap off?

Should I be able to get to all the bolts requiring re torquing with the engine in the frame?

Also, some of the bolts I took off the head cap were difficult to get to, so I had to use a variety of my tools. I KNOW I won't be able to get to all of them with my torque wrench when putting back on. Do they ALL require special torque, or is it 'OK' to just apply the torque wrench to the bolts I can get to and just be gentle (but not too gentle) with the ones I can't?

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justin_o_guy2

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Re: How much oil should be in the head cap?
Reply #1 - 09/18/09 at 07:17:13

The amount of oil in the head cap varies from guy to guy. If ya wash yer hair a lot, less oil, you see?

There is a pool of oil in the head the cam runs in, IDK about oil standing around valves, I dont remember that,

But, If you are in there, pull the plug & clean carefully the plug & where it seals off, goop it up, or, for all the trouble, I would get a new plug, if thats the stock one.

Is there any harm in re torquing the head bolts while I have the cap off?

Thats the required procedure.

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Mattdw

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Re: How much oil should be in the head cap?
Reply #2 - 09/18/09 at 07:18:48

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 09/18/09 at 07:17:13:

The amount of oil in the head cap varies from guy to guy. If ya wash yer hair a lot, less oil, you see?

There is a pool of oil in the head the cam runs in, IDK about oil standing around valves, I dont remember that,

But, If you are in there, pull the plug & clean carefully the plug & where it seals off, goop it up, or, for all the trouble, I would get a new plug, if thats the stock one.

Got the new plug already, plan on installing it later, just didn't want to put it all back together until I was sure about the torquing issues and maybe torquing the head bolts too...wanna make sure I do everything I can while I have the cap off.

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: How much oil should be in the head cap? Reply #3 - 09/18/09 at 07:20:31 Good plan,, You have a manual to read?
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Mattdw Full Member Offline Posts: 193 Frisco, TX Gender:	Re: How much oil should be in the head cap? Reply #4 - 09/18/09 at 07:21:50 justin_o_guy2 wrote on 09/18/09 at 07:20:31: Good plan,, You have a manual to read? Yep...I have the manual, patience, and experience...just needed some expertise on what I should do while I have the top off Then of course, adjust the valves, and the decomp solenoid when I get it all back on.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: How much oil should be in the head cap? Reply #5 - 09/18/09 at 07:23:04 Ive never had to adjust the decomp, & thats cool, cuz frankly, I dont "get it" looking at the picture..
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Mattdw Full Member Offline Posts: 193 Frisco, TX Gender:	Re: How much oil should be in the head cap? Reply #6 - 09/18/09 at 07:23:57 justin_o_guy2 wrote on 09/18/09 at 07:23:04: Ive never had to adjust the decomp, & thats cool, cuz frankly, I dont "get it" looking at the picture.. I haven't had to adjust it yet, but I "think" I understand what needs to be done.
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serenity3743

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Re: How much oil should be in the head cap?
Reply #7 - 09/18/09 at 08:33:19

Mattdw wrote on 09/18/09 at 07:23:57:

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 09/18/09 at 07:23:04:

Ive never had to adjust the decomp, & thats cool, cuz frankly, I dont "get it" looking at the picture..

I haven't had to adjust it yet, but I "think" I understand what needs to be done.

The way I interpret it is the distance you can pull the cable from its seat at the decomp solenoid. About 5mm as I recall.

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verslagen1

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Re: How much oil should be in the head cap?
Reply #8 - 09/18/09 at 08:49:44

serenity3743 wrote on 09/18/09 at 08:33:19:

Mattdw wrote on 09/18/09 at 07:23:57:

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 09/18/09 at 07:23:04:

Ive never had to adjust the decomp, & thats cool, cuz frankly, I dont "get it" looking at the picture..

I haven't had to adjust it yet, but I "think" I understand what needs to be done.

The way I interpret it is the distance you can pull the cable from its seat at the decomp solenoid. About 5mm as I recall.

Looking at that picture is like looking for your keys in the bottom of a muddy pond. And to make it a little clearer... the measurement is done on the buttom under the rubber cap on the solenoid, the adjustment is on the other end of the cable. And you never see it operate so how do you know it works? If you have an occasional problem starting, it's too loose.

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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: How much oil should be in the head cap? Reply #9 - 09/18/09 at 08:50:57 BTW, remove the head nuts and oil the threads before torqueing them.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: How much oil should be in the head cap? Reply #10 - 09/18/09 at 09:41:02 If ya remove all of themn at the same time, will you lose the head gasket>? Or only if you pull the head off?
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serenity3743 Serious Thumper Offline Striving to better, oft we mar what's well Posts: 778 Black Mountain, NC Gender:	Re: How much oil should be in the head cap? Reply #11 - 09/18/09 at 10:12:59 justin_o_guy2 wrote on 09/18/09 at 09:41:02: If ya remove all of themn at the same time, will you lose the head gasket>? Or only if you pull the head off? Only if you pull the head off.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: How much oil should be in the head cap? Reply #12 - 09/18/09 at 12:53:50 Ive come pretty close to needing anew gasket several times. Ive upset some bigger guys real bad. Thot sure they wuz gunna pull my head OFF.
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Mattdw Full Member Offline Posts: 193 Frisco, TX Gender:	Re: How much oil should be in the head cap? Reply #13 - 09/18/09 at 20:17:43 verslagen1 wrote on 09/18/09 at 08:50:57: BTW, remove the head nuts and oil the threads before torqueing them. I wanna make sure I understand....REMOVE the head nuts before re torquing ? Can I get to them all (how many?), while the engine is in the bike ?
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verslagen1

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Re: How much oil should be in the head cap?
Reply #14 - 09/18/09 at 20:33:08

Mattdw wrote on 09/18/09 at 20:17:43:

verslagen1 wrote on 09/18/09 at 08:50:57:

BTW, remove the head nuts and oil the threads before torqueing them.

I wanna make sure I understand....REMOVE the head nuts before re torquing ?
Can I get to them all (how many?), while the engine is in the bike ?

Obviously, you don't have a service manual. You really need to get one. There are several steps that you need to follow in order to get to the head nuts. And you'll cause damage if you don't follow them.

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