New day, old issues...
I am a bit further along in making my savage all better though:
1. I finally got around to doing the compression test... it was bad. I was consistently getting a result of 100-105PSI! It took some time from when I shut it off until I took the tank off, so it was more like hot to the touch than running temperature. Does this affect the results greatly?
With the compression that low I'm thinking this is a lot more than just a blown head gasket. A valve issue would explain the noise I have been referring to in this thread I guess? but I can't rule out busted piston rings. Opinions anyone?
I know I read it somewhere, but I can't remember right now: Can I get the head and cylinder off without taking the engine out?
2. I bought new wheel bearings today, but couldn't get the needle bearings for the swing arm pivot shaft. When I got the wheel off I realized, to my dismay, that there was hardly any play in the wheel bearings, and that it was all in the swing arm pivot (I didn't have the rear wheel off the ground when I checked which fooled me a bit).
The 19mm pivot shaft nut on the right side came off easily, but the shaft couldn't be pushed through. When I tried to turn the shaft from the left side there was a hideous *CRUNCH* as the needle bearings disintegrated. Now the shaft is jammed. I've started to push it through with a pneumatic hammer, but it was too late to make that much noise
Hope I can get the bearings quickly!
Here's where I stand now:
Mikael