New improved head plug not made by Suzuki:
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1412889755

How to:
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1256079122

The plug covers one of the 4 top accessible head studs. The other two studs are in the front and back, pointing down.

Doing the plug cap leak fix is a good time to check the head torque (retorque).

Also, check and adjust the valve lash and check the freeplay in the decompression solenoid cable.

Tip: before pulling the head cover, I tip the bike over on to its right side, all the way until the peg just touches the floor. I hold it there to allow the oil to drain down out of the cam bathtub thingy. This keeps that oil from flowing out when I break the head cover seal. I also do this before I change the oil.

I emailed Verslagen about this and a modded cam chain tensioner... he said he's currently out of plugs. Bummer, because I'd really hoped to do it all in one go on my bike.

Now I just need to wait for it to warm up enough that I can hold a wrench without getting frostbite! Still need to pull my tensioner so Verslagen can do his magic.

1st2know wrote on 02/11/15 at 20:16:22:


Most of us never check the cylinder head torque....as we have never seen any of them come loose - or a head gasket fail.

If you want to check the torque...you can't just stick a wrench on them and torque, as two of the nuts are exposed to the elements and get corroded.  You have to take them off one at a time, clean the threads, apply some anti seize (or oil when under the head cap), then torque it down.....repeat until you have done all 4, and then check the two of them are are located under the intake and exhaust ports.