You can remove the head cover - but not the cylinder head with the engine in the frame.  The cylinder studs are too long, and the head will hit the frame before it clears the cylinder.

It is very, very rare that the Savage has a failed head gasket - why do you want to replace the head gasket?

Do you have an oil leak at the head?  Most oil leaks are not head gasket related - but are from the leaky plug over the front right cylinder stud, or an oil seep at the stud and nut at the front of the engine, leaky O-rings at the valve inspection caps, or failed sealant at the head cover.

Look at the right rear cylinder stud, you can see it if you look up the hole in the head beside the carb - the hole goes forward to the opening up by the exhaust port (and the one where the head plug is).  The right rear stud can leak oil from the camshaft/rocker area - this stud can be visible where it exits the head casting for a small span.  The cure is to remove the head cover, remove the right rear nut and washer, clean the area up and apply sealant to the copper washer and never seize to the nut before you torque it...and you might as well do the left front cylinder stud as well, as those can leak oil as well.

The copper washers are soft when new - but they harden with the operating heat of the engine.  They seal well when new - but if they are reused they don't always seal.

The nuts under the intake and exhaust port can leak as well, remove the nuts, clean the area, and apply sealant.  These nuts should have a flange machined into them (no flat or lock washer).

Dave wrote on 09/06/17 at 02:43:26:

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I'll take a close look at that!
I had the impression the leak came from the front right cylinder stud (the one under the plug, and that you can see standing in front, just left of the exhaust).
When you talk about sealant, I suppose the high temp silicone I bought for the cylinder head cover will do?

Thanks for all the explanation!

Most likely the plug leaking and then running all over the place while riding.  Mine would spray all over the battery box and side covers.  As Dave pointed out, RTV isn't a guaranteed fix.  I'd say get a new plug and a high quality sealant.  (Use a little on the head plug when you install it.)

Also, you should always anneal copper washers when reusing them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMLqlDSsQpA


EDIT: How come the media tags never work for me????
EDIT2: Dave fixed it for me as described below.  Thanks!

Dave wrote on 09/06/17 at 05:28:07:

ohiomoto wrote on 09/06/17 at 04:46:48:


You have to remove the "s" from https:   and change it to http;

The annealing will make the copper soft again - but it won't get rid of the scratches/gouges that occurred the first time the nuts were tightened down on the soft washers.  (You might have to sand them a bit to get a smooth surface again).

Dave wrote on 09/06/17 at 05:28:07:
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I think the idea is because the copper is soft, the old scratches get smashed or flattened while new ones get put in and the washer should seal again.  I think that's the idea.  Personally, I've never sanded them.