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Buell Forum » Old School Buell » Archive through October 11, 2019 » Blown Head Gasket... maybe Can i fix it myself? « Previous Next »

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Canyon_biker
Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 - 08:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I think I blew the head gasket in the front cylinder. It stopped firing and I limped it home one the rear. I would like to fix this myself. I’ve done everything but rebuild a motor. Where do i start?
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Baconandeggs
Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 - 09:21 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

A service manual will answer many of your disassembly/assembly questions. Also, if you buy cosmetic gaskets, they have there own torque spec in the package.

What model bike do you have?
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Baconandeggs
Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 - 09:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have a manual for an S1 if you’re interested.
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Upthemaiden
Posted on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 - 09:34 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If you have the interest in doing it, then it's definitely within range of things you could do. Hammer performance has a ton of great videos on youtube walking you through all of that stuff.
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Natexlh1000
Posted on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 - 09:43 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

What makes you think the head gasket is bad?
All of the blown head gaskets I have witnessed, resulted in large noises but not in a dead jug.
Did you take out the pug to verify that both valves are working and that the spark plug is doing anything?

Quick easy cheap:
Remove plug put your thumb over the hole and crank it.
It should be able to blow your thumb off of the hole.
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Hawgford
Posted on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 - 10:57 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

where is the bike? i'm long time hd wrench and machinist in the southeast and travel alot for my shop... nate is correct but most gaskets blow in a small area.. the cylinder will still deliver compression and the plug will still light..the sound of a blow gasket is the sound of air pressure bein released like on big truck brakes but in a steady pattern created by the engine revs. if you dont hear that, its not blown and using the kiss principle, you may have a bad plug or you have a hung open valve,so it fires but theres no charge in the cyl.pull the plugs, and get the rear wheel up drop in high,remove the push rod covers and spin the motor,if its not a plug,the sloppy pushrod is the bad valve.if its hung shut,which i doubt pushrod will be bent.its possible that a valve guide or spring broke too but thats rare.if something got loose in your intake or a wrist pin keeper got loose/broke,other than using a bore cam,the head will have to come off..
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Upthemaiden
Posted on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 - 11:28 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Definitely check that plug first and make sure you're still getting a spark.

http://buellmods.com/manuals.html#s1 download the 97 S1 manual here.
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Canyon_biker
Posted on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 - 10:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Sorry for the delay to your questions. My Buell is a 1997 S1 lightning and i live in Los Angeles County. I don’t know how to reply individually so let me sum up here. When I got home there was oil coming out between the head in the first cylinder. At least that how it seems. Again I am not sure I’ll pull the plug and see what I can decipher. I used the link to the manual and I’ll do as Hawgford suggests after checking the plug. thanks for your time.
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Canyon_biker
Posted on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 - 11:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Okay, I pulled the plug and checked it for spark. Lots of big bright white spark. here is a photo of the plug itself.


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12mpghwy
Posted on Friday, August 02, 2019 - 10:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I did the rings and head gaskets on my X1 over a 4 day weekend. I had a very minor head gasket failure that that was almost like a pinhole. I could have kept riding it really but it was staining my pants.

If I were you I would check the compression. Even if you don't have a compression gauge kit (you can rent them at auto parts stores) pull one plug at a time, disconnect the coil and crank the engine with the throttle wide open. They should sound about the same. If you have very little to no compression you could have a stuck, bent or otherwise damaged valve. The next step would be to pull the valve cover and rocker box and inspect from the top.
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Gusm2
Posted on Saturday, August 03, 2019 - 05:12 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

To check compression I'd remove both plugs
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Harleyelf
Posted on Sunday, August 04, 2019 - 10:04 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Flintstone method for compression check: Pull both plugs and put wine bottle corks in the holes. Turn the engine over and see if the corks fly the same distance.
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