head gasket & ripoff Honda dealership...

[paulgthomson]

Aaargh,

my bike is weeping oil from the cylinder head - only a tiny, tiny bit. NO affect on performance Took it into Motoden in London, they did a pressure test and it was fine up to 100psi apparently so they said no emergency but I would need to replace the gasket at some. They gave me a quote with about £120 for parts (including replacing just about every washer, bolt and gasket from cylinder to exhaust) and £220 labour.

How hard a job is this? Isn't it just one large gasket? Could be stretching my abilities but f**. I'm feeling a bit too skint for this

Paul

[mal]

What cylinder is it? front or rear,engine has to be removed for one of the cylinders,unfortunately can't remember which one.

[YEN_POWELL]

If it's the rear cylinder are you sure it's not just the rubber cam cover gasket which is leaking. This costs about 8 quid and can be changed by anyone with a spanner.

[Hagalaz]

Is it definitely the cylinder head ???, not the rocker cover ?.
The rocker cover has a rubber gasket : part No 5 on the fiche



Have a search on the forums, as I seem to remember someone having this gasket weeping after the rocker cover had been off and I have a slight oil trace from the front cylinder rocker cover, but not enough that it need more than a quick wipe with a rag now and again.

If it is the cylinder head weeping it may not need any more than a quick torque down.

[paulgthomson]

thanks guys,

I'll take a closer look and if I can't make any sense i'll get my camera out over the weekend and post some pics.

Have a good weekend!!!

Paul

[GSPD750]

Aaargh,

my bike is weeping oil from the cylinder head - only a tiny, tiny bit. NO affect on performance Took it into Motoden in London, they did a pressure test and it was fine up to 100psi apparently so they said no emergency but I would need to replace the gasket at some. They gave me a quote with about £120 for parts (including replacing just about every washer, bolt and gasket from cylinder to exhaust) and £220 labour.

How hard a job is this? Isn't it just one large gasket? Could be stretching my abilities but f**. I'm feeling a bit too skint for this

Paul

If your head gasket really was leaking then chances are your cooling system would be milky from the oil getting in. Unless it was leaking from the cam chain side. See the black outline of the head gasket and its relation to the cylinder when its mated.





Don't be confused by a leaky valve cover.
This is what a weeping valve cover gasket looks like after 45.000 miles.
It's not a big deal unless it becomes a running leak. Is yours a running leak? I cleaned my valve cover gaskets up and reused them.



IMO a head gasket is either leaking...or its not leaking. If it is leaking and its the front cylinder then you will HAVE to remove the engine from the frame. Rear cylinder can be done in situ on the bike. One job is obviously huge and the other just big.

[samih]

He said it was pressure tested, so gotta be the headgasket.

[cabbage2404]

Replaced my rear rocker cover gasket today, ready for the Dartmoor meet . If yours turns out to be the same gasket make sure you replace the o-ring that fits on the rear coolant feed pipe while you are at it.

[magwa]

Hi there paul,
From memory it was your rear cylinder but you can change the top gasket very simply yourself first.

Even if it is the head gasket is not that bad a job. I had to change them on a Honda CX powered kit car and change a crank to boot.

A lot of 'ROT' is talked about 'Honda Trained mechanics'

I've prob rebuilt more engines ( all makes ) than most and you don't need to worry to much

Do the simple job first and see a how it goes

all the best

Magwa

[Wingnut]

If your head gasket really was leaking then chances are your cooling system would be milky from the oil getting in. Unless it was leaking from the cam chain side. See the black outline of the head gasket and its relation to the cylinder when its mated.





Don't be confused by a leaky valve cover.
This is what a weeping valve cover gasket looks like after 45.000 miles.
It's not a big deal unless it becomes a running leak. Is yours a running leak? I cleaned my valve cover gaskets up and reused them.



IMO a head gasket is either leaking...or its not leaking. If it is leaking and its the front cylinder then you will HAVE to remove the engine from the frame. Rear cylinder can be done in situ on the bike. One job is obviously huge and the other just big.

Hey man

How you doing would you have a look at these pics and tell me what you think

Theres oil at the back of the second engine case and I don't know where its coming from also looks like Ive got a leak in the head gasket but coolant is clear?

don't fancy ripping this engine my self .

Jonny