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Head gaskets

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Old Jan 20, 2011 | 04:24 PM
  #1  
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Default Head gaskets

My rear jug is leaking a little oil from the between the head and jug. Is it till to change the gasket or am I ok? I'm worried about "washing the head". Any one know where to pick gaskets up. JP Cycles only sells the complete sets. Oh its a 75 xhl.
 
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Old Jan 20, 2011 | 04:42 PM
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watch your compression, check your plugs...if nothing changes and your plugs look fine then carry on if you wish, it will gradually get worse...and it will make a mess on your pipes, bike etc.
When you deside to fix it-- fix it all...both juggs while you have it out, and the O-rings too.
I get gaskets from my dealer and buy the whole package when they have them just so I have an inventory. Any dealer or Indie would just sell you one or two if that is all you want but it would be cheaper buying the kit in the long run
 
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Old Jan 20, 2011 | 07:38 PM
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First is to determine with certainty if it is a leak as you describe or a spill, or oil from some other source. One time i had an apparent leak like that, only to discover that i had previusly had a spill on the other side and some of the oil migrated around and looked like a gasket leak.

I believe it is unlikely to have oil leak out from a broken head gasket. Normally, in my limited experience, a head gasket leak is a loud whistle sound as the compressing air/fuel mix squeeks out.

There are two oil passages between the head and the cylinder. For oil to leak out, the gasket break would have to be at one of those two spots.

Has the head been off recently? Check the head bolt torque - one at a time, loosen each by a part of a turn then tighten; note if tightening is more parts-of-turns than the initial loosening. Correct torque is 55 to 65 ft lbs.
 
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Old Jan 20, 2011 | 09:10 PM
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A leak will develop prematurely if the head gasket interferes (partially blocks) the oil flow through the internal passage in the jug. I've seen too many guys rush and not bother to ensure the gasket allows for proper flow through the oil passages (grind them out a little if necessary).
 
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Old Jan 20, 2011 | 09:27 PM
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Originally Posted by scottfisher
A leak will develop prematurely if the head gasket interferes (partially blocks) the oil flow through the internal passage in the jug. I've seen too many guys rush and not bother to ensure the gasket allows for proper flow through the oil passages (grind them out a little if necessary).
Hey Scott, i think you could omit that one word from your post [heh heh].
 
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