I have a 84 shovel and it keeps blowing the front head gasket. I haven't replaced it my self yet. Had the local shop do it and I made it 350 miles before it blew. Any suggestions before I call the shop up and complain?

 

Keeps blowing front head gasket...how many times has it been repaired? How many miles were on the bike when it was first fixed? After about 50 miles did you let it cool and recheck the torque on the head?

Any chance the head is warped? Has the head ever been milled? Too much taken off could result in bolts bottoming out before they could be torqued properly?

Lastly...what type of gaskets you using. James and Cometic are the two best out there.


Just a wild thought addition. You running a sealed primary? Any chance the set up was not vented properly (pressure builds up ants gotta go somewhere).

 

Bought it used,I know it was replaced at least once. Bike is stock except for drag pipes has 25,000 miles on it.

 

Head gaskets have to be re-torqued after a few heat, cool down sessions. Just because it was torqued right at the shop doesn't mean that it was right when you got it home and parked it. Another problem with old pans and shovels is that the steel inserts in the heads pull out enough to cause the gasket to blow. Then you have to lap the heads back flat or counter bore the insert.