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[Sean M Cary]

Was messing around with the Xenonlink yesterday to see where I would mount it (not finding a great place on the SERK)...

So saw what appears to be a mix of carbon and oil on the front head, just below the rocker box.

Going to clean the entire bike, simple green this and watch for a bit - will post a pic later today.

What are the ramifications of riding with a blown head gasket for a few months...  103", pretty much stock (exhaust and AC upgrades).

Sean

[grc]

If what you are seeing is directly below the rocker box joint, you are most likely looking at a rocker cover gasket leak and not a head gasket.  The only implications as long as the leak doesn't escalate is a steadily worsening stain as oil is baked onto the surface.  Try snugging the rocker cover bolts and see if you don't have one or two loose ones.  I had a loose one that did the same thing, snugged it up over a year ago and haven't had another problem since.  Well, other than not being able to completely clean the stain off the silver finish.  If that doesn't help, it's time to have the rocker covers and boxes removed and new gaskets intalled.

Jerry

[Sean M Cary]

If what you are seeing is directly below the rocker box joint, you are most likely looking at a rocker cover gasket leak and not a head gasket.  The only implications as long as the leak doesn't escalate is a steadily worsening stain as oil is baked onto the surface.  Try snugging the rocker cover bolts and see if you don't have one or two loose ones.  I had a loose one that did the same thing, snugged it up over a year ago and haven't had another problem since.  Well, other than not being able to completely clean the stain off the silver finish.  If that doesn't help, it's time to have the rocker covers and boxes removed and new gaskets intalled.

Jerry

wow, thanks - that would be awesome if it bears out!  Every single piece of rolling stock I own has something wrong this week!

[hogasm]

wow, thanks - that would be awesome if it bears out!  Every single piece of rolling stock I own has something wrong this week!

I know exactly what you mean

Lawnmower, weed eater. leaf blower all needed the carb rebuilt because of ethanol fuel

Bike leaks after the dealer put it together

Just another day in the life of Hogasm

[Sean M Cary]

I know exactly what you mean

Lawnmower, weed eater. leaf blower all needed the carb rebuilt because of ethanol fuel

Bike leaks after the dealer put it together

Just another day in the life of Hogasm

no chit - you just make me think about something.  I had to rebuild the fuel lines on the weed eater recently - they were soft, almost jelly.  Wonder if the ethanol did that, didn't even consider that!

I cleaned up the mess from this leak - will monitor to see where its coming from.  Appears to be at the base of the chrome rocker boxes - not from the rocker box itself.  I am a total novice on this bike, so will be a chance to learn later this year.

Sean

[BigR55]

My local Mercury Outboard dealer would literally cuss you out, call you a cheap ass and shame you if he found any fuel mix in your tanks. I am sure I have put some through it but 25 years later it still screams across the water at 64 mph and has had only one minor repair. We are diddling with some Chinese scooters that have a rubber tip on the float valve that swell ever so slightly so that could well be the problem with the lawn equipment. I only use premium Shell, BP, Marathon or Chevron in my experimental aircraft, boat, scooters and bike. Even with this I think there are some of these stations that have blended fuel. We have two huge new ethanol plants under construction here in Southern Indiana so look for even more premium brands to start blending.   

[Sean M Cary]

My local Mercury Outboard dealer would literally cuss you out, call you a cheap ass and shame you if he found any fuel mix in your tanks. I am sure I have put some through it but 25 years later it still screams across the water at 64 mph and has had only one minor repair. We are diddling with some Chinese scooters that have a rubber tip on the float valve that swell ever so slightly so that could well be the problem with the lawn equipment. I only use premium Shell, BP, Marathon or Chevron in my experimental aircraft, boat, scooters and bike. Even with this I think there are some of these stations that have blended fuel. We have two huge new ethanol plants under construction here in Southern Indiana so look for even more premium brands to start blending.   

since 99.9% of my riding is done in the wonderful urban nightmare that is Jacksonville, NC - I pretty much fill up at one station.  The Exxon does not advertise any specifics about their ethanol.  BUT I have filled up at other stations (SERK DOES NOT LIKE THAT).

Gas for the lawn equipment?  Whatever is closest - cheapest, usually HESS.

[Twolanerider]

no chit - you just make me think about something.  I had to rebuild the fuel lines on the weed eater recently - they were soft, almost jelly.  Wonder if the ethanol did that, didn't even consider that!

I cleaned up the mess from this leak - will monitor to see where its coming from.  Appears to be at the base of the chrome rocker boxes - not from the rocker box itself.  I am a total novice on this bike, so will be a chance to learn later this year.

Sean

Found this picture that might help as an illustration Sean.  It sounds like you've got a rocker box leak (not uncommon) but this should tell you for sure.

See the gray circle?  That's head gasket.  The cylinders are shorter than are commonly thought so the mating line between them and the cylinder head is lower than commonly explected.  Anything higher is rocker boxes.  The rockers boxes have a lower and upper half also.  So could be leaking between the box and the head or between the box and it's cover.

[Sean M Cary]

Found this picture that might help as an illustration Sean.  It sounds like you've got a rocker box leak (not uncommon) but this should tell you for sure.

See the gray circle?  That's head gasket.  The cylinders are shorter than are commonly thought so the mating line between them and the cylinder head is lower than commonly explected.  Anything higher is rocker boxes.  The rockers boxes have a lower and upper half also.  So could be leaking between the box and the head or between the box and it's cover.

Damn straight!!  It's a rocker box!!

SWEET!  I cleaned it up and rode in this morning, have not had the time to see how bad it leaks.

Do I need to remove the tank to properly torque them?

[Twolanerider]

Damn straight!!  It's a rocker box!!

SWEET!  I cleaned it up and rode in this morning, have not had the time to see how bad it leaks.

Do I need to remove the tank to properly torque them?

You can get at all the bolts to snug them down without removing the tank.  If they're stock bolts note that you'll have a choice of tools.  The obvious hex wrench or an allen tool down their middle.

[Sean M Cary]

You can get at all the bolts to snug them down without removing the tank.  If they're stock bolts note that you'll have a choice of tools.  The obvious hex wrench or an allen tool down their middle.

should I loosen them and then re-torque?

[sadunbar]

should I loosen them and then re-torque?

There are two joints to the rocker box.  One joint is where the rocker box mounts to the head.  The second joint is the "lid" to the rocker box. 

Try to figure out which joint is leaking.  If it is the lid - the top joint, it is simplier and less work - just try and tighted the bolts. 

If it is the joint where the rocker box mounts to the head, then the lid needs to be removed - which is a bit more work.  I would not loosen and re-torque - I would just tighten. 

If it is the lower joint and you have to remove the lid - I would replace the lid gasket upon re-assembly.

[Sean M Cary]

There are two joints to the rocker box.  One joint is where the rocker box mounts to the head.  The second joint is the "lid" to the rocker box. 

Try to figure out which joint is leaking.  If it is the lid - the top joint, it is simplier and less work - just try and tighted the bolts. 

If it is the joint where the rocker box mounts to the head, then the lid needs to be removed - which is a bit more work.  I would not loosen and re-torque - I would just tighten. 

If it is the lower joint and you have to remove the lid - I would replace the lid gasket upon re-assembly.

its the lower  - there wasn't anything on the chrome between the two - just the cylinder right below the chrome.

I am going to check it out, have a lame old camera here and will try and snap a pic if it leaked riding in today.

[Sean M Cary]

It stayed dry on the ride in today...  Will have to continue to monitor.

Wonder what conditions would make it lead intermittently?

[SPIDERMAN]

Was messing around with the Xenonlink yesterday to see where I would mount it (not finding a great place on the SERK)...

So saw what appears to be a mix of carbon and oil on the front head, just below the rocker box.

Going to clean the entire bike, simple green this and watch for a bit - will post a pic later today.

What are the ramifications of riding with a blown head gasket for a few months...  103", pretty much stock (exhaust and AC upgrades).

Sean

Leeme see, I rode a modified 80" Evo from 20 miles east of Barstow CA to my home in Poway (about 180 miles) with a blown head gasket in the rear cylinder and ended up with a big mess of missing aluminum in the top of the cylinder, a big section missing on one side of the cylinder head and a nasty hole in the piston. Cost me over $1,000 to fix vice the $180 the BikeTow company wanted. Does that help you make any difficult decisions ?

B B