Head Gasket

[Montana]

Hello all,

I recently replaced the valve cover and head gasket on my suzuki gs 650. I torqued everything to specification and it is still leaking oil. I believe oil is coming out of head nut 5 (the middle exhaust clutch side nut). Please look at the picture of the head gasket. A little bit of oil is leaking from it and their is a ton of yellowish gunk.

I am going to take it apart, check if the cylinder head is warped, clean, and replace the washers. This is my first bike and the only thing I've worked on besides a bicycle. Anything else I should check or look out for?

Thanks for your help

 

[fastbysuzuki]

Not really sure what the yellow is other than a dodgy gasket who's gaskets have you used?
As you say the head needs checking for warpage I have not worked on a 650 so I am assuming the washers you speak of are the copper ones if they are not badly damaged you can clean them up then heat them upto cherry red in colour then drop them into cold water that will anneal them (makes copper more pliable) and reuse.
there is many posts on using aftermarket gaskets and their quality or lack of it. If you have not used genuine gaskets then many posts will advise you do.
when you have stripped it you will need to renew the base gasket as you will break the seal when you remove the head.
hope the rebuild goes well.

 

[Montana]

Thank you fastbysuzuki

I was only able to find an aftermarket Vesrah gasket. It really was crumby. When I took off the cylinder head part of the gasket came off with it.

 

[fastbysuzuki]

Thank you fastbysuzuki

I was only able to find an aftermarket Vesrah gasket. It really was crumby. When I took off the cylinder head part of the gasket came off with it.

There was at some time VESRAH copy's being sold perhaps you have been unlucky in picking up one of those.
if the 650 has the tear drop orings between the cylinder and crank case I would get Suzuki ones as those from a dodgy kit have failed along with the cylinder orings
suzuki gaskets are more expensive for sure but they work.

 

[Brendan W]

Hello all,

I recently replaced the valve cover and head gasket on my suzuki gs 650. I torqued everything to specification and it is still leaking oil. I believe oil is coming out of head nut 5 (the middle exhaust clutch side nut). Please look at the picture of the head gasket. A little bit of oil is leaking from it and their is a ton of yellowish gunk.

I am going to take it apart, check if the cylinder head is warped, clean, and replace the washers. This is my first bike and the only thing I've worked on besides a bicycle. Anything else I should check or look out for?

Thanks for your help

View attachment 46396

Did you retorque after a few heat cycles ?
I got a full half turn after a few hundred miles.