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Replacing head gasket 80 gs850

  • Thread starter Thread starter 520eek
  • Start date Start date
Duh.... c-clamps.....I am still in a morning fog! :)

Thats good news to hear about the finished results after the tear down/reassembly
 
Hey wingsconsin... was the base gasket a real chore to get off for that project or did you luck out?
 
JTGS850GL said:
To get the springs off I use a large C-clamp and a cheap O2 socket with the slot widened. Some use PVC pipe and put a slot in it.
Click to expand...

I have given up on the PVC pipe and am now using a 24mm deep socket with a window cut on one side.

It probably looks a lot like your O2 socket, but I did not know about them when I was shopping.

.
 
520eek said:
Hey wingsconsin... was the base gasket a real chore to get off for that project or did you luck out?
Click to expand...
Every gasket was stuck on pretty hard... Steve did the seals, and honing, and technical work of every kind --
I was the grunt worker left to scrape the old gaskets off carefully - it took some time, but it got done. Plan on this being a giant PIA , but worth it.
 
Very good ..... I went ahead and splurged and just ordered the rings. Seems like a good idea while I am right there. After all, when its back together and running it's intended purpose I have for it is to push a side hack around!
 
520eek said:
So I will be replacing the head gasket soon...my question is"can it be done with out using ring compressor?" Can you you be crafty enough and pull cylinders off with pistons still in them or is it to much of a pain in the arse? The bike is coming up on 30K and runs fine..no smoking and decent poer. Was just planning on doing gasket set only and seal it back up. I would prefer to wait for a few years before I do any real top end work....:cool:
Click to expand...

If the bike only has 30k and runs good why not just ride it?

Brian
 
Brian...

I did ride it for a bit. Then put sidecar on and rode a bit more...then head gasket started to leak. Since I am going to modify frame and alter a few things, this is the time to do so while its still easy enough done. I have found that getting sidecar aligned up is not as easy as I thought...so the next time its on and on correctly I would like to leave it that way for awhile. I am spoiled that I have a lift for maintenance and now I hate working on the ground ( if I can avoid it ). So while sidecar is off and I can use the lift....Its gonna get done. As far as the rings go....pretty sure its gonna be okay by doing them, can't hurt and its right in my hands at that point! :)
 
520eek said:
Brian...

I did ride it for a bit. Then put sidecar on and rode a bit more...then head gasket started to leak. Since I am going to modify frame and alter a few things, this is the time to do so while its still easy enough done. I have found that getting sidecar aligned up is not as easy as I thought...so the next time its on and on correctly I would like to leave it that way for awhile. I am spoiled that I have a lift for maintenance and now I hate working on the ground ( if I can avoid it ). So while sidecar is off and I can use the lift....Its gonna get done. As far as the rings go....pretty sure its gonna be okay by doing them, can't hurt and its right in my hands at that point! :)
Click to expand...

Well that sounds like an interesting project. Can't imagine what it would be like to drive/ride a sidecar rig.

Anyways, to answer your original question: I put new rings in my '77 GS750B a few years ago. I made 4 ring compressors using hose clamps and 3/4" wide steel banding (the kind they use strapping loads). Then, when everything was ready to put the barrels on, I rotated the crank until all the pistons were sitting at the same level. I then support them with pieces of 1 x 2 under the piston skirts. Put the ring compressors on and tightened them down and them backed them off enough that they would slide on the piston. The barrel then slid down over all four pistons at once. Just have to make sure everything is lined up and square.




Good luck.
Brian
 
Brian..

Thanks for the pics! Looks simple enough! I shall post some pics along the way as frame and sidecar project are under way... I guess I should start a new post at that time...
 
When you do it you can gently set the cylinders on top of the pistons and take a close look with a light to make sure the ring compressors are right up into the bevel on the bottom of the cylinder and that no rings have sprung out. When all that is looking good a moderate, even push down should be all that is needed. Any more than that and you need to take another look.

Also, don't do something dumb like I did and forget to put the base gasket on.LOL
 
Also, don't do something dumb like I did and forget to put the base gasket on.LOL[/QUOTE]

OMG...:o
 
That's a good way to wind somebody up - pick up the old base gasket and ask innocently, "Where does this go?"
 
Hi again! Summer came and went! I now have bike apart in garage! I posted a question about the head gasket in this engine forum.

I have a strange looking head gasket to put back in. It looks like multi layered thin metal and that's it. No "squish bands around the cylinder holes and on the 4 outboard corner there is no "embossed" o-ring or anything...what is this?
 
It's known as an "MLS" gasket, that's Multi-Layered Steel. It's a good one, enjoy it. :encouragement:

.
 
Steve said:
It's known as an "MLS" gasket, that's Multi-Layered Steel. It's a good one, enjoy it. :encouragement:

.
Click to expand...

So just slap that sucker in there and bolt it up? I am still curious as the outboard corners, on old gasket had what looks like an embossed o-ring in place. The new mls does not. Does oil flow up these studs to someplace? I am looking at cylinder and then head but don't see anything that would be representative of an oil gallery going up the stud holes.

Then there is the sort of oval o-rings one must replace ( I am ) that are located on rear outboard corners. What is that little hole that appears to be an oil feed/drain hole of some type?
 
And a start of what is going on with bike...
 

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Okay, Saturday is assembly day at last! I have done some reading here and came up with a few observations and still one nagging question...

1. base cylinder o-rings...some say yes and others say no, I don't think they will do harm to put them in.

2. on the base gasket, apply some gasgacinch or hylamar...both sides?

3. on the pear shaped o-rings use very little (or none at all) sealant

4. with mls gasket there is no need for rectangle o-ring??

5. and with this mls gasket, it goes in dry...no sealants

6. nagging question about mls head gasket....once installed and torqued down, whats to keep oil from leaking out the oil feed stud holes on the initial start and run in after that?

Any thoughts or comments?
 
Some experienced builders never use the base o ring. What do I know , I used them.
The base gasket should not need sealer if it's oem and the surfaces are good. I used a non oem gasket and the surface had a gouge or three from a previous job so I sprayed the gasket with aluminium paint more as insurance than from any great experience of doing these. The previous base gasket was not leaking despite the gouges.
I would not put silicone anywhere near rising oil galleries such as the egg shaped rings at the back corners of the base. Way back I screwed up a top end overusing that stuff at the base joint and run a mile ever since. :)
I used a non oem headgasket and a tiny amount of threebond the secure the tunnel o ring.
Can't comment on MLS.
 
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