How to part the cylinder head from the cylinders - stuck gasket - 1980 gs550e

[ukjules]

I wonder if anyone could point me in the right direction.

I am trying to renew the top end gaskets and have bike almost in bits
(engine still in the bike) and cannot part the cylinder head from the block ?
I have been tapping with a rubber mallet and no joy.
I have been lucky and never had this problem before on other bikes.

Is there an easy trick to do this ?

All running fine before I did this , pistons not seized or anything like that.

Thoughts be much appreciated !

[chuck hahn]

1 inch wide putty knife. Tap it straight and level into the seam and work your way around till its free.

[ukjules]

Am trying the putty knife method but its not working at the moment. I could be destroying my head and
block but it has to come off.
I have already broken a bit of a fin off gently levering but of course that is not the thing to do.

I have never had an issue before now.
I cannot see how this is going to come off.

[DimitriT]

Rubber mallet. Several good whacks on hard flat areas all around. Especially upwardly directly blows.

[ukjules]

I am getting more and more brutal - fins are now breaking off and the head is almost done now i think.
If there are no - sure fire ways of lifting this head off ill have to smash it off - no option.
I suspect the head is done now anyway.

[ukjules]

Are there any other ideas ?

-putty knife - wont work
sprayed all arund with penetrating fluid
various fins are now broken in this attempt to get it off. an exhaust
outpu alloy bit is broken too now.

I have hit it with a sledgehammer and a block of wood full force and it will
not budge.

any other ideas ?

the bottom line is i need a base gasket and a head gasket irrespective now
of whether i need a new head and bores.
How on earth do i get them off - even if i break both parts ?

[JTGS850GL]

Are you sure you have all the fasteners off first? There is one screw at the front/center of the engine that screws the cylinders to the head. That screw along with the 12 nuts that hold the head and cylinders down to the block.

[ukjules]

Guys - I must have had a ""english" moment !
I dont think I can ever admit to why this was so hard but let us say it was my fault. I am an idiot.
It is incomprehensible why this happened but it will cost me now.
The bike will go again and soon irrespective of cost.

I thank you for all your answers - you were all right !

I know need without any doubt a new:
1) 1 Cylinder head
2)Cylinder
and all the gaskets of course.

Any one have any of these in the UK ? Quick the weathers good !
1980 GS550 ET

J

[gustovh]

I have another head if you need it, just pm.

V

[DimitriT]

Guys - I must have had a ""english" moment !
I dont think I can ever admit to why this was so hard but let us say it was my fault. I am an idiot.
It is incomprehensible why this happened but it will cost me now.
The bike will go again and soon irrespective of cost.

I thank you for all your answers - you were all right !

I know need without any doubt a new:
1) 1 Cylinder head
2)Cylinder
and all the gaskets of course.

Any one have any of these in the UK ? Quick the weathers good !
1980 GS550 ET

J

Just so we can pass this along to the next guy.. what was the issue?

And don't be embarrassed. We've all been there.

[hampshirehog]

I've got a cylinder head here in the UK (I presume your bike has CV carbs and isn't a 79 model registered in 80). I think I've got the cam caps as well. From memory it's all good (the bike only had 13k miles on it before it encountered a car which proved to be more solid - not me riding) but I'm away on business at the moment so won't be able to check until the weekend. The head is 'empty' (no valves etc) but you'll be able to swap yours over.

[ukjules]

I have sent emails out to enquire about the spares you guys have.
I cant seem to understand if they have been sent or not.

I am also having an issue sending pictures on this email ?

Anyway the reason it didnt come off was that I left some boilts
in.
The only rreason for doing this insane , stupid, idiotic thing is doing too much at the samre
time. A lesson learnt !
I got it off withj a sledge hammer in the end ! until I realaised about the bolts.
Clearly I am not doing well today.

[eil]

Wow. Subscribing to this thread.

So, OP. Maybe your cylinders aren't beyond salvage. Can you post some pictures of the damage accrued so far so as to get an expert opinion on the matter? Many thanks.

[ukjules]

Trust me they are now useless.
As I thought it was somehow locked tight I forced a large screw driver in
between head and cylinder, I broke countless fins and in my desperation i
used a lump hammer then a sledge hammer to remove the head.
Cyclinder and head fins are smashed to blazes.
Nothing on earth would have prevented me from parting those items today even if I
had to cut the bike in half.
How on earth I missed the bolts is beyond comprehension.

I am now calm and relaxed, the bike is cleaned up and only needs a new head and cylinder.
I will post images of them tomorrow so you can laugh at this madness.

If anyone could have seen in my garage as I took a sledge hammer to the
engine they would have thought ...............

[ukjules]

I cant send emails and cant send pictures but yes I am interested in heads and cylinders - please send prices !

J