It's all O-man's fault....(head gaskets again, or maybe not)

[AApple]

no matter what it is.... :whip:
:mrgreen:
So....I been suspecting a coolant leak(smell when I first fire it up) for a while now, but the reservoir has never been low...until yesterday. I decided to check a little deeper, so I pulled the shelter off and checked the raditater. Sure 'nuff, it was aboot 1/2 pint low. Topped it off, and refilled the reservoir. Pulled the plugs, and all were nice, and the color I like to see....pale tannish, no crud build-up.
For the past couple o weeks, every now and then, when I start it, I get a quick puff of steam from the right side. Not a lot, but enough to see. Normally, once I get to my destination(werk or home), I'll leave the key on long enough for the fan to shut off, then I'll fire it back up for a few seconds, long enough to see the temp gauge fall down. This mernin, when I got to the shop, I fired it up, and a cloud of steam billowed out for about 4-5 seconds, then cleared up. I'm certain the right head gasket has blown. NO coolant in the erl, and NO erl in the coolant. Guess I gotta rip this turd back apart and do head gaskets again..... :builder: :rant:
Dangit....I wuz hopin it would stay put until wintertime. Thanx Randy... :rant: oh2:

:smilie_happy: :mrgreen:

I did the head gaskets 3 years ago, using real OE Honda gaskets, but I think one of the head bolts on the right side may not have tightened down properly, so I'm also going to Helicoil the block this time.

 

[mcgovern61]

Man Joel.......do you ever get a break???

 

[zman]

Thats sucks but at least it is a fairly easy job, did you check the block for flat too?

 

[slabghost]

3 years and it needs head gaskets again?. You better check the heads and block are dead flat and clean this time. You could try to retorque.

 

[joedrum]

always a great feeling ...like when i was working on my bike while sick and went inside and passed out ...to wake up with a running steam engine outside ....changed both in a few hrs LOL....

 

[Omega Man]

AApple » Mon Sep 28, 2015 10:03 am[/url]"] Thanx Randy... :rant: oh2:

... wait what!? :read:

 

[AApple]

:smilie_happy: :mrgreen: :smilie_happy:
Just say "I'm sorry" O-man.... :smilie_happy:

Not really sure it's the gasket, anyway. Imma thinkin what I have is similar to what Dan was goin thru with Suzie's bike.....might be a crack in the head on the exhaust port side. I think it's leaking into the pipe, and then steaming when it fires up. From looking at the plugs, the fact there is no coolant in the oil or oil in the coolant(as there was the last time), it's not overheating, and it's not loosing coolant very quickly, it appears to be not as bad as it looks at this point. Still starts/idles/runs fine, no steam or smoke while idling/riding, ONLY on startup. Definitely coolant, not oil smoke....it dissipates very quickly. I checked the coolant level when I got home this evenin, and it is still pretty much where it was yesterday after I topped it off. No bubbles in the radiator, either.
So....I'm prolly gunna hafta look for a set of heads, and not just tear into it for gaskets, then find it has a crack in the head. Off to fleabay I goes... :roll:


btw...the heads and block were both fine before...flat as pancakes on both sides. :yes:

 

[slabghost]

Does it smell sweet or is it just white smoke? If it isn't sweet smelling it's not coolant it's condensation or possibly a little unburnt fuel.

 

[AApple]

Definitely coolant, V. :yes:

 

[joedrum]

it seems 80-81 bikes can blow head gaskets the easiest of all oldwings jerry ran his 80-85mph to my place and we are are rather sure head gasket blew a bit ...temp switch and thermostat are long ways from head ..at speed the 80-81 turn rather fast ...and that produces big time heat ...and all head gaskets for oldwings are just sub par including honda brand goop gaskets also

 

[slabghost]

AApple » Mon Sep 28, 2015 9:44 pm[/url]":a2pmoeby]
Definitely coolant, V. :yes:

With it not showing up except at start up. I'd run it up to temp and retorque the heads. Might fix it for a week or a decade?

 

[jpwinger]

Yep 170 miles at speed may have been a little hard on the head gaskets and radiator but after floridaizeing it no heat shield no thermostat it runs very cool now. already switched out radiator on 82 this summer. Got one for the 80 when I get back to Florida looking at head gaskets most likely too. Joe how's that restrictor plate doing?

 

[joedrum]

so far great jerry but we must consider the 12% more flow the 1200 has over 1000s and 1100s ...on 1200s you need to cut theflow some as its to much for radiator to work like the 1100 dose with no thermostat .....plus on my bike it has the larger 1000-1100 radiator on it too ....so its not going to translate to much for the 1100 of yours but ...im sure if yours gives any problem we can custom get it to its best spot ....

 

[jpwinger]

Just wondering if the resistor plate might increase longevity of the head gaskets in the long run.

 

[AApple]

:0fftopic: :BigGrin:

It seems that the only time it blows vapors is after it sits for a few minutes after a long. hot run. If it sits for a couple of minutes, it won't do it...if it sits for 10 minutes, it's like a steam engine, but only for a split second. It's the worst if I get stuck in heavy traffic, and it doesn't have time to cool down before I shut it off. I always leave the key on when I get wherever I'm going, to let the fan run(if it's running when I stop). If the fan isn't running when I kill the engine, it will NOT smoke on startup. If I have to let the fan run, that's when it will steam on startup. I think there's a small crack in the exhaust port that opens only when it gets that hot, since it does not smoke going down the road, or even idling when hot....only after the engine is shut down, and sits for a few minutes. :headscratch:

 

[slabghost]

You might want to just replace the T stat with a summer restrictor plate and or put a bypass fan switch on so you can turn the fan on earlier.

 

[AApple]

I been considering wiring up a fan switch, just so I can get it running sooner than "normal". Couldn't hert, and might help with the traffic heat. :good:

 

[dan filipi]

Summer restrict or plate? :smilie_happy:

 

[slabghost]

No restrictor plate -
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Be-Cool-Water-S ... 54&vxp=mtr

like this-

 

[joedrum]

ill say something here im amazed how well the restrictor plate works like carb tuning but easier ...just went for ride in ...in the 90s here humid to the max ...and all hooch did was run cool and pull the wheel off the ground while not trying ....i stayed out about an hr and came home cause the heat was not comfortable to me