bike wont start getting spark and fuel

Yes.

All speculation aside, nothing will be known until the head comes off. At that point the truth will be revealed. Remember, that PO guy has been known to do some really messed up things. Given what I've seen and been shown; I would not be surprised if someone tried to JB-weld a valve stem back together just to get a bike sold.

 

Anyone know whats the best way to get/pry the head up without causing damage? Rubber mallet isnt doing the trick...

 

It will...keep tapping being careful around the fins. Feeling strong? Tug upward on either side (left and right) from time to time as you tap on it.

Gary H.

 

Soft (empasis on soft) wood wedge (or plastic wedge), carefully applied at the gasket. Tap, tap, tap, all the way around. Just be sure to use a wedge that is softer than the alloy head.

 

Tap tap tap pull tap tap tap, drink a beer return to tapping

 

Always quadruple check for bolts you missed. Has happened to me dozens of times.

 

The ones under the head in the center are hard to see sometimes and get overlooked

 

Got 4 on back under the intake. 2 from center of exhaust and 12 top rounded bolts. Is that right?

 

Yes. You removed the cams and hung the chain right?

Gary H.

 

Yep

 

Sorry for the lack of updates still having trouble seperating the head

 

Keep at it. It'll come off. Have you tried using wedges like I mentioned earlier?

 

Couldnt find any plastic ones at the store so gonna try to make some wood ones

 

The plastic wedges will be in the plumbing department; for leveling toilets.

 

Been a few days how's progress, I'm sitting here wondering all the time asking my self ''I wonder how aries tear down is going'' for some reason I have a genuine interest in this particular project

 

try penetrating oil at all the bolts/studs could be frozen from some corrosion that needs some attention

 

Still tapping away. Had a couple friends come by and lift while i tapped with hammer. Still not a budge. Gonna try this plastic wedge thing if i can find them. Im starting to think maybe the engine is so scarred up inside it locked the head to the block...

 

proberly time to way up if its just cheaper and less headache to replace engine i dont know about the usa but here in australia in my local gumtree i can pick up a xj750 engine for $200 negoitable

 

Success! Well kinda... sawed some wedges out of 2x4 hammered down the seam got it loose. Not really sure what im looking at. It appears as though all of the intake valves have been striking the pistons. I think the #2 was just the first to go.

 

Dang that's a bummer, any chance you can salvage the head and block and rebuild?

 

Pics would be nice if you have the time.

 

If the valve timing were that far off that bike would barely run if at all. For some reason your timing chain skipped on the intake cam causing the valve timing to be off far enough for the valves to hit the piston tops. Better look at the cam chain and tensioner very close to see why this happened.

 

I think both are salvageable, there is light scarring on every piston, but nothing looks destroyed. Kinda like someone traced part of the valve head with a knife. (Pics included but hard to see) im going to pull/inspect the block tomorrow. If anyone knows the tell-tale signs of damage i should be looking for in this area that correlate with bent intake valves i could use your advice. I was also wondering the cost and time to do a complete rebuild? It seems a shame to be this deep in an engine and not do everything to keep from doing it again. On the other hand, im poor, dont have a lot of free time to dedicate to it (besides weekends) and every nice day i cant ride my bike, a little bit of my sanity is lost. Estimates?

 

I would leave the bottom end alone for now. Just concentrate on the one pistion where the valve broke. If it only has a few dings in the top it might be ok. If there are some major hits along the edge it may have bent the pistion top enough to pinch the upper ring. In which case you would have to pull the cylinders and replace that one piston and rings on all the rest.
If you can find some good replacement valves any good machine shop could fix that head right up. They could massage some of the damage out with a die grinder and some polishing wheels. Check with Len on the gaskets needed and maybe he or someone here might have a nice set of used intake valves that would work. The exhaust side looked ok but have the machinist look them over good. They might be salvageable.