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Head gasket change

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by riide125, Nov 10, 2012.

  1. riide125

    riide125 Member

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    Gonna attempt to change my head gasket (82 650 maxim) never done this before. Looking for advice and maybe some photos of the process if anyone can help with that
     
    riide125, Nov 10, 2012
    #1
  2. mlew

    mlew Well-Known Member

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    Do you mean head or valve cover gasket? Valve cover is simple, head not so much. Eather way you need a service manual. It covers both with pictures. Head gasket replacement does require some special tools. torque wrench, feeler gauges. Hopefully you have access to them.
    Plan on checking the valve clearences, its imporntant to do.
     
    mlew, Nov 10, 2012
    #2
  3. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    VALVE COVER gasket is covered here; as part of the valve clearance adjustment process: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=14827.html

    Pulling the cylinder HEAD is a whole different story; and constitutes major surgery. If that's truly what you need to do, mlew is right; do not attempt it without a service manual and a thorough familiarization with the process beforehand. (Study first.)
     
    bigfitz52, Nov 10, 2012
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  4. MiCarl

    MiCarl Active Member

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    The most important question is WHY you're planning to change the head gasket. If it's because you think it's leaking oil you're almost certainly mistaken.

    A leaking valve cover gasket is common, and the oil often appears to come from the head gasket area.
     
    MiCarl, Nov 10, 2012
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  5. maximike

    maximike Member

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    My head gasket was leaking, I have pictures, but it *is* rare. Also, there's a difference between a leak and a "blown" head gasket, one causes lack of compression, the other doesn't. Mine was just a minor "oozing" from between the one and two cylinders that seemed to go away after a re-torque and better oil. At any rate if it still leaks, it's so slow I don't have any mess in that area anymore(kinda hard to see with the headers on anyway).

    Here is my pic, this is with the headers off, and motor covered with baby powder, you can see in the first post in the thread, the before, no leak, then the after is actually first, with the red circle, a leak that comes from nowhere but the head gasket, dry powder all around it and a straight line at the top where the gasket is: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=25152.html
     
    maximike, Nov 10, 2012
    #5

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