cyliner gasket

[Vaulta]

Hey guys I have been having a minor problem with my 99 KDx200. Black liquid has been pouring out of the top cyclinder head "I think" right behind the spark plug. Its the top piece where the black tube is connected by. Thier is a black looking bolt on the piece where its leaking, its coming out of the seam where its bolted down. I took it to my boy and he said it was a cyclinder head gasket. I looked on a parts diagram online and it looks to be coming from the center valve cover gasket, or the oil pipe gasket. Does anyone know which one so I can order it. Iam waiting for my service manual. thanx for any help

 

[wibby]

center valve cover gasket, or the oil pipe gasket

Are you taking any medications we should be aware of?

Both parts you mention are in front of the sparkplug, I thought it was leaking from behind ??

Just order a complete gasket kit, you will need 'em all sooner or later :clue:

 

[KDXNick]

Get some piston rings while you're at it. You might as well do a top end job, sounds like it might be due for one.

 

[Vaulta]

just because of one leaking gasket you think I need a top end, and no Iam not on any medication, are you?

 

[KDXNick]

Didn't say that you were on any meds. Just trying to offer some helpfull advice. It sounds like you defineitly need a head gasket, and in my experience it's best to do the head and base gaskets along with the rings while you are in there. That's a normal once/ year service, and by rebuilding it you will likely: (a) discover the problem, (b) prevent any further damage, (c) benifit from regular maintainence, or (d) all of the above.
Not trying to insult you, just offering helpfull advice that comes from years of experience.
-Nick

 

[sunnyboy]

sunnyboy

nick is right and should go further to say that you need to check out your piston and rod bearings ,you should also clean the carbon off the head and piston.look at your owners manual all of this is part of normal maintanace.take care of your bike and it will take care of you and you will have more fun :thumb:

 

[Vaulta]

KDXNick no insult taken I was talkin to Wibby. I am completly new to bikes got some parts mixed up. So, should I just order a gasket kit and not the piston kit, or when I open it up to do the gaskets I should check the piston and rod bearings and if bad order the piston kit? The bike is a 99 and supposly was sitting broken in storage for 3 years beacuse the previous owner could not afford to fix it, the bike looks mint. I just replaced the cluth cover gasket and the primary cover gasket beacause of leaking. A mechanic told me that the gaskets could of gone bad beacuse of the bike sitting for so long, hopefully. I really dont wont to spend the money for a piston kit if not needed. How hard is it to do all of this.Also, where do you guys get your parts, I was checking online and seemed like good prices is thier a good online store?, whats the difference between high commpression gasket kit and not.Again I do aprechate all your responses and advice.Thanx Vaulta

 

[sunnyboy]

the gaskets are all you really need,doing the rings i would wait intell your inspection according to the manual is done to get the parts a piston kit comes with rings as well as the top bearings as all of these need to be done when replacing the piston.this can be done and is probably due according to the manual.in reallity every time you run the engine and it cools the piston gets smaller by a very small amount.look at the piston if the sides show signs off wear replace it ,if it looks clean just do the rings. i dont belive that the gaskets you replaced went bad that fast due to sitting more likley is that some one removed the covers and failed to replace them with new ones,head and base gaskets should never be used twice the same for the gaskets on the intake, some times you can get away with re- using the other gaskets you replaced if they are not damaged during removale. parts deals are a double edged sword,yes you may save money on line but if the part is wrong it takes time to get the right part and you have the hassle of returning it.dealing with your dealer has a lot of pluses,a good dealer will lots of times install some parts for you at now charge as long as you bought the parts from them,like wheel bearings etc.they are more likely to help you with problems if you are buying parts from them-my shop just pressed in all new bearings in my wheels swingarm and linkage at no extra charge to me,because they are use to seeing my smiling face the shop manager came in on his day off and did the work that is support.you can ask to get a discont on parts from your dealer,if they are a good dealer they will work with you on thisdepending on how much you spend or are spending at the time 10% is usally easy to get,i get 25% because i by a lot of parts but if i order a 5 dollar part they cant do that they are thier to make money.when i buy a bike, part of the deal is a discount on parts.always ask it never hurts,just about any bike supply shop will give a discount if they remember you as a customer.if your dealer dosnt due this for you look for another dealer.have a great day

 

[KDXNick]

Check the piston over for signs of wear while you have it apart. KDXs have a reputation for unusually long piston life compared to other off-road bikes. I read somewhere that Team Green has gone as long as 1 year before replacing KDX pistons, and even then they showed minimal signs of wear. I doubt that you need a new piston unless the previous owner didn't warm the bike up properly or beat the hell out of it while riding. -Always let your bike warm up at idle (w/small blips of the throttle) for about 1 min (or until the pipe feels hot to the touch through your glove) before putting a load on your engine. You don't want to experience the joy of re-plating and rebuilding your top end after a cold-seizure.-
As for parts, I used to buy them exclusively through my dealer, when I enjoyed a 30% racer support 'sponsorship' discount. After I couldn't dedicate the time or money toward a serious effort, I lost the support and started buying parts through Hi-PerSports and other large distributors (and Ferdette Racing!). I always ordered via phone, so I never experienced any major mistakes. I usualy paid 10-20% under the retail cost of the dealer, but after realizing the sacred bond that exists between the parts guy and the hopelessly addicted throttle junkie, I went back to the dealer. I have been saved multiple times through my relationships with the parts guys at my Kawi dealership and with Don, the owner of the local race shop (1/2 mile from Steel City). They have done everything from slipping me spokes&nipple's out of the special order bins to stowing the last items of inventory behind the counter for a few days until I could get there during business hours. You may save a bit of cash by going through distributors but a good parts guy can be priceless; especially when you split a seam while cleaning your air filter the Friday afternoon before a weekend riding trip, and he stays after hours just to make sure you will ride that weekend.
-Nick

 

[Vaulta]

wow, I think that sums everything up with me, THanx boyz!
vaulta