First, hi, I'm new to the site and look forward to reading through it. My first searches didn't turn up an answer to my question.
Right to the Questions:
Just replaced a leaking head gasket and it's still leaking.
My questions are, should I be using a spray sealer or should this be sealing with the metal gasket alone? And, since I just installed this gasket, can I remove it, use sealer and just re-install the same gasket, or does it need replaced after being torqued down?
More Detail:
I have a 1990 KDX200 (with an LA sleeve). I got it out of storage to get back to riding after almost ten years. It was blowing sweet smelling white smoke, would only stay running with the choke pulled, and had black specs in the coolant. So I pulled the head off and changed the head gasket. The head and cylinder were flat, clean, and smooth. I torqued the head bolts at 20ft lbs each (service manual said 18ft lbs). Well I started it back up (always starts on 1st or 2nd kick), ran good, but after a few minutes, it still blows white, sweet smelling, smoke when I rev it. I used an OEM Kawasaki head gasket with no sealer.
A little history for those still reading:
Around 1995 the piston broke and I had it steel sleeved (stock bore, back then re-coating wasn't an economical option) and put in a Wiseco Pro-Lite piston. I only rode it three or four times afterward and it ran great. It's been in storage ever since and is in great shape. I changed oil and started it three or four times a year riding it around the yard just to keep it loose. Noticed the white smoke last year. The top end still looks new inside after the rebuild in 1995.
Any other thoughts?
Thanks in advance,
John
Right to the Questions:
Just replaced a leaking head gasket and it's still leaking.
My questions are, should I be using a spray sealer or should this be sealing with the metal gasket alone? And, since I just installed this gasket, can I remove it, use sealer and just re-install the same gasket, or does it need replaced after being torqued down?
More Detail:
I have a 1990 KDX200 (with an LA sleeve). I got it out of storage to get back to riding after almost ten years. It was blowing sweet smelling white smoke, would only stay running with the choke pulled, and had black specs in the coolant. So I pulled the head off and changed the head gasket. The head and cylinder were flat, clean, and smooth. I torqued the head bolts at 20ft lbs each (service manual said 18ft lbs). Well I started it back up (always starts on 1st or 2nd kick), ran good, but after a few minutes, it still blows white, sweet smelling, smoke when I rev it. I used an OEM Kawasaki head gasket with no sealer.
A little history for those still reading:
Around 1995 the piston broke and I had it steel sleeved (stock bore, back then re-coating wasn't an economical option) and put in a Wiseco Pro-Lite piston. I only rode it three or four times afterward and it ran great. It's been in storage ever since and is in great shape. I changed oil and started it three or four times a year riding it around the yard just to keep it loose. Noticed the white smoke last year. The top end still looks new inside after the rebuild in 1995.
Any other thoughts?
Thanks in advance,
John