Replacing the Head Gasket

[Griffin]

I think I need to replace my head gasket. When the bike was warming up I saw a puff of exhaust come out of the side of the engine. You can see by this picture it's been happening for awhile.


Question before I get into this and pull the motor. 1980 cb750k with 31776 miles.

I've never broken down a motorcycle engine so this is pretty intimidating. I have the shop manual and a Clymer to reference. Is this something a first timer should do on his own? I did do it on a single cylinder lawn tractor once. Can I just replace the single head gasket or are there more gaskets I should do? Do I need to have any machineing done in case of warping?  Does anyone have a link to a gasket they previously purchased for a DOHC that is working for them?

Thanks in advance, what I might need the most is confidence.

Am I better off dropping the engine off at a shop?

[TOOLS1]

First thing, throw the Clymer manual away!!!!!!!! Second, changing the head gasket is not hard. Read up on it in the factory service manual, and take pictures as you take it apart. The main thing you want to watch for is that you do not break the seal that the cylinder base gasket has. If you do, you will end up pulling the cylinders to replace it. As for machine work, you will need to check the surface of the head for warpage. You can do this with a straight edge and feeler gauges, or take it to a machine shop and have them check it for you.
TOOLS

[Griffin]

Throw it away man that's rough!  I am reviewing the shop manual it is appears to be more detailed for sure.  I'm going to try it.  Not sure where to buy the new gasket.  I found a few from UK sellers on ebay but this is the only one I've found from the US. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB-750-Four-CB750C-CB750F-CB750K-CB900-Cylinder-Head-Base-Gaskets-NOS-/311562753143

I saw you comment about Cycle X on another thread.  I suppose that's Cycle Exchange. I couldn't find my model there, looks like they only work with 74-78.

Any other sources I should check?

On Mon, Mar 28, 2016 at 2:49 PM, TOOLS1 [via Honda CB750'S] <[hidden email]> wrote:

First thing, throw the Clymer manual away!!!!!!!! Second, changing the head gasket is not hard. Read up on it in the factory service manual, and take pictures as you take it apart. The main thing you want to watch for is that you do not break the seal that the cylinder base gasket has. If you do, you will end up pulling the cylinders to replace it. As for machine work, you will need to check the surface of the head for warpage. You can do this with a straight edge and feeler gauges, or take it to a machine shop and have them check it for you.
TOOLS

Life is not about the number of breaths, you take, but the moments that take your breath away.
I don't have an anger problem. I have an idiot problem. Hank Hill
Never confuse education for intelligence.
Happiness is a belt fed weapon.
I just can't imagine what could go wrong.
No fire? No explosions? So whats the point of your story?
Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. ~Plato
It couldn't be done, but the darn fool didn't know it, and did it anyway.
We all got problems. Ksharp
I like vintage bikes because they take me away from the clutter of technology that I work with everyday and back to a simpler time of mechanical elegance and simplicity.. "ninadm"
Darkwing Duck: The worst part of public transportation is the Public.
"That is awesome shit there" Re-Run
"Fear nothing, attack everything" Eric Berry
" Oh, you read that on the internet? Clearly it IS a massive problem. Of course it CAN’t be normal operation."

1976 CB 750-A X 2
1977 CB 750-A X 4
1977 CB 750-K
1976 CB 750 F
1981 CB 750
1966 Kawasaki SG 250
1981 KZ 750 LTD
1973 CB 350
1979 CM 185 Twinstar
1982 Honda XL 80
South of Eden (Kansas City MO)

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NAML

[Griffin]

This Polish seller has it for about $30 US.  That's the best price I've found so far.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KR-Zylinderkopfdichtung-Kopfdichtung-Head-gasket-HONDA-CB-750-K-1980-/161890937902

On Mon, Mar 28, 2016 at 4:52 PM, Dave Arnold <[hidden email]> wrote:

Throw it away man that's rough!  I am reviewing the shop manual it is appears to be more detailed for sure.  I'm going to try it.  Not sure where to buy the new gasket.  I found a few from UK sellers on ebay but this is the only one I've found from the US. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB-750-Four-CB750C-CB750F-CB750K-CB900-Cylinder-Head-Base-Gaskets-NOS-/311562753143

I saw you comment about Cycle X on another thread.  I suppose that's Cycle Exchange. I couldn't find my model there, looks like they only work with 74-78.

Any other sources I should check?

On Mon, Mar 28, 2016 at 2:49 PM, TOOLS1 [via Honda CB750'S] <[hidden email]> wrote:

First thing, throw the Clymer manual away!!!!!!!! Second, changing the head gasket is not hard. Read up on it in the factory service manual, and take pictures as you take it apart. The main thing you want to watch for is that you do not break the seal that the cylinder base gasket has. If you do, you will end up pulling the cylinders to replace it. As for machine work, you will need to check the surface of the head for warpage. You can do this with a straight edge and feeler gauges, or take it to a machine shop and have them check it for you.
TOOLS

Life is not about the number of breaths, you take, but the moments that take your breath away.
I don't have an anger problem. I have an idiot problem. Hank Hill
Never confuse education for intelligence.
Happiness is a belt fed weapon.
I just can't imagine what could go wrong.
No fire? No explosions? So whats the point of your story?
Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. ~Plato
It couldn't be done, but the darn fool didn't know it, and did it anyway.
We all got problems. Ksharp
I like vintage bikes because they take me away from the clutter of technology that I work with everyday and back to a simpler time of mechanical elegance and simplicity.. "ninadm"
Darkwing Duck: The worst part of public transportation is the Public.
"That is awesome shit there" Re-Run
"Fear nothing, attack everything" Eric Berry
" Oh, you read that on the internet? Clearly it IS a massive problem. Of course it CAN’t be normal operation."

1976 CB 750-A X 2
1977 CB 750-A X 4
1977 CB 750-K
1976 CB 750 F
1981 CB 750
1966 Kawasaki SG 250
1981 KZ 750 LTD
1973 CB 350
1979 CM 185 Twinstar
1982 Honda XL 80
South of Eden (Kansas City MO)

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If you reply to this email, your message will be added to the discussion below:

http://honda-cb750-s.456789.n3.nabble.com/Replacing-the-Head-Gasket-tp4059905p4059909.html

To unsubscribe from Replacing the Head Gasket, click here.
NAML

[TOOLS1]

You are going to need more then the head gasket to do this.
TOOLS