GL1000 1976 - Head gasket

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nicdes
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GL1000 1976 - Head gasket

#1

Post by nicdes »

Hi,

I have some kind of worrying symptoms with my GL.
First, I noticed that sometimes, after a short stay for buying stuff or fill gazoline, when I start back the engine, it smokes a real white/brown smoke from the right exhaust. The smoke goes after a few seconds.
Second, on my last run, the water temp indicator went flirting with the red zone when stopping a few times in the traffic. It went back a bit when riding again but never took its place back to the center of the gauge. After that run, the coolant level was very low, close to the min mark on the expansion tank.
Third, I clearly hear bubbles in the cooling circuit when I stop the engine these days.

I also checked the spark plugs, it all seems normal, black but not so much and no white-steamed by coolant.
Oil level hasn't increase, so I guess no water passes from coolant to oil circuit...
Coolant is green and the expansion tank is dirty, oily and so is the radiator cap. I think the coolant isn't silicate free, so seals from the water pump must have suffered a bit or more.

From all that I read in many posts here, I shall start make my mind and plan to change at least the right head gasket.
What would you suggest ?

Thank you in advance for any advice !
Tom
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: GL1000 1976 - Head gasket

#2

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Try one more test- as the bike is running, check the coolant overflow tank. If it looks like a fish tank bubbler, you've most likely got some kind of leak between the combustion chamber and the coolant passages.

If this is the case, and combined with the above info, I wouldn't be surprised if your head gasket was on the way out. Your choices are either try to preemptively fix a problem that MIGHT be happening (and avoid getting stranded later), or wait until it blows for sure and you KNOW what's wrong with it.

Either way, if you do change it, it's a good idea to do both. I also swear by OEM (because I had a bad experience with an aftermarket set), but others might tell you different. Either way, good luck!
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
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Re: GL1000 1976 - Head gasket

#3

Post by CYBORG »

+1 on OEM action1 action1
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pidjones
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Re: GL1000 1976 - Head gasket

#4

Post by pidjones »

Not a huge task. Belts can accompany. Just be careful to not snap off one of the water tube screws. Clean the water tubes well and using new o-rings lube them well with silicone grease.
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Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
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Re: GL1000 1976 - Head gasket

#5

Post by Fred Camper »

Could be low on coolant and get the similar effect, but if there are bubbles in the overflow tank then a head gasket leak is the reason for the low coolant.
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Re: GL1000 1976 - Head gasket

#6

Post by Rat »

Condition of the spark plug(s) can be a clue … if they look 'steam cleaned' … it could be a head gasket …

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Re: GL1000 1976 - Head gasket

#7

Post by redglbx »

They all smoke to some degree on start up, just something they do, but if your oil looks like a chocolate milkshake you have a bad head gasket or if you have a lot of bubbling in the coolant you probably havea bad head gasket. By the way, I prefer to take the radiator cap off (when cold) and then start the engine and look for bubbles, but depending on the amount you get in the overflow tank that could also be a clear indicator.

I also prefer oe head gaskets but will add that I find better results by retorqueing the headbolts after one or two heat cycles. Also lube the head bolts when you install them, motor oil is fine & follow the torque sequence in the service manual.
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Re: GL1000 1976 - Head gasket

#8

Post by gltriker »

Scroll down to the bottom of this page to SIMILAR TOPICS for even more conversations about cylinder head gasket troubleshooting .
Literally everything else one needs to know about accomplishing a complete repair will be found in that collection, too. tumb2

Let's not forget to utilize the extensive ShopTalk information library. page/ST

A complete listing of, Head Gasket Job, Part Numbers, is found on this page:
viewtopic.php?p=59355#p59355
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Re: GL1000 1976 - Head gasket

#9

Post by nicdes »

Hi,
Thank you all for these trails and advice.
I then have to check and verify a few more things, hope tomorrow, and will get back to you.
Thomas
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SRX 600 1987 - stroke and agility, catch me if u can
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Re: GL1000 1976 - Head gasket

#10

Post by toomanybikes »

Having gone through a similar situation on a diff bike, two other things to test are:
- get a fluid chem test to see if exhaust gases are in the coolant. $20-$30 at harbor freight. You have to buy the test fluid separately.
- try a new radiator cap. A bad seal may explain bubbles in the expansion tank. but it wouldn't explain oily coolant in the expansion.
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nicdes
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Re: GL1000 1976 - Head gasket

#11

Post by nicdes »

Hi,
I definitely have bubbles in the expansion tank, whether the engine is cold or warm.
I also noticed that the right head and rocker cover are clearly hotter than the left one. Right side gets hot more quickly and stays hotter when engine is hot.
GL1000 1976 - smooth and unstoppable, be aware ur safety distance ;)
SRX 600 1987 - stroke and agility, catch me if u can
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMB875 ... WWNj5MtKAw
https://soundcloud.com/nicdes
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Re: GL1000 1976 - Head gasket

#12

Post by pidjones »

Possible leak from cylinder to water system. Sometimes only appears when you "get on it" (cylinder pressures higher as well as heat input). I had a 2.8 Chevy engine that did that accelerating up a hill. Lucked out with a head re-torque fixing that one (for MANY more miles). On the GL1000, it really isn't that big a job. Just expensive to buy the head ga$ket$. Carbs don't have to come off even. Remove shelter sides, unbolt carbs, lift them up with bungees.
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: GL1000 1976 - Head gasket

#13

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Two things from me for a probable head gasket job:

--There is an easy to miss 10mm bolt on the bottom of each head, I'm addition to the six (I think) main head bolts. Keep an eye out.

--The hardest part for me was getting the coolant tube o-rings back in without cutting them. The tubes on the top of the block are just rather thin aluminum tube, and the edges are fairly sharp. Not to mention the fit is not that positive.

And hey- new belts while you got it apart? Best of luck.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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Re: GL1000 1976 - Head gasket

#14

Post by Whiskerfish »

Yep order extra coolant tube Orings, they are cheap. Seems like I almost always roll at least one and once it is stretched even a bit it is almost impossible to put in. A little lube of your choice and do not Twist, steady straight pressure. Don't forget to order the 2 small orings for the oil jet.
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Re: GL1000 1976 - Head gasket

#15

Post by redglbx »

One thing I’ve been doing on my bike(s) if they need new head gaskets is that I have .030- 040in milled off the head gasket surface. This does 2 things, it gives you a really nice flat & clean surface to work with. And it gives you a nice little performance boost, particularly in the low end, you can take off up to .050in but that’s the max, I usually only go .040in., that moved my cranking compression from the 135-145 cranking psi that my red bike has had since new to actually be 170-180psi now which is where Honda claims it’s supposed to be (171psi).

I also advanced my cams to +4 degrees which put the cranking compression to just over 200psi, I actually did that several years before milling the heads. By the way it still runs fine on regular gas,but I sometimes run mid grade when it’s particularly hot out, the bike doesn’t seem to care but it helps me not worry & sleep better.

Anyway just something to think about if you take it apart.
Red 1976 oe owner
1976 LTD restored
1980 CBX , in the que, to fix the ignorant heavy handed owner
1981 CBX
1977 CB750 K7
2014 FJR OE owner, sold
1980 GL1100
1984 GL1200 naked
1969 CL350, in the que
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