Headgasket changed, still having trouble

[madav8tr]

Well, I changed out the headgasket and that went easily enough but I am still having some trouble with the bike. The bike stutters and stumbles very bad, especially above 3500 rpm. It won't pull to redline in any gear except 1st. I thought it may the cam timing but I followed the book to the letter and the marks on the pulley line up just like the book says. The bike ran perfect before the headgasket problem so I think I have done something wrong but I don't how. I didn't check the valve clearances after reassembling the head but I don't hear any ticking so I don't know if that is it or not. Any ideas on what the issue might be? BTW, the bike has electronic ignition so I am wondering if I somehow screwed that up in the process of repairing the head? Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Wing84]

I would definitly check for the valve clearence, if to tight they could brake. Also before you chage the gasket did the bike overheat?

[madav8tr]

Nah, the bike temperature was in the normal operating range when the gasket went south and I was almost home at the time so I didn't ride very far with the gasket shot. I plan on doing the valves Wednesday so I may have a little better idea of what's wrong, well at least through the process of elimination of potential culprits.

[Zryder]

Where exactly did the gasket burn through ? If it burnt through the thinest part between the cylanders one of two or both . The positon on the sparkplug ignition ,( open gap of plug ), . Whitch is called indexing . Mark the spot on the plugs on top where the gap is open , and screw the plug back in . if itsopening is pointing in the direction between the smallest part of the cylanders directing the burn there will help burn the gasket there , apart from also the heads may be slightly warpped there also . Just another maybe ???


Zryder crosso

[Dougal]

Just a thought, have you checked the other head gasket?

Dougal

[Bandanna]

as dougal says madav8tr,have you checked the other gasket?

a surefire way to see if the headgasket is ok,is to leave bike on tickover with the radiator cap off..
when warm,if you look into the header tank,it should just circulate..

if the gasket is shot,then gas bubbles appear in the tank.(if the top was on,it would pressurise+throw the water out or boil over)

but if the case is not,then may i suggest valve clearances as well.

as stated previously,they may be tight.

you say you have electronic ignition? is there anything you have omitted with this?
have you got an imbalance with the carburettors?
keep us posted as to your progress my friend...............

[madav8tr]

I haven't checked the oher head gasket but I have removed the radiator and re-installed it. When re-installing it I didn't notice any gas bubbles in the coolant. The other gasket hasn't showed any other signs of failure either. The gasket did burn through between the cylinders BTW. I am not sure how to check the ignition on this bike but I will do the valves tomorrow.