Need advice on head gasket oil leak

Hey folks,
Yeah, the dreaded head gasket oil leak. It's my '81 XJ650 Maxim and it does have almost 100,000 kms (60,000 mi) on it. The leak is very small and the engine's compression is still good.
I've heard that replacing the head gasket is a big job. According to much Google trolling, the head bolts will most likely have to be sawed through since they're almost always seized. Another popular opinion is that the head must be machined to a perfectly flat finish before being put it back on the engine.
You think it's okay to ride it for the season the way it is and deal with this problem next winter? I won't be doing any damage to the bike like that, will I? One person I talked to told me that a little bit of JB Weld to plug up the leak can work for a while.

thanks in advance for any advice,
baz

'81 XJ650H Maxim (Cafe mod)
'81 XS650SH Special (being slowly brought back from the dead)
'83 XJ900R Seca RTB (Ratbike Touring Beast)

 

I just did the head gasket on my 750, The job was very simple (check valve clearance at the same time). IThe only probelm I had was getting the cam chain to seat on crank, no one on hear seemed to have the problem I did. It took me for ever to do that but the gasket was very simple and the acorn nuts came right off. My intake bolts also came right out so I could replace the gaskets. If it wasnt for the cam chain I could have been done in 4 hours tops from start to finish. If not quicker

 

I'd look at Permatex fix-a-leak in a spray can. I've used it on cars but be warned the surfaces must be clean (as in squeeky).
Otherwise, it isn't that hard to pull the head. I've not had a head nut mess up on me either.

 

You won't hurt the motor by riding with an oil leak - as long as the oil level doesn't drop too low you will be fine.

Are you sure it's a leak from the head? Sometimes a leaking valve cover can run oil down near the spark plugs and come out the front at head gasket level.

I'd de-grease the engine first and watch carefully where the leak is coming from before ripping the motor apart.

 

I agree with hillsy. Make sure it's the head gasket. I rode with a valve cover oil leak for 3 years. I just had to wear black jeans because a little oil mist would leak on my right shin. Other than that, it wasn't so bad.

 

A leaky cam chain tensioner gasket can also make you think that the head gasket is gone... DAMHIKT

 

Yes it can, or at least make you think it's a base gasket issue.

 

Thanks for all the input. I used a little bit of JB Weld on the spot I thought the oil leak was coming from and it seems to have made a difference. A thin layer of oil hasn't collected on the cooling fin below exhaust port #2, like it had been doing. I'll check it regularly to see what develops. Meanwhile, I'll take a close look at the valve cover and cam chain tensioner gasket. And thanks for putting my mind at ease over riding with a slight oil leak.
Cheers,
baz