Compromised gasket?

About a month ago, I was stuck in traffic and the head gasket started smoking and smelling like burned rubber. I managed to make it home (after stopping and dumping a bottle of water on the engine) but I noticed that there is oiloutside the engine.
The bike still runs perfect, now I know what happens with air cooled bikes if you don't move them fast enough!

I already ordered the gasket kit (46 pieces) and I wanted to know if it is hard to do. I got the Haynes but I don't think they explain that (do they?).
I rebuilt my petcock two months ago but I am afraid this is going to be much more complicated. Is it?

Thanks guys!!

 

Where is the oil leaking from???? might just be a little seepage around the half moon seals for the cam.

DON'T dump cold water on a Aluminium engine whan it's hot. Bad juju. Causes cracks.

Give the engine a good clean and let us know EXACTLY where that oil is leaking from.

 

yeh check and see first where the leak is coming from? mine had a small leake and i could not for the longest time figure out where until i noticed it leaking from one of the bolts that holds the cylinder head on the cylinder, the bolt has a little rubber gromet on it and it had cracked and deteriated. it was just a matter of replacing the bolt which i got from the local yamaha dealer for $1.00.

 

Complicated?

For a guy who has the patience to rebuild a Petcock?
No. Not complicated.

"Challenging" might be the better way to say it.

 

As mentioned above.. odds are V good that it's the oil line capnut /seal leaking.
Left hand side outer Cyl head studs are the Oil ways for the cyl head The Head nuts and the copper washers under, can and do leak. Your overheat prolly stretched things a wee bit. Remove those two acorn nuts buy new copper washers OR heat the ones you take out, red hot (propane torch) let them air cool (this anneals them back to very soft) reinstall, tq the nuts and likely yr Good to go.. G'luck.

 

You might consider a "Cold" re-torque of the Cylinder Head.

With the engine "Dead Cold" follow the pattern and remove all the Cylinder Head Nuts. Wipe on some Marvel Mystery Oil to all the exposed threads of the Cylinder Head's studs. An Artist's-type Paint Brush does this task well. Also lube the threads of the Acorn Nuts; too.

With the fasteners re-applied and torqued to specs following the pattern; run the bike until it's warmed-up pretty good.

When the engine has cooled-off just enough to allow you to apply the inside of your wrist to the cam cover above the exhaust valves -- RE-TORQUE -- each of the Cylinder Head Nuts once again.

Do all the Nuts. Loosen and unload the Nut first; then reapply the correct value of torque. Work fast enough to keep the "Ambient Warmth" of the cooled-down engine present. Reset the torque on all the nuts and then allow the engine to get Dead-cold.

Run a final "Torque-check" on the cold engine before starting again.

This whole job's easy to do if you have a small external tank to hook-up so you can run the bike without its fuel tank installed.

 

The oil leak is from the other side (When sitting on the bike, is the top-left-front corner, just underneath the cylinder head), I have ben trying to take a picture for you guys, but my girl has the camera. I will post the picture as soon as I can.
I also noticed what it looks like a hole in the gasket of the cylinder head (when sitting on the bike is on the left, the same cylinder but on the inside of the back) Hard to describe.
No oil or air is coming out, but it looks weird to me.

As I said, will take a picture. Thank you so much guys.

I am waiting for my head gasket kit, thank you rick.

 

When you say HEAD GASKET........
Do you mean the head gasket(between the cylinder and the cylinder head, or the rocker cover gasket (between the cam cover and the cylinder head)? It makes a huge difference....the cam cover gasket is a piece of cake to change.

 

I mean the gasket of the top of the engine, with the "H" shape.

 

That's the cam cover gasket. Piece of cake to change it.
You will have to pull the tank for access. Loosen the cap screws and remove the cover. Remove the old seal. Clean and degrease the cam cover and bond the new seal in place with Hylomar, Yamabond #4 or Permatex Aviation gasket sealer. At this point I lay the cam cover gasket side down on a clean piece of wood (so the end seals can hang over the edges) and lay some weight on the top of the cover to hold it in place, then let it set up. When installing, wipe off any excess adhesive from the head side and apply a light coating of Dow Corning DC-4 or a light grease before installing. Next time you pull the cover to adjust your valves, the cover will just pop off, gasket intact and stuck to the cover. Good luck!

 

I think the leak was from two of the four bolts located in the middle og the "H".
I will go to the dealer and ask for them.

I also have the cam cover gasket, which I will install anyway. What do I need to place around it? Any type of grease? I know there is something I should put there, (Rick said what it was somewhere, but I don't find it) but I don't remember what it is.

I am also going to clean the carbs (The bike doesn't idle) and repaint the tank (I saw a small rust spot inside, will post pics if I can get light inside it).

Any advice on cleaning the carbs?

I have a 6 gallon air tank, so I was planning on blowing air on them.

After a month in Spain (Visiting family), I tried to turn the bike on and it did right away! I think this engine is amazing. I should put it in my car!

Thank you guys, I am going to get this thing to look really nice with your help!

Gene

 

Doubtful it is leaking around those bolts.

The other 8 at the legs of the H have flat washers with rubber donuts on them. The bolts themselves have a sholder so they bottom on the head when tight, so those little donuts provide the push down on the valve cover. As the donuts age they loose their spring and don't push down like they should, so the gasket isn't held tight against the head.

If you don't have a reason to pull the valve cover off (like checking valve lash) then I'd try replacing those washer/donut guys first and see if the leak goes away.

 

Oh, and the six gallon air tank. Unless it has a compressor too it will run a spray gun for almost a minute.