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[Reg]

Good evening wise ones. I replaced my (Bullets) cylinder head gasket last year owing to an annoying oil leak. Haven't done many miles since, but the leak is back again. Probably more of a leak since I fixed it, if truth be told, though still only minor. I used one of our hosts composite gaskets. I'm planning on torquing it down tomorrow, and find two conflicting torque values. Pete Snidal suggests approx(!!!) 25ft/lbs. the manual I purchased from our hosts says 228lbs/inch which according to t'internet is 19ft/lbs/. Any thoughts? By the by, I was told the composite gasket wouldn't need re-torquing, and so haven't done it to date.

[Steve T]

Reg I put composite gasket on last year when I done my rebuild, however I couldn't get my torque wrench in so ended up doing them by feel, and then checking them again about 500 miles. I had an oil leak too but when I cleaned it up found it was a porous spot in the head and not the gasket. So I thoroughly cleaned with brake cleaner and filled between the fin with clear silicone 2000 miles later and no oil leaks. Can't remember what torque settings should be, but seem to remember someone saying about 20ft lbs because of the soft aluminium.

[vince]

Hi, 22ftlbs .vince

[Reg]

Thanks for comments Steve and Vince. I torqued the head down to 22ft/lbs today, boy did it need doing. Appeared to be about 12/15 ft/lbs after initially tightening down to 19, as per manual.Our hosts told me it wouldn't need re-torquing when I changed the gasket last year. So, pleased as punch I went for a ten mile run only to find the oil leak had worsened considerably.Beginning to wish I'd left well enough alone. Now,I reckon the head will have to come off and the gasket possibly be replaced with the original copper gasket, after annealing it. Question is, what is the best sealant (if any) to use around the push-rod tunnel, and is 22ft/lb the correct torque to apply if using a copper gasket? In all other respects the bike is running fine.I don't think the head has become porous, as it appears my tinkering has worsened the situation. Awaiting your combined wisdom.

[PeteF]

Did you lap the head flat when you did the gasket? Easy to do with wet and dry glued to a sheet of MDF.

[neddy]

People say don't use sealant, had similar problem with mine, used composite gasket with "Stag" sealant, result no oil leak

[Valsp]

Just hope its not the studs pulling up.

I had this problem with my Inteceptor twice and ended up helicoiling the lot to stop it happening again

[devon john]

just done the same job after a valve seat came loose ,,, i have a solid copper head gasket ,

this i annealed then coated both sides with wellseal torqued down 24lbs all seems dry !!!!!

i have seen you can now buy spray hylamar and that would work very well ,but i still had Wellseal so used that !!

john

[Reg]

Thanks chaps, I'll try tightening to 24ft/lbs and see if that does the trick. If not, off with his head! (I really must stop watching Elizabeth 1st on TV.)