Possible headgasket failure.

[VFRkieran]

Hi mate thanks for the reply,

glad to hear you have used Versah gaskets with no ill effects, im having no smoke at all when the bike is running so im assuming the stem seals are fine. Still havent checked the replacement radiator cap, but i think the system may have drawn air in from the tank at some point which was then being pushed back out into the bottle making it look like the head gasket was nackered.

Next week at some point i will have the cam covers off and either use a little smear of gasket sealant on them or maybe some copper grease which i have never thought of trying before, i dont really like using gasket sealant incase it gets pushed inside the rocker cover and clogs up an oilway or something.

Yes i did use the original head bolts the manual didnt state to replace them so i didnt think it necessary if i installed them correctly, however what you have said worries me a little but i can only hope they hold and your problem was just a one off.

After speaking with you guys and all the helpful replies i have come to the conclusion that it was probably me panicking and thinking the worst after seeing the oil leak (likely rocker covers) struggling to start the bike (blocked exhaust) bubbles in the coolant (just air that was in the hose between expansion tank and rad) and poor running not even getting above 90mph (again a blocked exhaust)

I will be riding the bike over to the new garage later on today if its not raining so i will see how the bikes fares on the 25mile journey an see if i have anymore issues, will keep you all updated.

[Neosophist]

Hi mate thanks for the reply,

glad to hear you have used Versah gaskets with no ill effects, im having no smoke at all when the bike is running so im assuming the stem seals are fine. Still havent checked the replacement radiator cap, but i think the system may have drawn air in from the tank at some point which was then being pushed back out into the bottle making it look like the head gasket was nackered.

Next week at some point i will have the cam covers off and either use a little smear of gasket sealant on them or maybe some copper grease which i have never thought of trying before, i dont really like using gasket sealant incase it gets pushed inside the rocker cover and clogs up an oilway or something.

Yes i did use the original head bolts the manual didnt state to replace them so i didnt think it necessary if i installed them correctly, however what you have said worries me a little but i can only hope they hold and your problem was just a one off.

After speaking with you guys and all the helpful replies i have come to the conclusion that it was probably me panicking and thinking the worst after seeing the oil leak (likely rocker covers) struggling to start the bike (blocked exhaust) bubbles in the coolant (just air that was in the hose between expansion tank and rad) and poor running not even getting above 90mph (again a blocked exhaust)

I will be riding the bike over to the new garage later on today if its not raining so i will see how the bikes fares on the 25mile journey an see if i have anymore issues, will keep you all updated.

Copper grease is for the aftermarket head-gasket not the rockerbox covers.

People have used silcon sealent on the gasket covers.. (i only use a small amount to stick it to the cover, not the mating surface)

Ive seen engines ruined by people using too much silicon.. some of it falling into the top end and blocking an oilway leading to a ruined camshaft.

So long as your careful, it should be ok, providign that is what is leaking.

Some engines do use stretch headbolts that must be replaced, I seem to remember the NC30 manual not saying they must be replaced so providing you have torqued them up properly maybe they will be ok. (of course there is always a chance they could fail) so for the hassle its probably easiest to just replace them each time.

get your coolant and expansion bottle filled up and find the oil leak first :)

[VFRkieran]

Ah ok, i have some silicone sealant in the shed somewhere ive allways been a bit apprehensive about using it for that exact reason, Dont fancy ruining a set of RVF cams either!

Will put a light smear of it on just to hold them in place, im pretty sure that is whats leaking as i cant trace it back to anywhere else with my torch, strangly it seems to be intermittent today i rode the bike over to the new garage and i havent had any leaks that i can see, the bike ran fine all the way fired up first time in the garage at home when it was cold and again when it was hot at the petrol station which tells me the compression is good.

Checked the overflow bottle when i filled up with fuel and when i got to the new garage couldnt see any bubbles so it looks asif i was being a panicky idiot after all.

So the jobs for me to do are, trace the oil leak back and sort it out, re pack the exhaust its so loud i can hear it echoing off cars as i overtake and when im leaning right over it echos up off the road, i looked like such a boy racer twat with a can that loud but at least the bike is running ok now.

Again thanks for the help and putting up with my idiocy, will update if i find anything interesting.