I would doubt you need a new headgasket. are you getting any signs of headgasket failure? - overheating, oil in water, water in oil?

You may need the rubber gasket that goes on the cam cover but ive taken mine off about half a dozen times now with no worries.

i have no idea when mine was ever last done.. hence why i am looking at prices if i need to get one.
no oil in water etc.. i do check oil levels once a month.. no white-ish stuff on dip stick + last oil change in May deffo no water in oil.
only time i did was when the water pump failed, 5 years ago.

any tips on doing a compression test?
will read up ol Haynes in a while.
do you remove 1 plug at a time, screw in tester, lay plug still connected to HT lead on Cylinder head so it can spark and hit the starter button, (will it start up?) check PSI 150-170Psi = healthy, move on to next plug/cylinder....
will write down each Psi/cylinder as i do them and post the results...
is ^^^^ that about right?

you need to before checking compression make sure the valve clearances are correct.........must be for better or more accurate results.

run the bike up to normal operating temp then remove all spark plugs and put the kill switch on.
then after attaching the compression tester crank the engine a few times whilst giving it some throttle....when the reading stabilizes this is the reading you take.

they should all be within 157-213psi or 10.8-14.7bar



william

i am doing the test to see IF i need to have the clearances done.. i cant do them 1st.. simply can not afford that right now!

fair enough...........

but poor readings from the compression test could be a number of faults....and not solely the valve clearances.

is someone shying away from doing the valve clearances?
if you are not needing your bike anytime soon which i am sure you will,get a set of feeler gauges and just check them,spend half a day doing it taking your time.
and then you will know for sure if they are out or not.
if they are so much out that the valve is not seating correctly and causing poor starting etc then if i was you i would not be riding the bike just in case the worst case scenario happened

william

"not solely the valve clearances."
> yup i know and i need to find out if there is any other issues. already read up on what means what in Haynes.
the bike is the only form of transport, no car licence. i work 15 miles away from home and the buses are non existent as i live/work rural! thats why its always been hard for me to do work on my bike. even harder in winter as nowhere warm/dry to do it! bike shop has to do any work on a saturday and be done in one day.
if the shims need doing, the bike shop will get the job!

I know you are probably going to rip my head off but have you thought about getting a cheap bike as a backup? something like a cg or cb 125 wouldnt cost the earth to buy or insure etc and would give you an alternative if the 400 needed work doing.

I know you keep up together with the maintenance etc on the 400 but it is getting older and more likely to have problems.

lol.. the problem i have if finding a half respectable bike that i can get off the side stand!!!

i am... learning to drive!!! took 1st test last Friday but failed because of some twat in a 4x4 rode up my arse, distracted me exiting a rounderbout and i was marked with a serious which is immediate fail.... other than that i got 7 minors (15+ is fail). re-booked test for 18th dec..

IF i pass i am planning on getting a Suzuki Carry, the bike will be washed/polished and put in to my sitting room and various jobs done.

well good luck on the car test mate.....
i have a wee 106 i am trying to get on the road for the winter.
atm i am lucky enough to be able to use my partners car most days but i do have a 125 which i use when i can not get the car.......great on fuel especially having to travel 40miles a day......


william

ta. need to organise my tools for getting the sparkies out.