bellydeep

I wondered about that too...but surprisingly there's not a lot of rust, just mostly dirt on the outside. The bike was left with the oil still in it, and everything I've taken off engine-wise has been surprisingly clean and shiny on the inside, just oily.

I've been able to push each side all the way down...got stuck a couple times on one side but I just doused it some more and it eased up. Granted, it's not fast or anything, but they are moving...that's why I was thinking it had more to do with the gasket that sits underneath it. I'll try the deep creep though, maybe that'll get it. Thanks a lot!

Hi All, I have in my possession a 1978 XS400E, that I inherited from my Dad. He originally bought it to help out a friend, but then stopped riding it after a few years. It then began its 26 year stint in a barn out in the country, where it has acquired lots of mud dauber nests and their deceased inhabitants, as well as lots of spiders that must not have been able to find their way out of certain nooks and crannies. Ever since I discovered it in the barn about 25 years ago, I've wanted to fix up this bike, and now, that time has come. My plan is to completely dismantle the bike, down to everything, and then clean/repair/replace/etc and then put it all back together. I've been following the Haynes manual and have spent about 6 hours on it so far. I'm at the part where the cylinder block comes off (page 24, chapter 1 section 8 for anyone following along ). When I took off the cylinder head, I couldn't believe how easily it came off - no resistance at all. Took off the gasket between the head and the block and then started to take off the block...wow. The gasket on the bottom side of the block might as well have welded the block to the rest of the engine. I've squirted down the 8 bolts to loosen up the gasket, I've doused the pistons and got them moving, I've let it soak several nights, I've whacked it with a soft mallet - and still nothing. Anyone been in this situation? Any tips to get this sucker off? It's driving me crazy! Thanks for any help! -bellydeep