Joffie Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 OK so i admit I was skimping on gaskets last time I had the engine off for repairs. I used Hylomar Blue becuase I couldn't afford a cylinder base gasket back then and it seemed to work OK. Except the engine was always very oily and I was getting through a lot of oil between regular changes. So I made a note to replace gaskets at the earliest opportunity, and wh-hey, that was last weekend. OK so i have to admit that buying Chinese paper gaskets in a set was - well - a little cheapskate, but hey, better than nowt. Having stripped down all the cylinder, head and base and scraped the remains of shower sealant i mean Hylomar Blue off all the surfaces I carefully fitted my new seals, being careful to oil up the surfaces first, etc. etc. I was quite surprised that the "Head" gasket in my pack, looked like a filter off a vacuum cleaner. No matter, I removed the metal head gasket made in Japan and replaced it with the hoover version. Done a real oil change, checket the tappets and went for a test run. Magnificent. Better still, i got another couple of mph top end and when I got in that evening, I was really pleased that the engine actully looks clean for once. Now, after a week or so of riding I takes her out again this weekend just past and, lo and behold, accelerating down a slipway onto the 'parkway' = big ring road in Peterborough, she misfires and the engine just died. So I walked back home saturday afternoon enjoying the network of dedicated cycle paths in environment city, sweating my bollocks off like I was yomping in full scuba gear across a cove in enemy territory. Well got home OK. DIAGNOSIS My first thought was a slipped timing chain --- i was dreading a dropped valve. Anyway, I looked and it all seems hunkydory including the sparks. This makes me wonder if the sound ---what I thought was engine misfire --- was actually the paper head gasket going. Yes I know you're supposed to do a compression test first off, but (I know this sounds pathetic) I haven't got a tester. APPEAL FOR INPUT Can anybody please advise..... on A)How to make a compression tester. I presume one might be able to drill through an old spark plug and attach a guage off of a cheap Chinese footpump to rig something up? Any help gratefully appreciated. B)Whether the gasket is the likely cause of my failure to go, and C)Where a man can get a good job and move on up.... SR 125 lol Thanks :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Airhead Posted January 31, 2011 Moderator Share Posted January 31, 2011 Just take it to your local under the arches type of car repair shop, tell tham you are a poor student and need it for uni, they will test it for a packet of fags Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joffie Posted January 31, 2011 Author Share Posted January 31, 2011 Just take it to your local under the arches type of car repair shop, tell tham you are a poor student and need it for uni, they will test it for a packet of fags Good idea I suppose. D'you know, originally I thought you came from a place called "Oldington," hence the name. Suppose I should learn to read. Anyway, thanks for the attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 Wheels Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 A = Compression tester is only about 30quid,,,,,,,you will have it forever and for all bikes B = There will be loud hissing and squeeking if the gasket is gone,,,,,,,,shouldnt really stop the bike from starting C = Good luck finding the job in this fu..ing economy ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Airhead Posted January 31, 2011 Moderator Share Posted January 31, 2011 Good idea I suppose. D'you know, originally I thought you came from a place called "Oldington," hence the name. Suppose I should learn to read. Anyway, thanks for the attention. should have gone to specsavers speaking of where we live if you filled in your profile properly with where you are someone will nip round and test it for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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