2016-02-29 KZ1300 Head Gasket Leak Check

[dcarver]

2016-02-29 KZ1300 Head Gasket Leak Check

So it all started with an overheating condition...

Which led to monitoring the temperature ....

Which led to finding a faulty, intermittent, fan relay. A NOS relay was sourced (80 USD) but the concern was perhaps the bike got hot enough to do damage and/or that the head gasket was leaking into the coolant.

So, bought a test kit from Napa auto. You first drain the radiator coolant down about 3 inches, fire the bike up to normal operating temperatures (t-stat open) then place a glass beaker, filled with magic fluid, into the radiator neck. The tester is sealed to the radiator neck with a tapered rubber section. At the top is an aspirator which sucks air from the tank top through the magic blue fluid. If any combustion gases are present, the blue fluid turns yellow.

Here's the test results - BLUE BLUE! Meaning no head gasket leaks!


To be sure the test kit was working correctly, I took one sniff from the exhaust pipe and BOOM - Yellow.


Of course, when I texted Ray the results, I put the yellow picture first with text of 'Oh Shit'.

.....

....

....

then posted the actual results.

Ray's response was quick and succinct -

Asshole!

 

[DiggerDr.]

Kinda mean...but funny. Glad that weight is off. I have been following. That is one sweet older bike.

 

[dcarver]

Digger, any luck in finding head gaskets?

 

[DiggerDr.]

Those babies are a toughie. One dependable contact has not got back to me. Will call him.

 

[DiggerDr.]

BTW, there are some other NOS parts for that bike on ebay. yourtrash-mytreasure is the sellers name. Meant to pass that on earlier.

 

[gregory]

Good news indeed! Congrats DC

 

[FJRay]

2016-02-29 KZ1300 Head Gasket Leak Check
So it all started with an overheating condition...

Which led to monitoring the temperature ....

Which led to finding a faulty, intermittent, fan relay. A NOS relay was sourced (80 USD) but the concern was perhaps the bike got hot enough to do damage and/or that the head gasket was leaking into the coolant.

So, bought a test kit from Napa auto. You first drain the radiator coolant down about 3 inches, fire the bike up to normal operating temperatures (t-stat open) then place a glass beaker, filled with magic fluid, into the radiator neck. The tester is sealed to the radiator neck with a tapered rubber section. At the top is an aspirator which sucks air from the tank top through the magic blue fluid. If any combustion gases are present, the blue fluid turns yellow.

Here's the test results - BLUE BLUE! Meaning no head gasket leaks!

To be sure the test kit was working correctly, I took one sniff from the exhaust pipe and BOOM - Yellow.

Of course, when I texted Ray the results, I put the yellow picture first with text of 'Oh Shit'.

.....

....

....

then posted the actual results.

Ray's response was quick and succinct -

Asshole!

The pictures didn't come through on the flip phone or I would have had more than a one word response.

 

[El Toro Joe]

...any luck in finding head gaskets?

Try this guy...

https://www.johnnysvintagemotorcycle.com/Home.aspx

 

[FJRay]

...any luck in finding head gaskets?

Try this guy...

https://www.johnnysvintagemotorcycle.com/Home.aspx

One of the main problems with finding a head gasket is that this engine is bored to accept 64 mm pistons and the one that comes with the big bore kit is junk. That one started leaking as soon as I put coolant in it. Last I looked OEM 64 mm gaskets were unobtainable items on this planet. There aren't a whole lot of KZ1300 units around.

Glad it's not leaking.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Ray, you need to find a way to look for cracks in Don's head. That boy just ain't right!

 

[escapefjrtist]

Ray, you need to find a way to look for cracks in Don's head. That boy just ain't right!

Outta **LIKES** but HRZ is right Ray. OTOH if Don keeps throwing bikes your way, does it really matter?

--G

 

[FJRay]

Ray, you need to find a way to look for cracks in Don's head. That boy just ain't right!

Outta **LIKES** but HRZ is right Ray. OTOH if Don keeps throwing bikes your way, does it really matter? :tonguesmiley:

--G

It's a sickness wth no known cure so give generously.

 

[Niehart]

Ray, you need to find a way to look for cracks in Don's head. That boy just ain't right!

Outta **LIKES** but HRZ is right Ray. OTOH if Don keeps throwing bikes your way, does it really matter?

--G

It's a sickness wth no known cure so give generously.

+1