Low compression. Head gasket failure?

[teacherman]

My 2003 FJR with 64K was running great until Oct. 27 when I parked it in my garage. When I tried to start it five weeks later, no go. Cranked over but did not start. Compression at about 80psi in all 4 cylinders! Leak down test the pressure in #1 flows into #2. Same with #3 and #4. Bizarre. I'm thinking head gasket failure? My schedule is I work 4 months in SoCal and use the bike to get around traffic, followed by 2 months out of state to care for elderly parents. The bike is parked during that time and up to now, no problems. Might be my imagination but right before I parked it, there was an "hiccup" at ldle at a red light. Turned green and I didn't think of it again. This was about a 1/2 mile from the house where I then parked it for the five weeks. Does a head gasket failure make sense? Thanks!

 

[Ignacio]

While it would't explain pressure from one cylinder going into another cylinder....the whole thing of not starting after a sit seems a bit like what I call the Fast Starter Syndrome . One possible theory on it includes rings not seating properly. Head gasket failure to the point of warp between cylinders seems extreme without some event prior that you could put your finger on.

 

[03HiYoSilver]

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Hope this works out for you...

 

[joebiodiesel]

Just be sure that when you did the leakdown test that the cylinder was at TDC Compression or valve overlap will make it look like leakage into another cylinder. It is pretty unlikely that you'd have 80psi in every cylinder, and have a blown head gasket as the cause. That'd mean that you had identically sized holes in two different cylinders, and it happened spontaneously. If it did happen, the next thing you should do is buy a lottery ticket!

Double check your leakdown test. With 80psi in all cylinders, it is way more likely you have stuck a set of rings, like several others have had happen.

Joe

Joe

 

[JR'SFJR]

Did you have the throttle wide open when doing the compression test? It makes a big difference in the readings.

 

[Afast03nNJ]

Compression test on a cold engine doesn't reveal any true readings, only that you indeed have compression.

 

[wmadoty]

If it was mine, I would shoot a squirt of oil into each cylinder. Then I would pull the ignition fuse and with the plugs out crank it a few times. I would then put the plugs in and give it a go. My bet is it will fire right up.

 

[teacherman]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. After the tests, oil squirts, et al, the verdict is head gasket failure. I've had the bike 9 faithful years with no problems other than the TPS which was covered under factory recall. With 64K on the bike, it seems time to retire this bike with the labor and $$ involved. My understanding is with the tight tolerances of the FJR engine, depending upon warp factor, it may not have enough left to mill on the head.

 

[RadioHowie]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. After the tests, oil squirts, et al, the verdict is head gasket failure. I've had the bike 9 faithful years with no problems other than the TPS which was covered under factory recall. With 64K on the bike, it seems time to retire this bike with the labor and $$ involved. My understanding is with the tight tolerances of the FJR engine, depending upon warp factor, it may not have enough left to mill on the head.

Having to mill the head is a HELL of an assumption, but if you're gonna toss the bike, let me know and I'll "haul it off" for ya!

 

[FJRBluesman]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. After the tests, oil squirts, et al, the verdict is head gasket failure. I've had the bike 9 faithful years with no problems other than the TPS which was covered under factory recall. With 64K on the bike, it seems time to retire this bike with the labor and $$ involved. My understanding is with the tight tolerances of the FJR engine, depending upon warp factor, it may not have enough left to mill on the head.

Man that's a bummer! Sorry to hear this. And such low mileage too.
Now this is rather strange. Suddenly we have two bikes on the forum with head gasket failures (well Dcarver's could be worserer, who knows).

Was the bike always in SoCal?

 

[FJRay]

Sounds like a piss poor reason to toss the bike. Doesn't sound to me like a proper diagnosis was done but if you are giving it the boot I am closer than Howie so give it to me. I have a spare engine that just needs to be fondled a bit and it will be ready.

 

[RadioHowie]

Ray, me having the bike makes much more sense....I could put my '04 motor in the '03, and have an 04/03 AND an 03/04!

 

[teacherman]

Ah, my frustration coming through about tossing the bike, like a computer that freezes. Want to take a hammer to it, but I think I'll give it a shot to repair. Can't believe the gasket went out with 64K. The bike was always in SoCal. In my 45 yrs of riding, this has been the best. Wait, my Yamaha 80 when I was ten put a big smile on my face.

 

[Ignacio]

Can't believe the gasket went out with 64K.

I can't either. A gasket and mileage have zero correlation IMO. I've not heard of any FJR just warping it's head before. Do you think....maybe.....it was ran for a while without sufficient coolant? No judgement....just curious.

 

[TomInPA]

Just checking...You have no recall of the motor ever overheating, and the coolant levels are full?

I just don't see how this could happen. Dcarver's bike had been serviced in a way that the head gasket failure was plausible from the previous service, but this one is being diagnosed on the basis of compression alone, without any analysis of oil or coolant. hmm.

 

[FJRay]

It sounds like you may be coming to your senses. I went back through the thread and I don't see any sign of a carefull systematic diagnosis. Start over and do all the tests over and when doing the leak down each cylinder being tested has to be on TDC or you are wasting your time. Just blowing air in the hole leads nowhere except cleaning your wallet. I wouldn't be surprised that it just sat to long and is reluctant to start. Mine does it every year when it sits for long periods waiting for the ice to thaw.

 

[Bugnatr]

Give it to Ray, he is a collector of the first Silver.

 

[dcarver]

Agree. Besides, I want to be the only head gasket failure on the forum... :huh:

 

[FJRBluesman]

Agree. Besides, I want to be the only head gasket failure on the forum... :huh:

Gunny! Especially no Gen1 HG's.