76 GL1000 not running on all cylinders?

[gltriker]

Check the intake valve and exhaust valve lash clearance settings on that affected cylinder.
Actually, check the other 3 cylinders' valve lash settings, as well.
If you are unfamiliar with that "Valve Adjustment" maintenance procedure, there is a tutorial in Shoptalk. http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/page/ST

[Vazquez95]

Will do!

[Easter]

Sounds like that head will have to come off. Bent valve or maybe worse. (hole in the piston). That accounts for the noise.
Good luck. Doing the heads is not too bad. Did my first set recently. At least the heads are easy to access on these bikes.
PS: don't overlook the small bolt beneath the valve covers and between the exhaust manifolds.

[Vazquez95]

Sounds like that head will have to come off. Bent valve or maybe worse. (hole in the piston).

Doing the heads is not too bad. Did my first set recently. At least the heads are easy to access on these bikes.
PS: don't overlook the small bolt beneath the valve covers and between the exhaust manifolds.

"maybe even worse" I hope it doesn't have to resort to something worse. i found this nice Video that really helps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_IklhLVbRQ

Which small bolt do you speak of?

[Easter]

I am working from (aged) memory but I am almost certain their is a small bolt underneath the heads that goes into the block to locate the head before starting the large head bolts. It is not hard to get to but is easily overlooked and the heads will not come off until it is removed no matter how much you pound on them!

[Vazquez95]

Check the intake valve and exhaust valve lash clearance settings on that affected cylinder.
Actually, check the other 3 cylinders' valve lash settings, as well.

Done. The 4th cylinder had the exhaust off by a little. Checked all valves and everything seems perfect. Checked again for some compression on the 4th and got nothing. This is gonna turn into a big job. Requiring more tools.

[robin1731]

I am working from (aged) memory but I am almost certain their is a small bolt underneath the heads that goes into the block to locate the head before starting the large head bolts. It is not hard to get to but is easily overlooked and the heads will not come off until it is removed no matter how much you pound on them!

Well, it isn't for locating the head. That is what the locating dowels are for. It is just another bolt for the head that needs to be there. Only 6mm so when putting them back together only torque it to ~100-110 lbs-in, not lbs-ft. I put the small one in last. After the others are torqued down. If you were to use the small bolt to draw the head up you could break the casting there.

.

[Vazquez95]

Alright Guys I appreciate the help a lot!
I will not be able to take the heads off for the next month due to some work related issue I must take care of.
I'll be back on this forum as soon as I get the chance!

[elslimdiablo]

A leak down test would give a pretty good idea of where the loss of compression is. (valves, rings, head gasket) That would be my first step before ripping the engine down. Once it's apart it takes a little more detective work to locate a leak.

[Vazquez95]

Moment of truth. After wrestling the radiator and the cams for the 2nd and 4th cylinders. There were no bent valves and no hole in my piston (or valve in my cylinder). Seems to me like it's just a bad head gasket. Any thoughts?

[elslimdiablo]

Since you have the head off, put the spark plugs back in and place the head, valve spring side down, on a flat surface. Get it leveled, then pour some acetone in the valve dome area. Shine a light up the intake and exhaust runners to see if you have any leakage. This will tell you if the valves are fully seated.

[Vazquez95]

This will tell you if the valves are fully seated.

Thanks for the tip!

Turns out I got leakage on the Exhaust valve. Seems fairly simple. Gonna clean them up and waiting on the gaskets.

[flyin900]

If you still have the cam in that head then the valves will still have some tension on certain ones and the only way to test them fully closed is to remove the cam. Even if you back off the adjusters completely I believe there is one valve that still has a minor amount of tension on it and may not be fully closed.

[Vazquez95]

Should replacing the springs on the bad valves be done?

[Vazquez95]

Things have turned a dark path. Got my gaskets and another thorough inspection of the engine. Turned out I had a bent valve on the exhaust. We tried turning the engine via kick starter and the 4th cylinder didn't not move.