keep blowing head gaskets on 200x

[kilabeez0]

just put it all back together again last night. took awhile to get it started and then it ran great. tonight the kid who works for me asked if he could take it for a ride after work. i was out and wasn't going to go back tonight. he said it blew the head gasket AGAIN and wouldn't start back up. Any ideas?

I was thinking after vartiak's thread, that maybe since I drove it around last night, that i should've te-torqued the head bolts before driving it again. Would that really cause it to blow for like the 3rd time?

[MTS]

is it a stock compression piston? are you putting the head gasket on correctly?

[BigGreenMachine]

Not retorqueing the head bolts after would cause the same problem each time, 160-200 pounds of compression would blow out a gasket no problem. I'd also check your head for warpage, a warped head would cause it not to seat right.

[kilabeez0]

i put it on correctly and it's a stock honda piston 1 size over. i've never heard of re-torquing after the first run. guess i messed up. BAH!!!

[Dammit!]

Running it the first time will cause everything to expand from the heat. When it cools down the bolts will be loose so you gotta crank it down again. Last time I did the top end on my R all the head bolts were about half a turn to 3/4 turn loose after the inital run and cool down.

[kilabeez0]

i really cant believe after all the work i've done, i have to rip the motor out AGAIN. anyone want to but a really nice 200x? all it needs is rear plastic.

[Tri-ZNate]

ok you wanna trade for an SX?

[HaggLE]

To fix it properly you need to have the head AND cylinder shaved. Doesnt need to be much just enough to make sure that its flat. Uneven or over tensioning will cause warpage.

The next thing you need to do is to check that the dowels are going into the head and cylinder properly. If the dowel is too long then it will never do up tight. (i reckon this is the problem, seen it too many times).

Cant go wrong if you do this.

[200xkwit]

make sure you tighten the head bolts in a criss cross pattern to so it seals well

[kilabeez0]

i think it was a false alarm. re-tightened the head bolts which DID seem to be about 3/4 of a turn loose. ran like a raped ape!!!

i have another snapped bolt that holds the silencer on, so i think i'm going to switch frames this weekend. Got a deal on one for trad'n a 12 pack of sam adams! would paint from a body shop hold up good? i work with one and they're going to be fixing my moms avalon next week and i'm sure they'd spray it if there wasn't any extra prep work to do.

i'll post a follow up if i have any more problems with it, as for right now my fingers are crossed!!!