Kxt 250 coolant burning/leak

[Craigolsen18]

I have a 1984 tecate that's burning coolant and causing it not to rev above half throttle. The head and jug are not warped(checked with straight edge and feeler gauge) and I relplaced the head gasket once but the studs were rusty so when I put it back together the same thing happened. I retapped the studs and nuts I also noticed the gasket I bought didn't have any crush marks so im thinking between the studs being rusty and the gasket being old(old gaskets harden up) it didn't help my situation. Im curious to hear what you guys have to say because I'm 99% those were my problems because idk where else that much coolant can leak into the cylinder.

[onformula1]

Double check your work, I double check everything with at least 15 mins in between, we are human.

Check for cracks in the head, cylinder and cylinder bore.

Surface the head and the top of the barrel with 600 grit wet & dry sandpaper duct taped to a granite plate or 3/8" or larger piece of glass sprayed with WD-40, surface in a figure 8 motion until clean. (Don't go nuts, you are cleaning not milling the head)

Clean everything so it's spotless with carb. cleaner.

Use one of these on the head gasket, follow the directions.

http://crcindustries.com/auto/?s=401612

http://crcindustries.com/auto/?s=401504

Gasket technology in the 1980's was not that great, these products helped.

Most stock gaskets are better than aftermarket gaskets with come exceptions.

Torque the head to the factory specs & torque pattern.

PS- I don't remember if the studs need to be sealed? Do then run into coolant? Its been a few years since I have had the studs removed on a Tecate.

[Craigolsen18]

I think it was mostly Cuz the studs and nuts were really rusted and I think that screwed with the torque specs. But I'll give the head and jug a good cleaning and try again. Thank god it's only two stroke lmao takes 4 seconds to pop the head off. But no im pretty sure the studs don't sit in water jackets. Thank you for the help I apreciate it but my final question just to make sure I'm 100% right is only a bad head gasket or large crack in the head or cylinder would cause a coolant burn sever enough to make the engine not rev past half throttle?

[onformula1]

Well it can't come from the base gasket because your cylinder is sealed at the bottom.

and it can't come from the water pump because it would leak into the trans on a Tecate.

Process of elimination, I can't think of anywhere else it could come from.

[nd4speed]

Um...I you trying to re-use the old head gasket ?? or am I reading this wrong? I am really tired and can hardly keep my eyes open....................."gasket being old" ???

You need to always use a new head gasket and basically get it hot and melt it to seal the head. Warm it up without coolant in it (heat cycles) after new head gasket installed in order to melt it some, retorque studs, and then add coolant.

[Craigolsen18]

I bought a Nos product(new old stock) so im assuming the gasket was 15 years old plus lol not that I reused a head gasket which would be stupid haha. But thank you that's what I figured it's just nice to have a second opinion.

[Craigolsen18]

Well I finally put it all back together(sanded the head&base a little) with the new gasket kit and she runs mint. Thanks for the help guys I apreciate it. Almost forgot how fast she was lmao, almost as fast as my outlaw 525....almost haha.