Running down an oil leak (and a dream)

[SlimKlim]

You can catch up on my progress with this bike by reading this thread here. http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=52920.0

To recap, I thought it was running rich, it wasn't it was burning oil, a lot of oil. Like its hard to express exactly how much oil, think about that '81 Caprice you see rollin around town with a plume of blue smoke behind it, thats kinda what we're talking about here.

So enough brooding about the problem, lets talk about fixing it. I'm in it purely for the fight now. I'm going to fix this bike, this motor, and I'm going to do it in a decent amount of time so I can throw a leg over it the way god intended.

Ran a compression test tonight, each cylinder is pushing about 75psi, which is low. This could be attributed to the fact that the exhaust valves aren't sealing (discussed in a sec) or it could very well be the piston rings, since a board member cut me a great deal on a set of rings, I went ahead and bought them and if I don't need them I'll just pass them along to the next guy.

Then i took the exhaust off and the carbs off and got in and inspected the valves, intakes look okay, maybe a little moist. Right and left cylinder as follows:





Now for the exhaust, also right and left:

Interesting color on the right one here, hmm


Wait for it...


Wait for it...




OH SNAP! Yeah, that valve seal there has some issues, like, some pretty freakin serious issues.

This just came to mind: "Yo dawg, we heard u liked oil and exhaust so we put some oil in your exhaust so you can oil while you exhaust"



Okay, brand new plugs in about 80 mi ago (all I've ridden), this time left cylinder on the left, right on the right. Right one looks okay, nice toasty brown color, the left one is pretty soggy, a little hard to tell in the picture.



I have a second head that Homer gave me with the bike, which looks like its going to be a god send and a half. I'm going to take it to the car shop I work for during the summers and have a couple of experts visually inspect that second head for the condition of the valve seals and guides.

Assuming they are in good condition, which I think they probably will be, what else will I need for this project? I would imagine a head gasket, and the gasket between the jug and the bottom end (I guess also a head gasket) I have a new valve cover gasket, as well as two valve covers and two sets of cams to choose from, the ones on the bike and the ones from Homer's top end.

Also, a few general questions. What is a valve seal? Is it a metal gasket that goes where the valve seats into the head? How about the guides? What are they, and what do they actually do? This is going to be the first time I've ever attempted anything this involved with a motor, knowledge is born from necessity I suppose. Any and every bit of help with be read thoroughly and greatly appreciated! We're gonna get this done!

[SlimKlim]

Also, whats the best OEM parts retailer you guys use? I ordered something from bike bandit and it didn't ship until the week after I ordered it. I guess I'll call around tomorrow and tell people what I need and see how soon they could ship it out.

[Paulcet]

Ron Ayers, too.  They are in NC, I think.