WTB working 89-03 Head

[SkyBob]

Looking to buy a full head for a 89-03 gs500 with valves and head cover on it, don't need the cylinder jugs or the cylinders, just top where the valves and such are. Thanks

[The Buddha]

How did you blow the old head You burn a valve ? Or burn a piston (which means you'd want a set of pistons too, but some people prefer wiseco's and such, but head has no substitute.

I am asking cos - I notice you have Pipe and Lunch box in your sig but have 142.5 mains. That would be lean. You'd need to run 150.

Cool.
Buddha.

[SkyBob]

The guy that owned the bike before me ran the bike for about 3000 with a bent exhaust valve and destroyed the head beyond rebuild or machining repair. So I need a new top end or an entire engine. My pistons and piston jugs are fine.

[The Buddha]

Bent valve = it wont even run in that cyl. It certainly wont make 3000 miles before breaking the valve. 3 miles - maybe.
The likely scenario is that it burnt a valve - which would take 3k miles and usually is caused by leaving a valve too tight, and it will run near normal @ high rpm ... so maybe that's what happened. You can replace the valves in the head in that case.

Anyway, bent valve = replace the valve as well, but that is more work than you can do as a home mech.
Cool.
Buddha.

[SkyBob]

The head was already rebuilt by a certified mechanic with all new valves, new valve guides, and everything else brand new.
Cost me $700 and he told me it's not going to last because of that head being messed up as he has to use the smallest shim possible on the left exhaust valve.

[SkyBob]

heres the write up.

[lucas]

Crap that is expensive!  So this is a working head that you expect to fail again and you are buying a new head before it blows up again?

Your mileage may vary, but I called up motorcycle shops in my area and found one who had a gs500 head laying around.  I bought it for $120 and it was in good shape, just needed spark plugs.  Maybe I just got lucky but could try calling around.

[SkyBob]

this is a head that has failed yet again after its rebuild... i need a new head, any suggestions? lol

[lucas]

http://m.ebay.com/itm/2004-SUZUKI-GS500F-GS500-GS-500-F-CYLINDER-HEAD-WITH-CAMS-/361460187337?nav=SEARCH

[The Buddha]

this is a head that has failed yet again after its rebuild... i need a new head, any suggestions? lol

You may need a new mechanic long before you come to any conclusions about the head.
Cool.
Buddha.

[SkyBob]

Yeah I have a guy that all my friends go to, I'm going to be dropping her off soon there as far as that other mechanic that place was a joke, they're out of business now.

[The Buddha]

The long winded and non specific print out said guides are bad. That could be the reason it is still filling with oil.
A different head would solve that issue. GS guides are not the greatest quality but they are not too crappy either, but the seals are usually replaced when you do a valve and seat recut job. That may be a bigger issue than the guides.
Cool.
Buddha.