head gasket blowing

[Strummer10]

just curious but is there anything else on an engine that might cause a similar squeak each time piston travels up the barrel and what torque are people using on a standard 200cc set up for the cylinder head bolts ?

[Grumpy225]

18ft/lbs for the head nuts

Squeaks can be a weird one. Does it do it while running and or rolling it over by hand? Could be about anything. I'd start with removing a piece at a time until it stops making weird noises.

Also, using grinding paste on an aluminium head is asking for problems (contrary to popular belief I know). The paste particles will embed them selves in the aluminium and make the metal harder and therefor making the head harder to surface and seal correctly. I have them cut on a mill so there is fresh aluminium on the mating surface and they are perfectly flat. No leaks ever.

[wack 63]

You may be right but none of the ones I've done have ever leaked even with no gasket.

[Strummer10]

Guys, yes it was squeaking when I rocked the flywheel from side to side.....wondered if the crank running out might have caused it, but the flywheel isn't rubbing the mag flange so I'm thinking it's ok. I did rub the head and top of cylinder down on wet and dry on glass (to keep it flat) and tried them on the glass after with no 'rocking'. I also put sealant on both faces of base and head gasket (the red sealant for car heads...instant gasket stuff).

I have torqu'd head to the 18 ft/lbs but still the subtle squeak and yes can here when running. It pretty much starts first kick and idle's ok ....so I wondered if it was even an air leak. Only other thought was mag side gasket which I just put on with grease both sides, could it be from here .....

Annoying as this is the first time it's happened in 4 recent rebuilds ???

[Strummer10]

tried it again today, I'm not convinced it's a head gasket, just wondering if the big end bearing on the crank might be making the noise as it turns