is this a head gasket leak? - Honda Foreman Forums : Rubicon, Rincon, Rancher and Recon Forum

egoprofit · 01-05-2012, 02:19 PM

I am not so ATV-tech savy, but my best guess here is that my 2000 Rancher ES needs a new head gasket.

I noticed the oil at the top of my cylinder head, what do you guys think?

rich450es · 01-05-2012, 02:31 PM

thats just the rocker box (valve cover) leaking! the nuts are eather loose or you need to replace the steel gasket

sspeckerwood · 01-05-2012, 02:35 PM

i would have to agree with ya rich. make sure you get some yamabond when installing the new gasket. it makes for a really good tight seal

scottl1346 · 01-05-2012, 02:37 PM

id replace the valve cover gasket its 4 bolts the cover pops off clean the 2 surfaces good put in new gasket and don't over tighten them they only need to be a little more then hand tight or you will end up with a helicoil like me lol

**toodeep** · 01-05-2012, 02:39 PM

Looks like the head nut/stud might be leaking, pretty clean around it anyways. I've had them before where the stud pulled the threads in the case and it would leak like that. You could check and see if the nut is tight (about 30 ft/lbs).

egoprofit · 01-05-2012, 02:51 PM

Thanks guys, at least I may be right about the "gasket" part. haha

This quad only has 1,050 miles on it, so I'm really hoping it is just the gasket and not an issue with the stud pulling threads. I'll check the tightness and order a gasket if it isn't the problem.

Any suggestions on where to get a cheap gasket?

scottl1346 · 01-05-2012, 02:58 PM

dealer for the one or if you want to get a whole topend set id get it off ebay. prob 10 to 15 bucks at dealer for the one and about 25 off ebay for the whole topend set

**toodeep** · 01-05-2012, 03:08 PM

Pull it off and spray paint or RTV it and put it back together. You did say cheap correct?

rich450es · 01-05-2012, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toodeep

Pull it off and spray paint or RTV it and put it back together. You did say cheap correct?

a very thin layer of hondabond works good too

scottl1346 · 01-05-2012, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toodeep

Pull it off and spray paint or RTV it and put it back together. You did say cheap correct?

you could also try some double sided sticky tape lmao

01-05-2012, 02:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
egoprofit Honda Rider Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 26	is this a head gasket leak? I am not so ATV-tech savy, but my best guess here is that my 2000 Rancher ES needs a new head gasket. I noticed the oil at the top of my cylinder head, what do you guys think?

01-05-2012, 02:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
rich450es Honda Red Wing Rider Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: ludlow,mass Posts: 10,640	thats just the rocker box (valve cover) leaking! the nuts are eather loose or you need to replace the steel gasket __________________ 2000 foreman 450 es-s the fking pig 14% 300 foretrax gear reduction 30in gorila silverbacks on C-5 wheels 2500lb warn winch superatv disk brake conversion kit 2in ssatv lift kit and progressive 512 shocks the original 4in PVC storage tube hurculined racks with rear cargo box czr loud exhaust , uni airfilter and drilled main jet foreman 450 parts for sale pm me for info**

01-05-2012, 02:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
sspeckerwood Honda Red Wing Rider Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: tooele, ut Posts: 8,776	i would have to agree with ya rich. make sure you get some yamabond when installing the new gasket. it makes for a really good tight seal __________________ 2012 TRX500FM FOREMAN. SSPECKERWOOD 3RD HEADLIGHT MOD QUAD BOSS REAR SEAT 26" SWAMPLITES KFI #3000 WINCH HOT GRIPS HEATED GRIPS & THUMB WARMER HONDA ALUMINUM A-ARM GUARDS 00' FOREMAN 450es HIGH LIFTER SPRINGS FRONT & REAR MAXXIS TIRES OFF A 2012 FOREMAN 500 SSPECKERWOOD 3RD HEADLIGHT MOD http://www.flickr.com/photos/sspeckerwood/ http://www.youtube.com/user/sspeckerwood Official hondaforeman.com stickers IF YOU WOULD LIKE OFFICIAL HONDAFOREMAN.COM STICKERS PM ME.

01-05-2012, 02:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
scottl1346 Honda Red Wing Rider Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: mass Posts: 971	id replace the valve cover gasket its 4 bolts the cover pops off clean the 2 surfaces good put in new gasket and don't over tighten them they only need to be a little more then hand tight or you will end up with a helicoil like me lol __________________ 02 foreman 450 ES 2 inch HL lift kit super ATV front disk brake conversion 27 inch Zillas 14% gear reduction HMF ECO system exhaust diamond plate bash plate and cv boot guards Super-winch 1500lb winch will upgrade someday lol custom LED brake lights

01-05-2012, 02:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
scottl1346 Honda Red Wing Rider Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: mass Posts: 971	dealer for the one or if you want to get a whole topend set id get it off ebay. prob 10 to 15 bucks at dealer for the one and about 25 off ebay for the whole topend set __________________ 02 foreman 450 ES 2 inch HL lift kit super ATV front disk brake conversion 27 inch Zillas 14% gear reduction HMF ECO system exhaust diamond plate bash plate and cv boot guards Super-winch 1500lb winch will upgrade someday lol custom LED brake lights

01-05-2012, 02:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
toodeep Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: south dakota Posts: 6,652	Looks like the head nut/stud might be leaking, pretty clean around it anyways. I've had them before where the stud pulled the threads in the case and it would leak like that. You could check and see if the nut is tight (about 30 ft/lbs).

01-05-2012, 02:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
egoprofit Honda Rider Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 26	Thanks guys, at least I may be right about the "gasket" part. haha This quad only has 1,050 miles on it, so I'm really hoping it is just the gasket and not an issue with the stud pulling threads. I'll check the tightness and order a gasket if it isn't the problem. Any suggestions on where to get a cheap gasket?

01-05-2012, 03:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
toodeep Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: south dakota Posts: 6,652	Pull it off and spray paint or RTV it and put it back together. You did say cheap correct?

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