As the title says - What are the usual blown head gasket symptoms on a 955? As I understand it the easiest one to 'find' is that the engine either won't start or will idle really roughly. Probably in conjunction with 'mayonnaise' under the oil filler cap and oil in the coolant. Are there any others? I am interested in a 955 that 'overheats' but the seller can't or won't be any more specific other than it takes about 2-3 miles to start overheating. My thoughts initially that it is probably the thermostat stuck shut and maybe the water pump is not working so well. I am ok with pulling things apart and putting them back together so I can do most things so am tempted to buy it and put it back to working order!
Would have to be very cheap if you buy it. Those are the usual symptoms can’t think of any more. With the owner being so inspecific as to what it’s symptoms are I would say walk away from it
"Overheats" Yes that's another head gasket symptom, but nowt written in stone could be thermostat as you said, again as mentioned oil in the water or vice versa. Owner is unspecific or does he actually know, you'll have to guage that face to face
As the other guys have said. The symptoms are wide & varied fourbears. Lots of mayonnaise type stuff in the oil. Plus the oil level being much higher than normal is a dead giveaway. Also a lot of steam from the silencers. That doesn't stop once the bike/exhaust is fully warm. I had one recently that turned out to be the internal seals on the water pump & a knackered radiator cap. It had most of the signs of a goosed headgasket but it ran/idled fine. If it's not too far away from you? Go & have a look mate.
Yes well I have a MG TF with the K series engine. They all overheat or so folklore would have it. A lot of the time it is just the coolant tank cap that is knackered! The bike is fairly cheap but I will see if I can elicit some more info.
I had a 1999 MGF. The headgasket replacement is no more difficult than on any other car. "IF" it weren't for the tiny working area! Fortunately mine was done before I purchased the car. Changing the waterpump/cambelt was like trying to wallpaper your hallway through your letterbox though!
Yes I know what you mean! Plus when short in stature you have to stand on a box just to even reach the head!
In addition to what's already mentioned: A garage should have equipment for measuring for HC gases (hydrocarbon) in the coolant tank. Also, pull the plugs and look for one or more steam cleaned plugs.
If by overheating do you mean the gauge is reading high or coolant level raising and overflowing? If it' the latter try new rad cap. If it' reading high I would try the sender. Rare that head gaskets go so go for a cheap and poss easy fix. Faulty rad cap is very common and very cheap. Buy genuine not pattern too.
I'd look at it like this mate.... At under £500. If it's cosmetically good but the engine needs work? You could break it & get approx 3 times your outlay. If the engine is fixable without too much effort/cost? You've got yourself a bargain bike. Obviously breaking it will req work & patience whilst the bits sell. However you will make enough to hopefully make it all worthwhile? IMHO it's a no brainer. PS.... If you decide not to buy it? Would you be kind enough to PM me with the details please?
Only if fourbears isn't going to buy it himself? Looking at the distance he's saying it is from him. I'm guessing Scotland or Cornwall? In which case I probably wouldn't be interested?
He's saying 340 mile round trip = 170 each way approx Doesn't get you to Scotland !!! maybe North East again !!!! Feckin no doubt right on your doorstep Good luck Jez
