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help can't get cylinder head of 1974 gt 550

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 10:30 am
by platesnscrews
i have all the nuts off the cylinders can't get head to move. any idea's :x

Re: help can't get cylinder head of 1974 gt 550

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 10:50 am
by Alan H
Rubber or hide hammer, hit it side to side, front to back. If you've got all twelve nuts off, it should come off. There aren't a second set under the first are there? It has been known!

Re: help can't get cylinder head of 1974 gt 550

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 11:21 am
by platesnscrews
thanks for the quick reply there are no extra nuts .i've been beating it won't budge guess i need a bigger hammer :)

Re: help can't get cylinder head of 1974 gt 550

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 1:27 pm
by Alan H
Very unusual to be so 'stuck' unless someone has used some sort of sealer on the head gaskets. If you are tempted to try to prise them apart, you stand a very good chance of breaking fins on the barrels.
Perhaps a wooden block against the front fins and apply percussive engineering strategy as previously.
Is the engine still in the frame? Did it run?
If it did and all else fails, if it was mine I'd be tempted to put the nuts back on but leave a thread 'slack' on each nut then see if firing the centre cylinder might shift it. Plug leads off the outer cylinders. This is a last resort though. The wooden block and hammer should shift it - don't bash the fins, they'll bend or break.

Re: help can't get cylinder head of 1974 gt 550

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 2:40 pm
by platesnscrews
the motor is still in the frame the previous owner had it running last year noticed center gasket leaking some oil i will try the wood and hammer if all else fails will try firing it up .the bike has only 10,000 miles on it :)

Re: help can't get cylinder head of 1974 gt 550

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 2:53 pm
by Craig380
When I got my 380 back in '98, one of the steel cylinder head studs had corroded to the alloy head. Needed some gentle persuasion with a torch to free it off.

Most of the time, a softwood drift and a hammer will do the job.

Re: help can't get cylinder head of 1974 gt 550

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 5:11 pm
by Cliff
Make sure to remove the lock washers and flats as well. From the top, drive down on the center cylinder at the front of the head with a block of wood. That should loosen it it or at least get it to move. Don't pry on it to break it free! That will only break a fin or bend/warp the head!

Re: help can't get cylinder head of 1974 gt 550

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:57 pm
by platesnscrews
thanks for the thelp :up: