banshee head help please

[erickzane]

I just got done building my shee and there seem to be coolant leaking thru the top of a couple of head nuts. Is it the gasket.

[joee20002]

what kind of head is it?

[erickzane]

It is a stock head that has been shaved and had domes matched. I m running a 4mm stroker 65mm cheetah cub with dunnable override. my copression is 190 psi. the head never leaked when the engine was stock. just ran it for the first time since I built it and It runs great other than the little bit of water leaking thru the head nuts.

[08 BANSHEE]

I Think the head gasket isnt sealing right maybe check it out

[dajogejr]

It happens all the time.
Go get Acorn nuts for all the studs, put a dab of RTV in the first few threads of the acorn nuts. Replace them one at a time, torque each one down to 20 ft. lbs.

Your head gasket is fine, water/coolant seep up the studs...it happens.
Unless you're blowing white smoke and loosing coolant and performance, it's just leaking water up the studs. Seal 'em, and you're fine.

[erickzane]

I got the acorn nuts and a new gasket to be safe. when I took the head off I found a little bit of pitting on the side of one of the domes and the piston right on the edge. Is that because of the coolant leak?

[dajogejr]

did you inspect the top of the piston?
Is it pitted as well. Usually that's detonation caused by a coolant leak, improper fuel octane, too much compression, improper timing, lean condition, etc.

[erickzane]

yes the top of the piston is pitted in the same area. my compression is 190 on both sides. my timing is still stock . I just finished building it and everything is brand new. the carbs 33mm keihin and Im running 162 mains with 52 pilots. so what octane, timing and jets should I be running.

[dajogejr]

replace the pistons. They'll only deteriorate from there.
Run 110 octane in that motor, pump gas or even a mix of pump/race fuel won't be enough.

You need straight 110 octane. If your crank hasn't been trued and welded, have that done while you're at it.

or...tone down the compression... your motor and crank will not last long with that much compression without having the crank welded and the octane raised big time.

[erickzane]

ok i do have a trued and welded 4mm stroker crank. the piston only has 5 little pits on it do you still think it will deteriorate? and if so do I at least have enough life on it to get the carbs tuned before I take it apart.