Just got done putting the top end of my 94 sport 400L back together. I noticed coolant on the head so i pulled the tank off and there was coolant seeping through one of the head bolts. I retorqued the bolts but it still leaks.
Just wanted any suggestions of what to do...should i just take the head back off and replace the gasket.

Thanks

 

that would be your best bet, you may want to take the head and cylinder to a machine shop to make sure the surfaces are flat. If you can see anywere that the gasket isn;t getting pushed down flat it may mean theres a dip in one or the other.

 

first i would take out the head bolt and coat the threads with permatex#2 or rtv and reinstall it. if it still leaks then try a new gasket.

 

Not pointing any fingers, but was the head properly torqued in the correct sequense and mannor?

 

I called the machine shop that i took the cylinder to and they said it was fine. Going to take the head there this week just to make sure it is ok.

Guess I'll take the head off and look at the gasket first. If it looks fine i'll reuse it and use permatex sealant, if not i'll get a new one and still use the sealant on the threads.

I put the head on according to the manual and torqued it to the specs in the book. I rode it for about 2 hrs or so and then went to retorque the bolts. Thats when i noticed it was leaking. Thought maybe the bolts came loose so i retorqued them. It stopped the leak for the most part but can still see a few bubbles of coolant coming from one of the bolts.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

I have seen this with aftermarket 400 gaskets . What kind did you use ?

If it was aftermarket just pay about twice as much for factory Polaris and put it on .

Rick

 

It was an aftermarket gasket. What is the difference in the two?

 

however there made somethings differnt. I got about 30 minutes on a moose gasket I bought. others have had similiar experiences.

I did get a cometic to last about a year once but im the only one ive seen that didn;t have issues with them also.

no problems ever with the polaris head gasket.

 

I rebuilt the top end a year ago, using the same brand as this head gasket. It worked fine. Figured i would just use the same kind since it was cheap. I'll go ahead and get a factory polaris gasket. Hopefully it will work better. I'll make sure the head isnt warped first though.

Thanks again guys for all the help and info....

 

Did you put new headbolts? Just as in automotive applications, once a headbolt is properly torqued to spec either foot pounds then twist-turn torque or just foot pounds, it is stretched to its elastic limit and therfore should be replaced if ever taken out to replace such a thing as the head gasket. More then likely the bolt or bolts won't properly torque the second time.