Replace head gasket!

davey1207

1981 Yamaha xs400 Special
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hey dudes. i haven't posted in a while because i've been out enjoying my build. this week i decided to finally take the engine out and replace the head gasket. its been leaking for quite a while and now it is so much that my bike is not running properly and i keep fouling spark plugs. plus i wanted to see her insides anyway. i'm posting a couple pics. first one is what she looked like last week. next is where i am stuck. i don't know how to pull the cam chain out. i didn't see a master link and before i got frustrated and broke something i wasn't supposed to i stopped for the night. this is my FIRST TIME doing serious engine work. any help or ideas of any of you guys would help me out. i've searched the forum but no one seems to say exactly HOW they got the chain off. just says its tricky or keep the tension when removing. anyway help is appreciated guys thanks!
 

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I think you will find your answers on page 24 of the manual. I used an old shoe lace tied around the chain to stop from dropping it into the case.
 
Pork Chop I looked on page 24 and it isn't there. I am using the manual that I downloaded from this forum. Did you mean another manual?
 
you need to take the cam sprocket off and pull to the left side then there is enough slack to take the chain off.
I use coat hanger wire to stop it from falling down the chain tunnel
 
So tonight after work I'm planning on taking the rest of the head off. I was only able to loosen one bolt (there's 8 total duh)! I don't want to break them but is there an easy way to loosen them? I have the engine sitting on a couple 2x4's on top of a work stool. Any ideas?
 
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