Blown Head Gasket

[Mudmannolan]

I have an 03 Bombardier Quest 650 that i think has a blown head gasket. How do I get in to take a look?

[racer37l]

Normally you remove everything above the gasket. Have you checked the compression? If it's loosing water, check to see if there is water in the oil or see if water is going out the exhaust(water vapor).

[Mudmannolan]

I have very little technical knowledge. I don't know how to check the compression, and i don't know how to get to the gasket.

I am not sure if the gasket is blown so here are the symptoms. I was riding, i stopped and cut it off to shoot a snake. Got back on, and it would crank but not idle. I got a tow back to camp and had a friend take a look. He simply turned the idle screw up and it was good to go. I rode it for a test and l got the idle to where it should be. It popped and back fired a lot especially as a slowed down/let off the gas. I assume that's just a spark plug problem because it had been doing that for a while, just not as bad. I took the seat off again and there was a lot of oil around where it shouldn't be. Took the plug out and there was oil down in the hole. It had just come in from the top as it was not on the bottom part of the plug that ignites the fuel. Oil had come from somewhere but i couldn't find out where from. I cranked and ran it while looking close and nothing was spewing oil. Thats all i know, what do you think?

[racer37l]

I have very little technical knowledge. I don't know how to check the compression, and i don't know how to get to the gasket.

I am not sure if the gasket is blown so here are the symptoms. I was riding, i stopped and cut it off to shoot a snake. Got back on, and it would crank but not idle. I got a tow back to camp and had a friend take a look. He simply turned the idle screw up and it was good to go. I rode it for a test and l got the idle to where it should be. It popped and back fired a lot especially as a slowed down/let off the gas. I assume that's just a spark plug problem because it had been doing that for a while, just not as bad. I took the seat off again and there was a lot of oil around where it shouldn't be. Took the plug out and there was oil down in the hole. It had just come in from the top as it was not on the bottom part of the plug that ignites the fuel. Oil had come from somewhere but i couldn't find out where from. I cranked and ran it while looking close and nothing was spewing oil. Thats all i know, what do you think?

To check the compression, you have to remove a spark plug and install a compression gauge, then with the coil unhooked so the engine won't fire, get the motor to turn over using the starter for 5-10 seconds. Read what the gauge says and then you'll have find what reading would be normal for your bike. Hope this helps

[Mudmannolan]

If the compression is low, what does that tell me?

[Atomic_Sportsman]

It will tell you that there is a serious problem inside the motor. Could be 10 different things but they all mean taking the motor apart.

[Mudmannolan]

Thats nice to hear, Ill check it out.

[ready2goriding]

Make sure that your muffler is not plugged up. Yeah, I know how silly it sounds...
Good luck, doug