piston crowns

[mack]

Ok so the motor is out of the frame now and the frame is rough in spots but I don't think any structural failures are eminent. What I found though is that the cam chain housing gasket was put on before the head gasket. Looking at the gasket seat on the block it sure looks like it never sealed properly properly around the post on #3. That piston crown had much more carbon build up and rust deposits than the other three. Anyway, while cleaning the crowns and removing the gasket I sprayed gasket remover on the outer surface and obviously some it made it's way between the piston and the sleeve. I wiped out the drips and some of the carbon deposit at the top of the sleeve was removed. So the manual states not to remove this layer of carbon. My question is: on my sleeves it would appear to be about 3/16 in depth and at the top a bevel. Why shouldn't it be removed? and; now that some of it has been wiped away, what the #$@%&^* do I do now. Seem so to me that it wouldn't have been there when I first bought the bike with 0 miles on it. And I plan on going through the original breakin process when I get it back together, whats the big deal?

[mro]

Rubber/metal cam tunnel gasket not to be used with replacement head gaskets.
New gaskets made to do w/o that part and if used may damage head when you tighten it down.
As for the carbon. wouldn't worry about it.

mro
BTW, if you have a good straight edge, would check the head...

[mack]

gasket set

Yep I'll check for warp before I do much more. Bought the gasket set from Parts more and was looking them over. Saw that the head gasket was much wider in that location and figured they must have deleted the tunnel gasket. Why the hop-la over that little bit of carbon though. What would be the purpose of not cleaning it off. Should I get rid of the rest on this and the other cylinders so they are all even?

[petejw]

with regards to cleaning the carbon ring,
the idea of leaving the carbon ring is to prevent smoke, (blow by the rings)
it acts like a seal, i wouldnt worry to much if you have cleaned it,
it might burn a little smoke but that carbon ring will build up again.