Replacing all top-end gaskets

[King Kang]

So, my PP 550 developed an air leak last summer, and I could see a couple areas where fuel/oil were leaking from the engine due to gasket failure. I think that the gaskets had probably dried out and failed after 25 years. My hope is that a set of new gaskets will stop my ski from doing its magical lean runaway stunt.

Since I've never pull the top-end before, I'd like to know if there is anything especially challenging or tricky that I should be worried about. It seems pretty straight forward, but any helpful advice would be appreciated.

 

[Quinc]

Replace the seals too. It is easy and straight forward. Take notes and pictures when you take her apart if you need to.

 

[restosud]

yeap,crank seals are mandatory on 550's.generally gaskets usually do not go bad assuming proper torque is retained on hardware preventing movement of parts although on 440/550 the base gaskets have thin shoulders and likewise on 550 head gaskets.

 

[King Kang]

Right on, thanks for the advice. I can see fuel/oil leaking from the base gasket that connects the two cases.

 

[Yami-Rider]

The lower half uses yami-bond to seal crankcase. Get a service manual. Torque everything to the right spec during re-assembly. I personally only use oem crankshaft seals.

 

[kswiatk]

Just take apart the entire engine including cases while you are at and and replace the crank seals as well. Its fairly cheap, and its good to check the condition of the crank while your at it. @SUPERJET-113 sells all the seals/gaskets on here. You need threebond or yamabond to seal them back together