Engine Trouble Motor Lost Power Sounds like Weed Wacker

[CalKustoms]

My motor lost power and is now really loud and sounds like a weed wacker. Guessing I blew a gasket but see no signs of a leak. Where should I start, exhaust, carb, head? Could it be the spark has gone bad? Am I looking in the right area? What would you start with.
Thank you

 

[crassius]

if you can't feel air leaking while moving your hand around the engine, then clean it really well and wait for oil to show up somewhere

making noises is usually exhaust gasket or head gasket

 

[CalKustoms]

Thank you for your help. I checked the head nuts and they were pretty loose. I tightened them up got it work great. I didn't think this could be the problem because I tightened them last week. But I have been putting 20+ miles on her a day.

 

[zwebx]

Thank you for your help. I checked the head nuts and they were pretty loose. I tightened them up got it work great. I didn't think this could be the problem because I tightened them last week. But I have been putting 20+ miles on her a day.

have you got a crankcase pressure tester? if not its not gracious but pull your carbe off and exhaust and blow into the carby manifold with your hand over the exhaust port (making a good seal) if it leaks or does not hold pressure then you need to either replace your crank seals or your case gaskets

what do you mean by running like a weed wacker? like as in 4stroking?

 

[CalKustoms]

have you got a crankcase pressure tester? if not its not gracious but pull your carbe off and exhaust and blow into the carby manifold with your hand over the exhaust port (making a good seal) if it leaks or does not hold pressure then you need to either replace your crank seals or your case gaskets

what do you mean by running like a weed wacker? like as in 4stroking?

The motor had a high pitch popping. I think it was gases leaking from the top head gasket or the spark plug which was also a little loose.

 

[Fabian]

Aluminium head gaskets will compress over time and allow combustion gases to leak past the head gasket.

The cylinder head nuts need to be periodically retensioned - it's just the way it is !!!

 

[darwin]

Put some red loctite on those bad boys.