Well, I guess the joke is on both of us--I opened up headpipe #6, and immediately saw that there are a pair of what look much like small main bearing shells that surround the pipe and act as a spacer that allows the head pipe flare to press on the copper O-ring. I had put these two parts in a magnetic bowl when I removed them a couple of weeks ago and immediately forgot them! Fortunately it only took me an hour or so to find them once I knew what I was looking for!
I ran out of daylight before I could actually start the bike up, but things are looking good.
And there's the rub. We have to assume that when you post, you used all the parts, followed the Service Manual and are still having trouble/ issues which can't be explained by looking through the Service Manual.
In the end you sorted it out so all is good.
KB
