More problems

[JDNSW]

The 2a has started overheating. Badly.

Further investigations revealed water in the oil, so this afternoon I have pulled the head off (its heavy).

No trouble finding the problem - head gasket is blown between No 4 and the water passage at the back about an inch inside the furthest back head bolt on the manifold side. About a 6mm wide section of gasket completely missing between the water passage and the bore, except for the copper rim round the bore.

[shack]

I see some are selling fibre head gaskets instead of copper, which one is best for this job?

[Tins]

I see some are selling fibre head gaskets instead of copper, which one is best for this job?
Dunno, but I like the diesel composite one. They fit fine and I think that they offer better sealing.

[drfish]

Sorry to hear that John, but I guess it’s comparatively easy from this point forward to fix the problem now - particularly if your grandkids are still around to help you wrangle the head back on. Now you have the head off are you going to use the opportunity for any other preventative (or needed, but deferred) work on the head?

Cheers, Matt


The 2a has started overheating. Badly.

Further investigations revealed water in the oil, so this afternoon I have pulled the head off (its heavy).

No trouble finding the problem - head gasket is blown between No 4 and the water passage at the back about an inch inside the furthest back head bolt on the manifold side. About a 6mm wide section of gasket completely missing between the water passage and the bore, except for the copper rim round the bore.

[whitehillbilly64]

Britpart Copper one has been good for 24,000klms since Rebuild in My S3 Daily Driver.

whitehillbilly

[Tins]

Britpart Copper one has been good for 24,000klms since Rebuild in My S3 Daily Driver.

whitehillbilly

I have no problem with that either. On a 2.25 you could possibly get away with cardboard... just kidding.

[whitehillbilly64]

I skimmed my 8.1 head, which had been skimmed before, Due to lack of 'Screwdrive' leverage points.
Probably closed to 9.1 now......
Torqued cold. Few thousand klms then retorqued Hot. Advice of Retired LR Guru/mechanic, Barry Marshall, Burringbah, NSW.
No Problems

whitehillbilly

[Tins]

Due to lack of 'Screwdrive' leverage points.
Probably closed to 9.1 now......


You mean "witness marks"? Always thought they were 'oversensitive', especially on low stress cast iron heads.

[JDNSW]

At a quick glance, the head does not need any other attention - valves look to be in perfect condition, almost no combustion deposits anywhere (No4 nice and clean thanks to the water). I'll probably give it a coat of paint, but the emphasis will be to get it back on the road ASAP, which will be determined by how soon I can get a head gasket.

The gasket seems to be firmly attached to the head, but I have not tried to get it off yet.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Can you get one locally John?

[JDNSW]

Can you get one locally John?

I very much doubt it. There is a slight chance that Repco in Dubbo might have one, but I have no intention of going there before I have to go in for a booster on the 19th. In about ten minutes I will be on the phone to All four x 4 who almost certainly have one, and can get it to me in about two days or less. (although with covid delays heaven knows) I think they open at 0830.

[JDNSW]

Parts ordered from All four x 4 (gaskets and bypass hose). Should ship today, heaven knows when they will arrive!

[whitehillbilly64]

Hi John.
I ordered parts early December. Overnight bag to Northern NSW.
Wasn't in a Hurry, but took 10 days.
It amazes me what Murwillumbah Repco have in stock, or can get in the next day.

whitehillbilly

[JDNSW]

The problem.
176199

[drfish]

I agree, I found that SCA offered head gaskets for the old 6-pot 2.6 engines, which was a big surprise, and had it in store in a day or two. If they have parts for a 6-pot, they must have anything!


Hi John.
I ordered parts early December. Overnight bag to Northern NSW.
Wasn't in a Hurry, but took 10 days.
It amazes me what Murwillumbah Repco have in stock, or can get in the next day.

whitehillbilly

[Tins]

If they have parts for a 6-pot, they must have anything!

Really?? Their old slogan was "We know what it is and we know where it goes". Imagine my surprise when the team at my local had to come outside to believe that such a thing as an OKA exists. Not fair, I know, but they ain't great on Disco bits as well.

[JDNSW]

Just got back from the Community Postal Agency with the package. I have yet to open it, but it is the right shape, and should contain gaskets and a new thermostat bypass hose.

Ordered Monday, arrived Wednesday - not too bad for parts for a fifty year old car. (All Four x 4), and not too bad for Australia post, either. And not all that expensive either - $112, including $26 postage.

Now to put it together - but I still need to get a second coat of paint on the head, and paint the thermostat housing and exhaust manifold. I'm thinking I will put it back on minus all the bits - it is more fiddly work leaning over the mudguard, but - that head is heavy, even without the extra bits!

[bennybeachbum]

Hopefully you put a straight edge across the head? When they are resurfaced the allowance is .0015" so you wouldn't want to see much more than that when you run your feelers gauges over it

[davros]

Be very careful to check for a crack in the head. Mine was, almost invisible. Soon blew another gasket!

[JDNSW]

If there is a crack it is invisible, and against a straight edge it has an end to end bow of between 0.0015" and 0.002"; 0.0015" feeler gauge will fit in the middle, 0.002" will not.

Head is now in place and torqued down. Today expect to get the bits and pieces put back on, drain and replace oil, and replace coolant. Should be fairly easy, provided I don't have unexpected problems and provided the forecast storm does not interrupt me.

[JDNSW]

The 2a has been on the road again for a while, but started giving intermittent starting problems. I put it down to the battery, which I took out of the County over two years ago as it was failing to start the Isuzu on cold mornings. It has been not only failing to start intermittently, but the battery has clearly about had it, as it was down to under ten volts after standing for a few days.

So I got a new battery on Tuesday and fitted it Wednesday. And it still refused to turn over.

So this morning I pulled the starter off. It is possible to retrieve it from underneath without undoing the exhaust pipe - provided you get it in exactly the right position, and hold your mouth right.

Getting it apart took a good part of the afternoon. I finally succeeded in starting the long through screws moving turning the head with vice grips after spraying WD-40 in the threaded hole from the other end, and heating the end plate at that end with a heat gun for ten minutes. I still have not managed to budge the screws on the brush holder - they are soaking overnight.

The issue is the wires from the field winding soldered to the bolt that provides power have broken immediately adjacent to the bolt. I have not figured out how I'll fix that, but I'll manage.

[4bee]

The 2a has been on the road again for a while, but started giving intermittent starting problems. I put it down to the battery, which I took out of the County over two years ago as it was failing to start the Isuzu on cold mornings. It has been not only failing to start intermittently, but the battery has clearly about had it, as it was down to under ten volts after standing for a few days.

So I got a new battery on Tuesday and fitted it Wednesday. And it still refused to turn over.

So this morning I pulled the starter off. It is possible to retrieve it from underneath without undoing the exhaust pipe - provided you get it in exactly the right position, and hold your mouth right.

Getting it apart took a good part of the afternoon. I finally succeeded in starting the long through screws moving turning the head with vice grips after spraying WD-40 in the threaded hole from the other end, and heating the end plate at that end with a heat gun for ten minutes. I still have not managed to budge the screws on the brush holder - they are soaking overnight.

The issue is the wires from the field winding soldered to the bolt that provides power have broken immediately adjacent to the bolt. I have not figured out how I'll fix that, but I'll manage.



provided you get it in exactly the right position, and hold your mouth right. It's funny how Manuals never stress those points as it make it an easier job if you do.[bigrolf]

.

[JDNSW]

Got the starter repaired, tested and refitted today. Went back in a lot quicker than coming out, probably mainly because I knew from getting it out how to maneuver it. Also had a bright idea and disconnected one end of the link between the throttle cross shaft and the bell crank below the carburetor. This made it a lot easier to get at the top stud and the terminal.

[4bee]

Got the starter repaired, tested and refitted today. Went back in a lot quicker than coming out, probably mainly because I knew from getting it out how to maneuver it. Also had a bright idea and disconnected one end of the link between the throttle cross shaft and the bell crank below the carburetor. This made it a lot easier to get at the top stud and the terminal.



A bit of the old ".Where there is a will, there is a way"[biggrin]