Rocinante´s head transplant

[Rocinante]

After sitting on the shelf in my garage for almost a year, today I finally put the ebay found cylinder head on Rocinante. It´s just done and hasn´t been tightened yet. I´ll do that tomorrow when I get hold of a torque wrench of better quality than the cheap thingy I had from before.

Before starting I took the new head to a friend who runs the only engine specialist shop in the area. I just wanted him to even the surface for me, but he insisted on taking it apart to check the valves (for free:)). That was a good idea. All were quite worn and we lost about 0,2mm on the shims by the time the valves had been ground back to an even slant surface. Now the shim sizes are in the 2,35-2,55 range, and even though it´s less than what it should have been, it should be allright for a few years. Fingers crossed.

Fingers crossed 2: No, I have not replaced the old Hylomar sealant on the liners. Some of you insisted I should. The mechanic I use who´s worked on Triumphs since the first Hinckley came out, said he didn´t do it. So I took a risk, but very carefully, and it took me about half an hour just to tap tap the head loose, hoping I didn´t disturb the liners (too much).

I will honestly report here if that was a big mistake...:) Oil will be checked on a regular basis.

I feel I´m out of my league doing this, but what the hell. The engine´s done 150 000km. Time to experiment, eh right?  :?

Any last minute tips before torquing begins tomorrow night?

Dag

[Nick Calne]

Good to here one of the most legendary steamers of all time is working it's way back to health.  No idea what to say to help though.  You'll have to wait for Jetdocx, Mustang and the other clever guys to pop by.  :D

[BruKen]

If your engine has turned even slightly your wet liners will have shifted. For the half hour of delicate fiddling so you don't damage the rings I'd say you are being a bit silly not to reseal the liners. We aren't talking nuisance little oil or water leak here, but a potential  catastrophic engine failure if your mech buddy is wrong.

[Mustang]

you'll be sorry if you dont spend the extra effort to seal the liners . antifreeze and shell bearings do not make for a happy marriage ...........it has the potential to go BOOM!
you are this far into it now whats a couple more steps to do it right ?

[JetdocX]

It's your engine.  Enjoy! :roll:

[Rocinante]

We´ll see how long this "legend" will last.:roll:

Thanks for the advices.

You scare me but not more than the thought of taking out the liners and thus open up the crank case and risk damage to the rings. Yet...

Opinions about what you see in the images?

[CoolHandLuke]

Opinions about what you see in the images?

Aye, steal the kitchen roll out of the kitchen when your misses isn't looking!  It's better than toilet roll and last longer :)

[Rocinante]

Thanks Luke, I´ll try but she keeps a vigilant watch over the inventory...

The manual says that the last torque setting is 90 degrees on a angle wrench. Just so I understand that correct and since I have no angle wrench, what they mean is simply to make a quarter turn with the spanner, right?

[Mustang]

exactly .........torque all the head bolts to spec and then go back and do each one an additional quarter turn.

hylomar is cheaper than taking her back apart again ...........and the rings are so easy to get back in the liners .
 your call , me I'd seal it .

[MIMbox]

At least put a straight edge across it, and see if the liners are level, or possibly just proud of the mating surface.
Tried to do a similar thing with my T25 VW watercooled flat four, Cost me £1100 for a replacement engine when it leaked and threw a rod.
Hey ho, its only money, you can't take it with you...so I'm not going!

[JetdocX]

At least put a straight edge across it, and see if the liners are level, or possibly just proud of the mating surface.
Tried to do a similar thing with my T25 VW watercooled flat four, Cost me £1100 for a replacement engine when it leaked and threw a rod.
Hey ho, its only money, you can't take it with you...so I'm not going!

Maybe that's the reason for the toilet paper there... :lol:

[Rocinante]

Thanks Mimbox, I did that check and all ok.

Too late now folks. It´s put together and only lacks new coolant and fiddling the carbs back in place.

I will drain some oil before I start her(and refill), and compare that sample to the oil after a first ride and second and third. I´ll check the cooolant as well. If in worst case I´ve screwed up I´ll buy a new head gasket, a tube of Hylomar and whatever else I need and start over again.

Even though I´m not listening to advices(except locally), I´m at least learning a lot about the engine. If I screw up I learn more.... :roll:

[BruKen]

Well goodluck  :D


and as we tend to make hay while the sun shines I'm taking bets. 20% commission each way I'm offering startoff odds at

4:1 BANG! oh fek, look at all them shiny pieces

3:2 water water everywhere except in my radiator

1:4 Alleluja!! It's a miracle!

 :twisted:

[ArcticTiger]

There are several ways you can search and get information about things, and become wise and knowledgeable. You can:

-Read books, manuals or do the internet,
-Ask people who "knows",
-Or, and probably best,  "Learning-by-Doing-it-the-Hard-Way"

Its like sex, not much fun just to read and talk about it....

[Rocinante]

1:4 Alleluja!! It's a miracle!

 :twisted:

My trusted mechanic must have been extremely lucky, since he has done the same procedure I´ve now done maybe 100 times during his almost 20 years as Southern Norway´s most reknowned Hinckley Triumph specialist,...

C´mon...:roll:

Rocinante is up and running by the way. She has died on a few occasions, both now and before the operation. I suspected the pick up coil which failed on me on my way back from South America ten years ago. The resistance was ok but when I opened the cover I saw it had disintegrated (it was no longer attached to the metal base) and was way out of position. Hmm, never seen that before.