I'm talking to a guy who recommends turning over the A4 to find TDC by clicking it over with the starter motor. Not manually cranking it at the flywheel or prop shaft.
Looking for advice on an Atomic 4 repair / replacement
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Last edited by ndutton; 05-17-2019, 12:57 PM.Neil
1977 Catalina 30
San Pedro, California
prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others
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Originally posted by ndutton View PostStop talking to that guy, he's an idiot. On the other hand, maybe go ahead and try it his way. You'll come to the same conclusion on your own. With my home made balloon indicator I can find #1 TDC in about 30 seconds and that includes the engine in the boat.
So I'm just looking to get No.1, No.2, etc to TDC so I can adjust valve clearances on each on the compression stroke.
I plan to replace all 8 valves and guides this weekend. Then set the clearances, install a new head gasket, and cross my fingers.
I wish I had access to a dial bore gauge so I could check for roundness, taper, and bore on the cylinders while I have access to them. The tool is $200.... and I'm not going to need it again for a long time
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While you have the head off, make sure those cooling passages in the block (between the valves and the edge of the block) are clear. They go straight down a short way, then take a turn fwd or aft to clear the intake & exhaust passages.
Chipping at them with a small screwdriver and hammer works well, but wear eye protection with side shields. Visits to an ophthalmic surgeon are no fun.
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Originally posted by infy View PostPretty smart trick with the balloon. I don't have compression since the head is off. . . . so I'm just looking to get No.1, No.2, etc to TDC so I can adjust valve clearances on each on the compression stroke.
Are you resisting cutting the flywheel access hole for some reason?Neil
1977 Catalina 30
San Pedro, California
prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others
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Originally posted by ndutton View PostEven easier with the head off. TDC is a precise setting, the reason I think using the starter is a no-go.
Are you resisting cutting the flywheel access hole for some reason?
So I'm at home poking at this second engine I bought... I mentioned that it made a mess of oil as soon as I set it down. We concluded it's coming from the flywheel area where there is no oil seal... more specifically, the oil I saw come out appeared to have leaked from here:
What exactly is this? It looks like there's a missing bolt? Do I need to plug this? If there's a part here, I could probably take it off the other A4.
Here's some more dirty A4 imagery attached
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Originally posted by infy View PostPretty smart trick with the balloon. I don't have compression since the head is off.. in fact, I have no compression with in on either
So I'm just looking to get No.1, No.2, etc to TDC so I can adjust valve clearances on each on the compression stroke.
I plan to replace all 8 valves and guides this weekend. Then set the clearances, install a new head gasket, and cross my fingers.
I wish I had access to a dial bore gauge so I could check for roundness, taper, and bore on the cylinders while I have access to them. The tool is $200.... and I'm not going to need it again for a long time
These A-4 don't wear out, they just go bad from sitting around and getting rusty and stuck valves. work things loose, lube it up, and put it back together.
You are getting advice on this forum from probably the best source, and if we go wrong, Don Moyers and Co. would set us straight and you on the right path.Last edited by lat 64; 05-18-2019, 02:18 AM.sigpic Whiskeyjack a '68 Columbia 36 rebuilt A-4 with 2:1
"Since when is napping doing nothing?"
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Originally posted by infy View PostSo I'm at home poking at this second engine I bought... I mentioned that it made a mess of oil as soon as I set it down. We concluded it's coming from the flywheel area where there is no oil seal... more specifically, the oil I saw come out appeared to have leaked from here:
What exactly is this? It looks like there's a missing bolt? Do I need to plug this? If there's a part here, I could probably take it off the other A4.Neil
1977 Catalina 30
San Pedro, California
prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others
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Originally posted by ndutton View PostThat is a drain hole in the flywheel housing. Don't put a bolt in it.
Ok I finally have the long awaited valve video. Not from the valve cover.. I need to get a wire with a switch I can hold... but here it is from the top:
[YOUTUBE]https://youtu.be/hYbFZg-5-Qg[/YOUTUBE]
The YouTube embed tag doesn't seem to work... direct link
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Nice video but a feeler gauge is the acid test. It's also entirely possible that the simple act of turning the engine over could free up sticky valves too.Neil
1977 Catalina 30
San Pedro, California
prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others
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It appears to me from the video that #1 exhaust is not closing fully and, if I recall your very first post correctly, that was the cylinder with zero compression.
As Neil has noted, the feeler guages are "the definitive" answer.
You could also probably get a good sense from examining the valve seats when the valves are fully open.
Peter
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Originally posted by ndutton View PostWhat are you using for a spring compressor?
I'm doing some feeler measurements on the cylinder head.. specs show .006 is acceptable. I meet that. But a .004 feeler will just barely slide through to the center. Going to see if I can get a quote from a machine shop tomorrow to do the flat head. If the price is reasonable I may go for it.
If I can't justify it with a good $400 engine sitting in my garage I may consider swapping the heads.
Or leave it as-is.. throw head gaskets on and check if I get compression back. If the book says .006 is ok I may just take their word.Last edited by infy; 05-19-2019, 05:38 PM.
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