Head gasket after 12 yrs.

[Mo]

Today I had to do a head gasket on my A4. About a week and a half ago noted a small leak under the Tstat area and poked a bit of epoxy in there. Was working on another A4 for a friend, so had him order me a couple of head gaskets when he was ordering his parts. We got his engine going over the weekend and today I started on my head gasket job.

Total time was 2 hrs and 15 minutes. I did it with the boat in the water and took a small genset down to run a vacuum. Head came off without difficulty and I cleaned up the surfaces and ports...things weren't too bad at all.

Took a pic of the engine right after I pulled the head. My exhaust valves are all whitish and no major carbon buildup. No gunk etc on the head and passages were pretty clean. She is a clean running engine. Been running NGK XR4 plugs for over 12 years and those exhaust valves aren't burnt...it is a well tuned engine. I wasn't making a career out of this head gasket change so didn't take many pics. Running 2 hours and 15 minutes after I started.

Nice easy job, no complications. I needed a break.

EDIT: I'd like to clarify why I use NGK XR4 plugs. This isn't a regular thing for engines with a T-stat, but I've run like this for 12 years now. I do not run a T-stat. It was removed when I got the boat and I put in a by-valve that I keep open about 1/2 way. This keeps the top end cooler, the engine runs cooler but I use a hotter plug that I think compensates for the cooler head temp and keeps my plugs and valves from fouling. I could spin every valve there with my finger tips...smooth as silk.

2nd EDIT:...that's dirt on the pistons etc. I sort of jiggled the gasket to remove it prior to taking a pic, hence the mess. Snapping a pic was an afterthought and I just vacuumed it out and kept the vacuum going as I used a sharp wood chisel to clean the surfaces. It wasn't long after that pic was taken the new gaskets and head were on.

[romantic comedy]

Amazing how some jobs dont have the usual complications!!

Good for you!

[Surcouf]

2.5 hours? that is Nascar pit stop level...

[Mo]

2.5 hours? that is Nascar pit stop level...

Not Really a pit stop level. I have really good access to the engine. When I bought the boat in 2007 I made access ports to the engine on all sides. The boat construction allowed it and the effort back then paid off over the years.

[Dave Neptune]

Nicely done

Mo, nicely done. Not really that fast if you were going for time. And knowing what your doing, being prepared while working on one thing at a time. I'll bet very little "blood letting" and a beer or 2 while getting the task at hand done.
Good mechanics don't rush they stay busy with the task at hand.

Here's to another 12 years, cheers ole boy.

Fair winds _/) _/)
Dave Neptune

[Mo]

Water pump today...miserable job.

Yes Dave for sure...it just went easy without problems. I paid particular attention to cleaning the surfaces because I don't want to do it again anytime soon.

Today's job was the job that took a bit out of me. Noticed a leaking raw water pump when turning the raw water thru hull back open, after doing the head. So today I tackled that....3 hours of pure misery. Rusted bolt couldn't get a wrench on it...then I remember the set of ratcheting snubbie wrenches in the tool box home...I might have used one of them once, so when I was thinking "how am I going to get this SOG" I finally remembered that 3rd drawer down. Went home, grabbed a couple of close sizes and the 9/16 and got it. Everything is in the way there on my boat...grounding wires, shifter cables, thru hull x 2, and dim. Upside down, blood rush, holding my tongue just the right way....miserable job. Now down to one spare water pump.

I got away from the boat before I could notice anything else.

[JOHN COOKSON]

Everything is in the way there on my boat...grounding wires, shifter cables, thru hull x 2, and dim. Upside down, blood rush, holding my tongue just the right way....miserable job.
.

Ain't that the truth.
You'll know arrived when you get so dizzy and disoriented you can't figure out which way is clockwise\ counterclockwise to tighten or loosen.

ex TRUE GRIT

[Indy]

Ain't that the truth.
You'll know arrived when you get so dizzy and disoriented you can't figure out which way is clockwise\ counterclockwise to tighten or loosen.

ex TRUE GRIT

I've spent ten minutes just trying to figure out how to get myself back out of the cockpit locker after working on mine. There is a specific sequence of arm placements and twists required to get myself just a few degrees short of vertical where I can put my hand on the carb.

Then I realize I have the wrong wrench.

[Mo]

John and Indy: Yeah, I think I go brain dead as soon as I pretty much stand on my head. That one there, I tried to remain at "arms length"...used a 9/16 universal socket, 6 inch extension, then a universal socket and then a 12 inch extension and put a ratchet on that...wiggling around obsticals. That didn't work and I tried in vain to get on that bolt for about 30 minutes. Then wrenches etc....in the end I was squeezed down in there and got it with a stubbie ratcheting wrench.

[Dave Neptune]

Mo, fortunately I always had access to my shop with many machines and metal working equipment. The fortunately part was it was very easy to modify or fabricate a dedicated tool to a difficult task. As the years went by I finally learned that it was quite often easier and faster to make something special to do the task. The downside was a tool box with a bunch of twisted, cut-off, extended pieces that looked like a tool, the problem was remembering the application of said tool .

Dave Neptune

[Administrator]

Years ago, I stopped mowing wet grass to attack a clogged mower deck. I dropped to my knees, put my forehead on the ground, and looked backward and upwards to look under the deck. I was immediately struck with vertigo so severe that I literally thought I was dying. The rocks in my inner ear had moved to a place they weren't supposed to be. This phenomenon is so common that our local rehab center has a tech specifically trained on remediation treatments. If you're curious, google "benign positional vertigo."

Even now, when rolling over in bed, I do it face-up, not face-down.

A corollary to the vertigo issue is the risks associated with working alone in confined spaces: engine compartments, lazarettes, etc. I am familiar with at least two cases where folks got into a predicament from which they couldn't extract themselves without help.

Bill

[Joe Miller]

Carb

Hello All,
Just a small shout out to Mo. Oh as a leaky float valve in the carb that I replaced. I could not set the float properly so I sent up the “Bat Light” to Mo, he quickly changed the float for a used one.
This morning I took 10 minutes to reinstall and fired up after 15 seconds f rolling over. Purrs like a 50 year old kitten.
Joe.

[Mo]

You are welcome Joe, always a pleasure to put on my MMI hat for a friend. Good to see it worked.

[paulw]

head removal

Mo - my head hasn't been moved for 48 years, I figure it will put up some resistance.

My engine is seized, I have Kroil working away on it. Only three weeks left alone is all it took to freeze.

If I take off the head, will it be apparent what the problem is - as to whether there is a bent rod or anything of the sort? If I could determine that it would a step forward.

[Mo]

I'd pour a mixture of acetone and transmission fluid together and pour it generously into the spark plug holes. Take the carb off first though as some will drain into the carb...put a cup and some towels there to catch what comes out. Last time I did freed up stuck rings was about a year ago and I had to mix about 70% acetone and 30% transmission fluid it get it to work...thinned right out. Pour that in each plug hole directed at the top of the cylinders and also toward the valves...everything could be stuck so might as well drive it everywhere. Come back after a couple of days and using your hand crank and start working the engine back and forth. It might move a 1/4 of an inch, might not. If not, repeat the proceedure and try again in another couple of days. Again, don't be shy with the stuff, you will need to change oil after it all anyway. I've tried other stuff to free things up but that's what gets it done for me. If that doesn't do it feel free to start a thread on it and the guys will help as well...some might not notice it on here.

All the best
mo