Head Gasket

[Anonymous-0]

Just got my new head gasket for my TO20. This is the third one that I'm going to put on. I must be doing something wrong. Could someone point me in the right direction. Is there a trick to putting these on. Its cold here now 32 to 40 during the day. Will I need to make sure that the parts are warmed up before? I want this one to be the last.

Best Cleaning?
Copper Spray, gasket seal? spray both parts and gasket?
Torque order and pounds?
How long to let it sit before starting it?
Leave antifreeze out until I'm ready to start it?
How can I tell if the Head is warped.

I have looked very close all the other time to see if the block is crack and its been a tear in the gasket each time.

Thanks for any advise.

 

[Toora Stephen]

I have a TED20 which I believe has a different engine to the TO20, so this may not be valid but according to John (UK) if your piston liners are sitting too low (because the gaskets beneath are too old or damaged), the head gasket will keep blowing. That is my current problem.

Perhaps you have a similar problem causing your gasket to keep breaking.

- TS

 

[gshadel]

Steve, after pulling the head twice, you should be an expert by now.....
Sounds like you need a manual, all that stuff is well covered in the Ferguson Shop manual, don't get a I&T manual, those are crap, you want a Ferguson re-print manual, available many places, included on this site.
The torque is 70-75 ftlbs. There is a sequence.... I don't have it memorized, it's in the manual. Check the head and block for warp by laying a steel straight edge on it and looking for a gap. The manual has a spec in it for that, don't recall what that is, it is obviously very small.
You can take the head to a machine shop and have them clean and check it for warp & cracks, about $50 job.
Yes, your piston liners should protrude above the block by .002 - .004". If they don't, your gonna have problems.
I use copper coat spray, just follow the directions. A lot of guys use nothing. The manual says to use "cup grease" which is just thick grease, I'm told that was recommended to help the gasket "settle" when torqued down so it wouldn't tear.
No reason to not add antifreeze and start-er up as soon as you get the head bolted down, exhaust etc. attached, and your valve lash re-adjusted. Run the engine until up to temp., shutdown, then re-torque again. I consider that re-torque to be important!
Cleaning - green scotch bright pads, scrapers, and solvent of your choice. Whatever the machine shop uses to clean heads - that is good stuff. It is worth the $$$ to let them clean and check your head for cracks/warp.
It would be best if all your parts were at room temp. before assembling, but don't think that is essential, as long as they are all the same temp. You don't want to assemble a frozen block to a toasty head, all the same temp.

George

 

[Anonymous-0]

Had a manual,lost it in the move a couple of years ago. I guess I'll need to break down and buy another. Put it in the wife's panio bench for safe keeping but that another story.

I'll let you know how things go thanks for the help.

 

[Bob (Aust)]

[i:366206e8f7]"Put it in the wife's panio bench for safe keeping but that another story."[/i:366206e8f7]

I assume "panio" should be "piano"?

Does that mean your TO20 plays a sweet tune? :lol:

 

[John (UK)]

You can check the Head if it is warped, roughly, by using a steel ruler (not a tape) and lay it across the Head in various directions, there should any gaps under the ruler should not be more than .020", if there is then the Head is warped and needs machining, which is quite easy. The same applies to the Block as well, that can be warped too. Make sure both Head and Block are clean and no rust, thick grease is OK for gasket but NOT dry. You can start it straight away. allow it to reach working temp and then tighten the Head down again and reset the valves, you may need to do this a couple of times just to be sure. Leave Anti-Freeze out until the Head has been tightened and you know it is OK then you can add it. Make sure that the Head Gasket is fitted correctly there is a right and a wrong way. If you need the tightening sequence for the Head Nuts, email me and I will send a picture. The correct torque is 70 - 75 lbs ft. You will also need to reset the engine governor as you have had it apart, email me if you need this info...John

 

[gerard]

.020"? That"s a LOT. I"d be concerned at more than .003"

 

[John (UK)]

Gerard..Well thats what they say in the service manual, I checked it to make sure...I would be inclined to want less than that but that is what they say. I will send it to you....John