re torquing a head on my 400

[SDE]

I think I have a head gasket leak. So I set the wrench to a 100 lbs and went around and a few of them turned a little. Then I checked the manual and it said to torque to 110. SSSOOO, the big question is, will re torquing the head to 110 stop the leak. You see I do not have the equipment to lift the head off and I might not be man enough to lift it off by myself anymore. And it is winter here in the north land.

I checked on here for a gasket and it said out of stock.
TY
SDE
 

[cornerpost]

You have nothing to lose by trying. Is that hot or cold?
 

[fastfarmall]

So you didnt put in a new head gasket, if u didn't, i don't think so, try a bottle of K-Seal, thats new technology in stop leak, it doesn't plug the cores in the radiator! But u got to put it in the radiator hot, read the directions!!!
 

[rustred]

I have yet to see a retorque stop a leak on an engine other than a fresh build. Plus I hope it was hot when u did the torque checking.
 

[SDE]

Cold, I did see where a person had posted to warm the engine and then torque first to 100, then 110 and finally 115
 

[SDE]

I have used K Seal before with good results. I wanted to check the torque to be sure that I did not have a broken bolt. I will try K Seal again if I still have a leak, which I feel is very likely to be the case.
 

[SDE]

No it was cold. The manual did not have anything about it needing to be warm. Page 24 of IH-10
 

[used red MN]

If ..the north.. means you are within an hour drive of the Twin Cites I will come help you lift your head. Let me know or send me an email from Classic.
 

[67Chevrolet]

Dont want to start an argument, but Ive never seen a reason to retorque head gaskets except on farm tractors because it says to retorque. Swapped hundreds of automotive head gaskets, never retorque, worked over 20 years on semi tractors and never retorque, and never had a single issue.
I do retorque tractor head gaskets because most manuals or gaskets said to do it.
Is it a farm tractor gasket technology thing, or auto and big truck not wanting to pay the flat rate to do it?
Once again, im not trying to start something, but the local Ford, New Holland shop has never retorqued a head gasket either, I know this because Im friends with the owner and know several of the Mechanics, and they say they never worry about it, at least one of their mechanics doesnt even own a torque wrench and just tightens them with a breaker bar.
Not trying to start something, just wandered what the difference in tractors and auto or big truck is conceding head gadgets?
I apologize to the person who started this thread, didnt want to steal it.
Concerning his tractor, Id leave it alone, like someone else said. Ive only seen it work on a fresh built farm tractor engine. Id be afraid to tighten anymore and break a stud.
 

[jhncp]

What makes you "think" you have a head gasket leak? Is it leaking coolant into oil or pushing compression into radiater or both? You can put an air compressor hose in each spark plug hole and listen for bubbling (on compression stroke in 5th gear) or turn fan by hand while holding belt tight and listen or if you have a hand crank and it works (the easiest option) or take oil pan off to look where drip is coming (I had one leaking thru a lifter bore)
 

[SDE]

I lost at least two gallons of coolant. I had a white sweet smelling exhaust. I checked the oil the next day and it isn't in the oil. I filled it with coolant and ran it down the road to warm it up. The exhaust was clear during the entire drive. I had what looked like a layer of sand on the coolant in the radiator. The next day the coolant was back to being a nice green color. I believe the brown layer was a layer of very fine bubbles.
 

[SDE]

No offense taken. not even close.
TY
SDE
 

[SDE]

That is a very generous offer. Thank you. I would be about 90 minutes, but I am a can do kind of a guy. I put some used steel under my trusses as a ceiling, because the birds were crapping on the tractor. If I had to I could cut a hole in it to accommodate a winch. Again, Thank you
SDE
 

[bc]

Don't have a specific answer but I recently stopped at a long time area dealer and visited with the owner and discussed engine rebuilding. He said they have always put the head gaskets on dry, torqued them down, and nobody brings them in for a retorque or brought them back for leaks. They worked on all brands and carry multiple lines. FWIW.
 

[Dave41A]

I put a new head gasket on my H last winter in the cold. I torqued the head studs down to spec at the shop temperature (16F or -9C). I checked every stud three times for 70 ft-lbs. Then I started the engine and re-checked torque when warm. Some were down to 10 ft-lbs! I had some bubbling coolant leaking visible on the side of the block. I did a full re-torque when warm and it has not leaked since.