Changing Heads

Squiffythewombat · Post by **Squiffythewombat** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:02 pm

As you guys know my front head is damaged and leaking oil everywhere. I have a perfect head off the old engine so that can be swapped over. My mecanic tells me this is a bit of a major job and likelly to cost around $200 which i obviously dont have!

Does this sound about right? i didnt think that swapping heads would be that much of a mission aside from the valve assemblies?

Cheers
Toby

Pete.L · Post by **Pete.L** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:09 pm

Give it a go.
Your time doesn't cost you anything when you're doing it for yourself.
That bloke is probably estimating for a four hour job and thats about right at todays prices

Pete.l

LotusSevenMan · Post by **LotusSevenMan** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 7:36 pm

200 dollars is only about 101.875 ukp so seems cheaper than normal cost!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll get my coat shall I?

Have a go yourself says I.

Good luck!!!

Fireman on a Storm · Post by **Fireman on a Storm** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:21 pm

I thought aunt Sally was comming over for tea and Worzle Gummage was putting his best bead on!

Jaglifter · Post by **Jaglifter** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 6:59 pm

Squiffy. Do it yourself. Just follow the manual step by step. Its only like a jigsaw puzzle!

Beast · Post by **Beast** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:12 pm

Have a similar job myself Squiffy.
Picked up another cheap Firestorm with a front cct problem and dropped a valve.
Havn't had time to look properly yet, just wondering if its worth spending upto Â£100 notes on another front cyclinder with all the bits or just wacking in another lump.

ChunkyMonkey · Post by **ChunkyMonkey** » Fri May 25, 2007 7:51 pm

I have bought an accident damaged Firestorm and need to swap the front cylinder head.
Can this be done without removing the engine?
Any hints or tips to look out for?
Cheers
Andy

Squiffythewombat · Post by **Squiffythewombat** » Sat May 26, 2007 2:51 pm

ChunkyMonkey wrote:I have bought an accident damaged Firestorm and need to swap the front cylinder head.
Can this be done without removing the engine?
Any hints or tips to look out for?
Cheers
Andy

Hi Andy,

no, the engine will have to be dropped out the frame, this also means the rear has to be removed too as im sure you realise.

Beast- 100 for a head? surely you can find one on ebay for less than that? you have the knowledge to do it yourself so should be too hard? That said i think you can pick up an engine for less than 300 these days!

ChunkyMonkey · Post by **ChunkyMonkey** » Sun May 27, 2007 11:00 am

Squiffythewombat wrote:
ChunkyMonkey wrote:I have bought an accident damaged Firestorm and need to swap the front cylinder head.
Can this be done without removing the engine?
Any hints or tips to look out for?
Cheers
Andy
Hi Andy,

no, the engine will have to be dropped out the frame, this also means the rear has to be removed too as im sure you realise.
Beast- 100 for a head? surely you can find one on ebay for less than that? you have the knowledge to do it yourself so should be too hard? That said i think you can pick up an engine for less than 300 these days!

Sorry i didn't realise. Why does the rear head have to come off too?

Post by **sirch345** » Sun May 27, 2007 2:24 pm

ChunkyMonkey wrote:I have bought an accident damaged Firestorm and need to swap the front cylinder head.
Can this be done without removing the engine?
Any hints or tips to look out for?
Cheers
Andy

Not wishing to contradict you Toby (Squiffy) but I didn't think the engine does need to come out to remove the front cylinder head

Jurgen has just fitted new valves to his front cylinder head and he didn't mention anything about removing the engine first, as I'm sure he would have if he'd had to.

I've just had a check in the Haynes manual and they definitely say the c/heads can be removed with the engine in the frame.

Andy you will need to follow a similar procedure as for removing the front CCT as in this link http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8326 before you get to the stage of removing the c/head, you will also need to drain of the cooling fluid before removing the c/head. REMEMBER THAT ANTI-FREEZE IS POISONOUS, so take care how you dispose of it

Chris.

ChunkyMonkey · Post by **ChunkyMonkey** » Mon May 28, 2007 5:15 pm

Thanks for that Chris

I'd had a quick look and thought it would be doable without dropping the lump.
No worries on the coolant score as the right radiator was reduced to mulch in the smash.
My game plan is to "Streetfighter" this VTR. I've just picked up some 'blade USD's and i'm on the look out for a T595 rear end.
I've also bought a sexy curved radiator as i'm not a fan of the twin rads on naked bikes.
Anyone ever fitted Nitrous to a Storm?

Post by **kevg** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:30 pm

Any of you cylinder head changers want to buy a brand new gasket, i ordered one by mistake...the guy in the shop didn't understand which ones i was after...had it a month or so, still in the wrapper, probably to late for me to get my money back on it.

Â£5 plus postage gets you a cheap one and me a couple of beers. Â£15 at dave silvers.
i just need to dig it out the garage.

ChunkyMonkey · Post by **ChunkyMonkey** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:35 pm

kevg wrote:Any of you cylinder head changers want to buy a brand new gasket, i ordered one by mistake...the guy in the shop didn't understand which ones i was after...had it a month or so, still in the wrapper, probably to late for me to get my money back on it.

Â£5 plus postage gets you a cheap one and me a couple of beers. Â£15 at dave silvers.
i just need to dig it out the garage.

Jeez

I only ordered one on Friday

I'll have it as a spare..pm sent

Post by **kevg** » Mon May 28, 2007 9:26 pm

sold to the monkey...i'll dig it out and find an envelope big enough.

Stormin Ben · Post by **Stormin Ben** » Tue May 29, 2007 12:57 am

kevg wrote:i'll dig it out and find an envelope big enough.

Its only made of paper, just fold it up and put it in a standard one