Front Head Removal

[darkember]

One thing that does concern me are the 2 dowels that could drop into the engine as I will be concentrating on not loosing the cam chain at that point as well. In past experience where do those dowels prefer to reside as the head is lifted, in the head or the barrel?? I presume a second set of hands will be desirable at this point as well??

[lloydie]

Just fill the cam chain tunnel with bog roll before you lift the head off .

[darkember]

Just fill the cam chain tunnel with bog roll before you lift the head off .

Elaborate please, I still have to feed the cam chain down through the head as it is lifted off the barrel stuffing rags in the head tunnel is going to prevent me from achieving this or do you mean blocking the barrel tunnel once the head is partially lifted??

[lloydie]

If you have tied the chain to the guide front or rear don't matter what one . Then put some roll down the chain tunnel to just past the head so if they did fall out they won't go in the engine .
The dowels will most likely stay in the engine side so don't worry just take your time .

[darkember]

If you have tied the chain to the guide front or rear don't matter what one . Then put some roll down the chain tunnel to just past the head so if they did fall out they won't go in the engine .
The dowels will most likely stay in the engine side so don't worry just take your time .

That makes more sense cheers:)

[lloydie]

Really !! :Lol: I'm confusing myself now :shock:

[tony.mon]

I would advise a lot of caution using bog roll, as it separates easily. One stray bit of oily paper dropping down into the cam chain tunnel will easily lead to catastrophic engine failure if an oilway is blocked.

A lint-free rag is better.

[lloydie]

Dually noted

[darkember]

Lloydie you there??

Was wondering if it would be easier to leave the thermostat in place and just remove the water pipe union that connects to the base of the cylinder head, it would mean a hell of a lot less pipe faffing. See the photo below as to the area I'm on about.

[parkergb6]

When I took my head off the other week I just disconnected the pipe leaving the housing in place bit less grief.

[tony.mon]

Yep, that will work ok.
When you come to rebuild it make sure that that short pipe doesn't push the head gasket out of position as you drop the head over the dowels, which should stay in the engine itself, not the head.
If they come off with the head, carefully remove and tap back into the engine/barrel.

[lloydie]

Sorry for the late reply :-( as tony said :-)

[darkember]

A little slippy silicone grease should help the pipe back on

[lloydie]

A little slippy silicone grease should help the pipe back on

lube we likes lube

[darkember]

Put it this way I was not looking forward to removing the thermostat with all those pipe connections & knowing they will all be stiff as hell