The Heads are Stuck to the Barrels - any Ideas?

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old1955
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The Heads are Stuck to the Barrels - any Ideas?

#1

Post by old1955 »

G'day,

My heads are stuck there. I did make a lever and bolted it down tight the to engine steady
it was about a 14" long and I managed to tilt the bike as it sat on the the rear stand. Well
that's as brave as I could get. I put my headbolts back in, left them loose about 1/8" just incase it let go
if it had, the throttle tab won't go through my rocker box.

The only other thing I thought of, because, I couldn't stand the idea of abuse of any sort,
my be I could pull the motor, remove the barrel complete with head. Then make a jig and support it in a press
upside down, fill the head area with rags and carefully press the head off using an old piston or round wood
, but thats gonna load the barrel base flange heaps. hate to snap a barrel corner.

I have little chance of just working the the gasket out with a fine tool as the gasket gap is
less that .025" and seems to have aluminium in its centre. I can't believe a gasket could be so
strong.

Has anyone else dealt with this problem?

thanks
Pete
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Re: The Heads are Stuck to the Barrels - any Ideas?

#2

Post by RUBONE »

Pete,
An old trick was to loosen the head bolts leaving the pushrods still in and kick it over to let the compression pop the head off with no damage. I have never seen one that won't pop unless there is a bent valve or holed piston.
Robbie
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Re: The Heads are Stuck to the Barrels - any Ideas?

#3

Post by FlatHeadSix »

old1955 wrote:Has anyone else dealt with this problem?
Pete
Everyone has had that problem, how do you think all those fins get broken off the cylinders and the heads?

Your idea about removing the barrel and the head as a unit and pressing it off with proper support and padding has a lot of merit and may be the best solution. But, I'll bet one of our experienced experts has a much better approach to solving your problem.

mike
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Re: The Heads are Stuck to the Barrels - any Ideas?

#4

Post by chris haynes »

Robbie already gave you the best solution. :mrgreen:
old1955
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Re: The Heads are Stuck to the Barrels - any Ideas?

#5

Post by old1955 »

G'day Rubone

You Bewdy Mate! I like it, I'm gonna give it a go, right now!

Good on ya Mike! , Yeah dam those impatient people braking all those fins and other things

Thanks for the replies

Pete
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Re: The Heads are Stuck to the Barrels - any Ideas?

#6

Post by old1955 »

G'day,

I see light through the rear head gasket, you bewdy!!!.................

The back head is off, I'm 50% there, the other is still stuck
I'm suspecting a broken valve spring in the front, but not sure yet.
Just thought I would tell you what's happening.

Thanks again
Pete
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Re: The Heads are Stuck to the Barrels - any Ideas?

#7

Post by lee.c »

some rope thru the spark plug hole should work
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Re: The Heads are Stuck to the Barrels - any Ideas?

#8

Post by FlatHeadSix »

lee.c wrote:some rope thru the spark plug hole should work
Thanks Lee, glad you mentioned that old "Indian" trick.

I was going to mention that, I've used that same trick to lift stuck heads on flatheads before. The flatheads have flat top pistons and a relatively flat surface on the underside of the head, the valves are off to the side, so if you can get the rope distributed evenly on top of the piston it will give the head a nice gentle push when you kick it over. Little chance of damaging anything else in the process.

I'm not so sure it would be a good idea on a hemi-head with a domed piston and valves protruding at an angle. I guess if you pulled the pushrods out so both valves were closed and stuffed enough rope in there it would probably be OK.

mike
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Re: The Heads are Stuck to the Barrels - any Ideas?

#9

Post by old1955 »

G'day Lee,

I must admit, I read your rope idea and shrugged my shoulders a bit, then I read what Mike said,
Well I had tried the compressed air through the spark plug, got to 75psi and me on the kicker, with no result.

Then I read the two posts, found some nylon rope, removed the hard ends, that's all I had.
Started feeding rope down the plug hole, put a socket and handle on engine sprocket nut, well the head
came straight off, you bewdy !!! No brutality and nothing broken. I like it!

Many thanks to all
Pete
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Re: The Heads are Stuck to the Barrels - any Ideas?

#10

Post by lee.c »

sure am glad I could finally help someone out. Had the same problem on my triumph. The pan was just the oppisite took six times to get it to seal then had to do it again to keep the intake from sliding out of the rubber bands.
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