taking the head off ... crankshaft pulley bit

[Suechoccy]

Ha, we have blown the head gasket after all, and not in May when it first did its overheat/lose water twice on journey cambridge to newbury but long before that. bummer.

Thought about it ... garage did mot in Feb and noted "antifreeze mixture X %". Kind of them to check, but not part of MOT. Since then Will's had to top water up and thinking about it, increasingly had to top it up as weather's warmed up/presumably as gasket's blown more and caused damage to engine head/block, and then we fractured a water pipe while changing filters, replaced that but the probs continued and have worsened, presumably as gasket's got worse and maybe head or block has blown. Replaced thermostat, radiator cap, etc. It will be fine for days and then temp up/coolant gone again. Drove cambridge-bridlington, had to stop twice to refill and bleed, yet drove home no probs at all.

Noticed now that oil level rises overnight, 99pc because water's draining into the block. So head coming off so we can check gasket and stuff.

What's the betting that the garage undid the radiator cap to check the antifreeze, rather than the header tank, and so accidentally introduced an airlock into the system?

Anyway, we've got loads of time (Will's just retired) and he's happy to take it to pieces and replace the gasket, and get head skimmed at that place at St ives if necessary, and replace block if necessary, but he started disassembling this week and is currently stuck at the bit where you remove the crank shaft pulley/puller. Note someone else wrote they had to dislocate their arm to get at it and undo it. So far he's snapped an extension bar so I've got to go shopping today for a higher quality replacement bar.

Any tips please for getting this awkward to reach bit undone and off? Once that's off, Will can get the head off and inspect the gasket and stuff.

Ta!

Sue

[francophile1947]

What's the betting that the garage undid the radiator cap to check the antifreeze, rather than the header tank, and so accidentally introduced an airlock into the system?

Very slim - header tanks have been the norm for more years than I care to remember. Most mechanics (sorry technicians!!) have never seen anything else.
Good luck with the repair.

[westonwarrior]

Remove the cambelt cover and all is revealed. Mark the cam position and
pulley wheel and remove the pulley wheel bolt. Using a 26mm spanner or a
wrench on the camshaft the pulley wheel can be removed.

taken from the fact sheet which is available in the members area and gives full instructions on the gasket change
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/member ... gasket.pdf

[francophile1947]

I think he's doing the block Rob, cos' he's asking about the crankshaft pulley.

[westonwarrior]

quote

Any tips please for getting this awkward to reach bit undone and off? Once that's off, Will can get the head off and inspect the gasket and stuff.

unquote

typo?

[francophile1947]

quote

Any tips please for getting this awkward to reach bit undone and off? Once that's off, Will can get the head off and inspect the gasket and stuff.

unquote

typo?

I did wonder that, as I can't see what the crankshaft pulley has got to do with head replacement, but he also mentions replacing block if necessary - guess we'll know in time

[Suechoccy]

Yeah sorry, not making myself clear. Will's not here at the moment and asked me to post.

At moment he's trying to get the head off. He's got the cambelt cover off and the, what I'd call, the "head cover" so now he wants to get the head off so he can inspect the gasket and underneath of head and topside of block.

He broke a wrench on a bolt that's something to do with the cambelt (the bit Rob mentioned I think) and says it's bloody awkward to get to and really really really tight. He had the wrench and then a piece of scaffold pipe on it and the wrench snapped rather than the bolt move. I think he's got those instructions mentioned.

Cheers,

Sue