Head gasket blown...but which one?

[andymon]

I suspect I may have blown the head gasket on my baby, but which one? Is there a sure fire way of checking which one to strip without guessing?
I cannot see any obvious signs of leaking from the outside.

The engine oil seems to be a rusty brown colour, indicating it now contains water.

Mc F has pointed me in the direction of checking for warpage

As you can guess I am not a mechanic, the bike is probably financially not worth repairing, but I just enjoy fixing the bike and would like to try and get her working again. So as always all help is welcome.

[McF]

Only one way I'm afraid - a compression test.
Results should be conclusive and tell you what is going on inside your baby's heart.

You should be able to work fine on the rear cylinder while the engine is in the frame.
In a gasket set you will get a complete set of gaskets (less the two crankcase sides). If you can afford this aNTy to be off the road for a while, I'd recommend that you do both cylinders and to do this - drop the engine out of the frame.

Working on the front cylinder while engine in frame is a complete pig. Removing the engine is an additional task, but will allow excellent access to the heads etc.
If you do go down this route, remove the clutch nut before removing the engine.
I would recommend removing the shaft (leave swinging arm in place, remove back wheel, bevel drive and withdraw shaft and universal joint) when reinstalling the engine.

Water in the oil usually makes an emulsion of milky white colour. If your oil is rusty brown, it might just be the hydrocarbons from exhaust gases making it change colour. Still probably indicates a blown gasket though!

[andymon]

Nice one McF, is there anything you don't know about these bikes? Oh and is the house next door to you for sale? If so put my name down, whatever the cost. lol

[McF]

Lots yet to learn, but that's the beauty of the forum - we can share our knowledge.
There's several ways of learning stuff in my view:
1. Go to classes and get taught
2. Take an apprenticeship with a master in the craft you want to learn
3. Have a go and be prepared to make a few mistakes
4. Read a book

I'm largely a No 3 kind of person - which means I've made lots of mistakes!
But as we say in Yarksheer - t'man who nivver med a mistake, nivver made owt.

I've made several engine swops in my aNTys - cursing and bruising knuckles etc trying to line the engine up in the frame, with mounting bolts, brackets and the shaft.
Last time I tried for over an hour and I was working against the clock. Thought through everything that was causing me a headache and everything pointed to the shaft alignment. So I quickly whipped the rear wheel away, final drive and shaft - engine went straight in, took minutes to reinstall the universal joint and shaft then replace everything else and the job was done.
Mr Haynes makes it all sound very easy!
I have an engine on the bench at present that needs both head gaskets replacing (they have both blown - pressure into cooling system, expelled coolant, exhaust gas in oil - stinks and looks a rusty colour. Fortunately no water in the oil. Compression checks show low pressure which remains almost unchanged with the oil in the bore phase so I'm confident it's the heads (hopefully just the gaskets).

I'm keen to make a start and have all the tools/parts I need. I'm very limited for time when I get home. A little too much work usually goes with me, The General usually has a long list of jobs to action and I have to put some time into a course I'm doing with the Open Uni. Before I know it, it's time to get back down south for work. If I can plan a complete day with nothing else to do I'd like to set the camera up on a tripod and take photos as I strip, clean and fiddle. I'll then put my overalls on and sort out the engine ;D

There's a very nice house for sale two doors away from me at home - I can arrange a good bargain on your behalf and it'll be yours for £999,999 payable to me, I'll even make sure there's a fridge full of beer for you.

Or if you want a nice place near where I work, there's a big place for sale, but you'll have to arrange the deal yourself, they're looking for somewhere in the £25million range, a bargain at that price, but it's listed and probably needs a further £25m spending on it, and then some to spend every year keeping it maintained.

You're probably best moving to North Yarksheer, Paypal me a £500k deposit and I'll order the beer and fridge.

McF

PS - I'll even let you use my tool chest including compression tester

How can you refuse? ;D

[skyhook]

Andymon I am not to up on the NTV myself but have learned alot from the guys on here, they have been a mine of info, But as for moving up-to Yorkshire, plaaaa, but if McF gets you any beer and a fridge you do know I am a beer inspector and need to check all beer thats drunk at home or in a pub, My gong Rate is 2:50 a day, but you have to arrange for my sleeping quarters and brekkie.

I will of course check every other beer in your fridge and give you a full report, I do find later in the day after many test my reports do get a bit blurred, but this is a hazard of the job I have to take, Also any items of value should of course be insured and at your expense

[andymon]

I follow the same philosophy McF, and have plenty of mistakes to prove it. ;D
It is not necessarily the money, as the bikes I have are not expensive and it is as cheap to buy another and run it into the ground than repair em.

I also have to agree with skyhook, without this forum I would be fluffed!

It is because of this forum that I have a new interest in maintaining and servicing my bikes. Which I might add I wish to continue, so although I may not post often. I am there in the background searching through the forums previous posts and reading your banter.

Those house prices you quoted McF, if they were in Zimbabwe dollars I'm in, if not I'll buy my own flippin' beer and I'll test it myself skyhook ;D

[McF]

Aug 20, 2009 21:32:51 GMT 1 andymon said:

Those house prices you quoted McF, if they were in Zimbabwe dollars I'm in, if not I'll buy my own flippin' beer and I'll test it myself skyhook ;D

No - prices were in Yarksheer Rand - I can do a special exchange rate Three Pounds Sterling will buy you one YR, the coins and notes look remarkably similar to English Ones, but they do have a special marking that sets them apart.

I could offer a special deal on a fridge full of beer with a free house thrown in. ;D

[Anonymous hehehe]

McF writes.....

but they do have a special marking that sets them apart.

Aye, that'll be the thumb print where they hold them so tight.... ;D ;D ;D

[McF]

Aug 21, 2009 1:53:40 GMT 1 @Anonymous hehehe said:

McF writes.....

but they do have a special marking that sets them apart.

Aye, that'll be the thumb print where they hold them so tight.... ;D ;D ;D

and that would be right ;D

It is a common understanding that Yarksheerman have been made by taking Scotsmen and kicking all of the remaining genorosity out of them.