Technical headgasket

[philbo]

well its finally gone. finally fixed the engine management light but it was still running lumpy, hesitant etc. i know its been burning oil at an alarming rate and even noticed smoke puffing from the back end when you boot it. now the coolant has turned to cappucino. so it looks like theres multiple blows somewhere under there. jobs like this make me thankful its not overhead cam. and at least it didnt go just as i start my move south with all the family and cats! time to change the rad too - its green!
ah cinqs - dontcha just luv em?

 

[Liam]

Bad luck Phil, you have the 899, never heard one done on them so post up any problems or tips you find while doing it.

My rad is green too!

Liam

 

[arseofbox]

Well...

Im doing the HG on my 899cc shed atm, as thats just gone too.

Be relieved that its much more straightforward than doing it on the 1108.

I had the head off in under two hours. You can do it without removing the TB (I left my TB on), but its easier (access isnt as tight) with the TB off. <I just cba with disconnecting fuel lines>.

The rocker gear has to come off to get access to the head bolts, and it needs to go back on in the same orientation it came off....Just in case you didnt know that!!

 

[philbo]

its basically the same as the mini a series
did my apprenticeship on austin rovers!
no timing belt to worry about and only 8 valves to lap in. bliss.

 

[arseofbox]

Right...Ive just sort of finished mine (Everything except one hose is connected..). It just needs the engine flush running thru and the oil filter replacing (damn factors sold me one for the Sporting when I asked for the 899cc )

Ive only had one problem. Dont leave the vacuum servo line disconnected otherwise the engine will idle at W-O-T. No Joke.

I only know this as Ive tried starting and idling 5 times now and It idles at WOT. My vacuum servo hose is off as I cut it off the head as it wouldnt pull off. I found it was that by blocking the connection and it idles fine.

My next question is how do I expand the bore of the solid-wall plastic piping? I was told to use a lighter to heat it gently then force it on the connection. Ive tried that 3-4 times now and Im gonna run out of hose soon!! The problem Im seeing is the pipe is around 6mm ID and it needs to be ~8mm OD to fit the connection.

 

[rallycinq]

Teacup full of boiling water

Cheers

D

 

[arseofbox]

Teacup full of boiling water

Cheers D, that worked perfectly. I owe you a pint...

 

[hmallett]

...of boiling water?
What does WOT mean?

 

[arc]

gonna guess here

wide open throtle

?

 

[philbo]

had a weird problem putting this thing back together. done a complete de-coke on the head (valve stem oil seals were shot! wondered why it was using so much oil ) and after slapping it all back together there was an air leak around the tb. now after reading some of the threads on tb's im a bit confused as to what you mean by tb. theres the rocker cover, on top is a spacer, then the what i would call the throttle body, capped off by the 'bob' (plenum chamber). it started first time but was revving high due to it sucking air in from between the spacer and the tb. ive taken all that stuff off before and had no problems but this time i just couldnt work out why it had changed. after taking it apart again i realised it was leaking under the spacer bolt hole. the tb gasket goes right across it! solved it by putting loads of instant gasket in the bolt holes and around the gasket then leaving it overnight. now why did it leak this time and wasnt before? and has anyone got a spare spacer they dont want as some previous owner has stripped the threads for the tb bolts and ive had to drill right through and put nuts underneath.
anyone else had this prob?

 

[rallycinq]

Yup, Got one on me desk right now. PM me with an address, I'll pop it in the post. This one has got both its 'O' rings. I presume you made sure the rings were in place on yours.

Cheers

D

 

[philbo]

yup 2 new o rings.

 

[philbo]

thanks rallycinq for that spacer. got it today in the post and fitted it this afty. no more leaks! have asked for rep and will donate some dosh to forum too.

cheers
phil