Cylinder head storage

[vernon.taylor]

Salut

I recently bought a complete cylinder head - seller said it was removed from a working engine. I bought it as a spare.

A couple of questions les gars:

- should I be able to easily turn the camshafts using the cam sprocket ? I tried and there is a lot of resistance. As I said the head is complete.
- regarding storage - should I spray it with WD40/engine oil ? Should I release the camshaft caps to prevent seizing ?
- anything else I should do for long-term storage ?
- anything to do to the Stromberg carbs for storage ?

Merci

@+

Vernon

[rgh0]

Hi Vernon

For long term storage.
I would remove the cam shafts and the cam bearings, followers, valves and springs. I would then spray all the machined steel surfaces - eg follower sleeves, valves seats and guides with a thick film corrosion preventer ( in Australia I use CRC "soft seal" and the rest of the head with a light spray of wd40 or similar and then wrap the head in polyethylene film cling wrap and store in a dry location.. I would get a multi compartment plastic storage box and spray the valves and springs and bearings etc with wd 40 and the followers with the soft seal and store them in the box.

I have stored heads this way for many years. When you want to use, just take out, clean down and reassemble and they should be ready to go.


There is a fair amount of resistance from the valves and followers. When you have them out try the cams just on their own, they should turn freely if the head cam tunnels are straight

cheers
Rohan

[ricarbo]

I left my Sprint engine for too many years in the garage, out of the car. When I tried to turn it over by hand, I found just one of the valves had stuck open. It had last been run with fully synthetic Mobil 1 and there was no rust at all. So, I took it to Miles Wilkins, hoping he would just ream out the one valve guide. However his verdict was new valves and guides all round with new seats = big bill!
If I ever leave it again, I will take it to bits, reassemble with assembly lube, then leave it bagged up, with the cams stored separately and also coated with assembly lube. This way, none of the valves will be partly or full open, so less likely to get damaged and it would be kinder to the valve springs. Kept in the house, not left in the garage.
I use a short lever, about 200mm to turn the sprockets and then it is reasonably easy.
I've put my Dell Ortos in a separate bag.
I think as an absolute minimum, if it is left full assmbled but unused, all open ports should be sealed to keep the damp air out.
regards
Richard

[oldchieft]

Hi Rohan

Rohan's stash

twink heads.jpg (79.16 KiB) Viewed 1220 times

I seem to recall you are an expert at storing heads.

Jon the Chief

[rgh0]

yeah that's a few of them

cheers
Rohan

[vernon.taylor]

Merci, les gars. Should have known there would be work involved.

@+

Vernon

[pharriso]

Send it to me... I'll store it for you!

[alexblack13]

Eemm. I might have missed something here regarding the 'resistance when turning the cams via the sprockets' and the 'head is complete' .....!! You weren't trying to turn the cams one at a time with both cams fitted were you? This is a BIG no no..... You will risk valve to valve contact and if you keep pulling on the spanner then you will most likely have damaged valves here..

As I said sorry if I've missed something but the golden rule is don't ever turn the cams until the head is fitted and the cams timed in.

Hope I'm wrong..
Alex B ...

[vernon.taylor]

Salut Alex

You're not wrong

But I just tried to turn one with my my hands - didn't really move, hence my question.

Thanks for the info, though - now I know !

So would a chain-type oil-filter tool over both sprockets be OK ?

@+

Vernon

[john.p.clegg]

Vernon
Just get a short length of chain and split link,you can then make it up to size and turn the cams to your hearts content..

John

[alexblack13]

I see what you are trying to do now..

I use john's method above. One of the chains I had spare was a split link so I made a little link chain for when I am shimming the valves. Or you can just remove a cam and do one at a time.

Hope all is ok Guys..

Take care with those cams...

Al' ......

[William2]

It would be a good idea to have the head pressure tested to make sure it is ok.