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Good morning all. I am pondering my course of action, thought I would post some pictures and get some opinions or maybe solid advice.
Last Spring I had the motor rebuilt and brought her home. Full long block. I have been told to torque Flathead head bolts to 65 ft/lbs, so I checked all the bolts, they all took maybe an 1/8 of a turn, no worries. Put motor in frame and was setting up the motor mounts, the front top motor mount bolt "popped" back at me when I torqued her down. Well I removed the bolt, ran the thread cleaner down and with one less washer we were in business again. But it popped or snapped real loud when it happened. I assumed the bolt had not caught enough threads and just pulled out.
OK so now the bike is together and we are riding and it looks like I have a blown head gasket. Oil on the top of the cylinder and coming out through head bolt/top motor mount. Also coming out at the spark plugs, but that seems to be common enough for 80 year old motorcycles. My thought was to pull both heads and replace the head gaskets, I have a new set of copper in the basement. But I have questions:
1- Does the upper motor mount bolt lead down to an oil passage?
2- Or is the only way to get blow by from the bolt is via the cylinder and therefore the head gasket?
3- If down to an oil passage, should I put sealant on the bolt threads when installing? Sealant under the washers?
4- Any solutions for spark plugs leaking? Sealant? Anti seize?
5- Or did I crack the head or cylinder when tightening down the head bolt?
Front head, oil/fuel coming up around the spark plug Front head. Oil looks to be coming up from this bolt. Rear head, I think all of that is from the front head misting the rear. Manifold is all wet Front head, oil under the head and on the cylinder. Front head, again oil under the head Rear head, minor seepage from spark plug, that seems about normal
While i have used heli coils and the torque us then 55 pounds - but i spray the head gaskets with the hylomar just because both sides
thin wall time seat is really the deal as it stays a steel solid thread and you dont remove that much compared to a heli coil - my opinion is not as strong as a time sert but i dont know if they sell a kit in thin wall with that thread
once the thread popped you should have stopped and fixed it then - it was being held in place by the washer thickness only - in the thread depth
OK my first course of action will be to pull the heads and see what I see. I didn't address the threads on day one because I felt the engine builder had a real big stack of washers on the bolt. Those are the thick 1/4" washers. After cleaning the threads nice I was able to tighten it down with less washers and no issues. Bolt is still tight. But of course I will investigate and report back when I have a better idea
John, which Hylomar specifically are you using on the copper head gaskets? Spray can?
Any thoughts on the weeping at the spark plugs? I have copper crush washers for the Shovelhead, seems to help not sure if they would be the same size.
WE USE A COUPLE OF LIGHT COATS BUT COVER IT BOTH SIDES
then let it dry couple of days so you can handle it with out having it pull off or smear in a ball - when i know I am doing that i hang it on side hung rod i have and then start the job could be a week or 2 before i use them even a month is fine
My weekend started with all day Saturday replacing rotted out boards on my deck in preparation of getting her stained for the season, Spring work.
Then Sunday I spent 5 hours working on the Shovelhead getting her ready for Oley this weekend. It took two NOS cigarette lighters (in the box) to make one unit that worked!??! But working. Changed my brake and clutch leaver to what I believe are the correct ones for my year. New spark plugs, oil change and a much needed bath and the chrome ***** looks pretty ready for PA.
I looked at the Flathead, thought about removing the heads, it was late and I called it a weekend.
Front head is off, I will post pictures in the morning. As John said, looks like I messed up the threads on the head bolt/motor mount. Need to see what I can do with Time-sert VS heli coil.The special order tap I have for cleaning out the threads a couple of years ago is 7/16"-16. We will see where this takes us.
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