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A novice tackles the head gasket thread
- Thread starter DetroitStyle
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Good to hear! When turning the crank make sure you lift up on the chain/sprocket to keep tension on the chain so it won't fall off the teeth at the bottom or get bound up.
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Will do. I actually have a friend coming by on Sunday to help me with it. Should help a lot with the "you CAN do this by yourself, but it's easier with 2 people" stuff.
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Fortunately the head bolts arrived on Saturday. Spent all day Saturday cleaning and prepping for reassembly...
and den Sunday:
block cleaned
head gasket installed
head installed
head bolts torqued to spec
cams installed
cams degreed
caps torqued to spec
replaced the spark plug rubber grommets? (old ones were cracked and brittle, glad these got replaced)
plugs installed
valve cover cleaned
new valve cover gasket installed
new boots, grommets and O-rings on all of the injectors
fuel rail and injectors reinstalled
upper manifold cleaned and reinstalled
and den Sunday:
block cleaned
head gasket installed
head installed
head bolts torqued to spec
cams installed
cams degreed
caps torqued to spec
replaced the spark plug rubber grommets? (old ones were cracked and brittle, glad these got replaced)
plugs installed
valve cover cleaned
new valve cover gasket installed
new boots, grommets and O-rings on all of the injectors
fuel rail and injectors reinstalled
upper manifold cleaned and reinstalled
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Oh... and the PHH... yeaaaaaaaaaaaaah... here's what it looked like:
replaced with Gates silicone hose and constant tension clamps!
replaced with Gates silicone hose and constant tension clamps!
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Maybe a silly question... but I have a bunch laying around.
Has anybody wrapped their exhaust manifolds?
Has anybody wrapped their exhaust manifolds?
Nice progress! The general consensus is to not wrap factory uncoated manifolds because they'll trap water and rust. Not worth the effort IMO.
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That was my concern. Thanks!
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I have to say... although this has been an expense and a lot of work and a general PITA... I am starting to feel much better about all of this. Provided all goes well when it's time to fire her up, I will be very happy knowing all of my vital hoses, O-rings, gaskets, etc will be new and reliable.
Then I won't feel guilty about buying a small lift kit knowing that I am well on the way to completing my PM stuff!
Then I won't feel guilty about buying a small lift kit knowing that I am well on the way to completing my PM stuff!
Hey, that's looking real nice! It is a real sense of accomplishment isn't it? And, you know how everything is now, so you won't worry about blowing a HG on some lonely trail.
Kudos man!
Kudos man!
Great job DetroitStyle! I'm within a few days of tackling the same project on my 93. Sounds like your conversation with Beno went well, and I'd like to have the same conversation with him soon. How much time did you need to talk this thru? I'm thinking at least 20 minutes, and want to be respectful of his time. Any lessons learned, or things you'd do differently on intitial purchases is appreciated.
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Beno was very helpful... I'd plan on 20 min or so. Have a pen and paper ready so you can write down the parts you're ordering and research what they do, where they go, etc. Order Doug's DVD but plan on it taking a few weeks. Good product but he's a busy guy.
One thing that I would also add to the list of tools and processes is an assortment of different colored paint pens. Use them to color and/or numerically code various hoses and connectors that you disconnect. make a mark on the hose, make a matching mark on the intake/throttlebody/whatever
On that same note, I was pretty good but not perfect about taping/labeling bolts as they came out. I cannot stress this enough. I actually made some cardboard templates of the intake, valve cover, head, etc... Then, as I removed a bolt, I punched it into the appropriate spot on the cardboard. Do it as you go. It's very tempting to just set bolts on top of the radiator, fenders, etc... don't do that!
As often as you can, stop and put your tools back where they came from.
Lay down some cardboard on the floor to catch spills.
Make sure to have a table or even 2 tables. You're pulling a lot of stuff out. You dont want it all over the floor.
Start spraying manifold bolts, alternator bracket bolts, tensioner bolts etc NOW with PB blaster.
Also, take lots of pics from different angles at various stages of disassembly. Plenty of time I was looking at pictures on my phone to confirm that I was putting connectors and sensors back in the proper spot.
One thing that I would also add to the list of tools and processes is an assortment of different colored paint pens. Use them to color and/or numerically code various hoses and connectors that you disconnect. make a mark on the hose, make a matching mark on the intake/throttlebody/whatever
On that same note, I was pretty good but not perfect about taping/labeling bolts as they came out. I cannot stress this enough. I actually made some cardboard templates of the intake, valve cover, head, etc... Then, as I removed a bolt, I punched it into the appropriate spot on the cardboard. Do it as you go. It's very tempting to just set bolts on top of the radiator, fenders, etc... don't do that!
As often as you can, stop and put your tools back where they came from.
Lay down some cardboard on the floor to catch spills.
Make sure to have a table or even 2 tables. You're pulling a lot of stuff out. You dont want it all over the floor.
Start spraying manifold bolts, alternator bracket bolts, tensioner bolts etc NOW with PB blaster.
Also, take lots of pics from different angles at various stages of disassembly. Plenty of time I was looking at pictures on my phone to confirm that I was putting connectors and sensors back in the proper spot.
Taking pics is very helpful but be sure to point out the item you're trying to highlight! I've often stared at pics asking myself why did I take the pic and WTF was I suppose to remember, LOL
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I didn't clean the pistons. However, I did make small cardboard circles and stuffed clean shop rags into the cylinders to try to keep gasket and other crud from the block from falling into the cylinders. When I was done, I used my compressor and an air nozzle to blow out everything as well.
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I rotated the crank, brought the pistons to the top and cleaned them.
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As I'm getting close to buttoning this up... the reassembly questions come...
Are there no gaskets for the t-stat housing and this other hard pipe?
I tried to keep corresponding gaskets with whatever I took off...
Are there no gaskets for the t-stat housing and this other hard pipe?
I tried to keep corresponding gaskets with whatever I took off...
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Awesome job DetroitStyle! Gives me hope for the day I ever have to tackle that task.
Not to hijack the thread, but what's the Honda next to the CBR? Looks about 400cc maybe?
I wish we could get CBR400s here! It's a 900RR
As I'm getting close to buttoning this up... the reassembly questions come...
Are there no gaskets for the t-stat housing and this other hard pipe?
I tried to keep corresponding gaskets with whatever I took off...
I can't recall the answer on the red arrow but I know that the green arrow has two O rings.