Changing a Cylinderhead gasket

Ben De Toy said:
THE VERY best way to avoid broken studs is to heat the nuts before trying to turn them. A gas welding torch is probably the best, but arc weld is a very good second. For all the hassle it saves a cheapo set from Aldi is good enough. A normal plumbers torch is not fine or hot enough to have any useful effect.

HOWEVER - ALWAYS disconnect all cable connections to the engine and disconnect the battery before arc welding. Forget and something expensive will fry just as happened on Long Way Round, but the same rule applies for all cars and bikes.

Its initially a bit more hassle (and dont weld so much the spanner wont fit) but its 100x easier than having to drill out broken studs.

When done use stainless dome nuts to keep the threads clean.
Click to expand...

I wouldent use a welding torch or you'll have no head just a molten alloy blob!!
 
davegs said:
I wouldent use a welding torch or you'll have no head just a molten alloy blob!!
Click to expand...

Aluminium melts at only about 600C but sucks up a lot of heat. So a small oxy/fuel flame (as used for thin panel welding) is ok on the nuts/studs. Obviously be careful. :)

Clearly a full on cutting torch would be overdoing it :o and counter-productive - the heat needs to be into the nut rather than surrounding metal. Arc weld is more concentrated but the the risk is forgetting to disconnect the electrics and metal spatter can damage paint.
 
Hi Steptoe

Sorry to bother but reading this thread It seems the link to imageshack is "broken" as the pics dont display. Will you be so kindly as to provide me with the link?

Many thanks
 
Bugger - I had to get a pair of studs out last weekend - I should have taken pictures:) I tried pretty well everything but they both snapped close to the head. Then... I have set of drill guides that are your best friend and allow you to drill them out easy peasy with a hand drill:) I can't remember the name of the set I have or where I got it from. I'll look tonight. A right life saver. Even a ham fisted twat like me can easily do it then! TBH - next time I'm just going to dremmel the studs to about 5mm off the head and drill them straight out.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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