S.O.S. Project 1100

[brucewayne]

Well, it's looks like I've well and truly bugger my RHS cylinder head.

I've been cosmetically restoring the bike for about 3 months now and got it looking great. An old stud bolt proved to be a bastard so I did it the hard/stupid way with blow torch/freezer spray/drilling and easy outs.
They all failed, while "drilling" I was careful not to go too far into the oil channels. But looks like I've failed in that.

My proud ride to work this morning lasted a few miles, until I discovered I had oil gently spitting out from the head and up my leg

I know that there is a tiny hairline crack just where the broken stud is, and I think the oil is pissing from this. I could try a bit of liquid metal as a last ditch but am preparing myself for a new cyl head from Motorworks.

Have never done this type of job before, is it do-able for a home mechanic with say "4 out of 5" on the Haynes manual spanners competence!?

Or is this an expert job because of all the parts/torque settings etc?

Please help in my hour of darkness....

 

[Marjorie Proops]

I'm sure that the experts on here will Torque you through it.

Do not despair my friend, help will be along shortly I'm sure.

 

[MattW]

I'm sure others will chip in here, but I'll start the ball rolling...

While I've never had the heads off a BMW, I've taken the heads off many other bikes / cars. It's nothing to be frightened of as long as you are slow and methodical. You'll certainly need a torque wrench and may need other special (or improvised) tools, but from the manuals I've read, it looks pretty straightforward and I'd struggle to think of anything better with better head access than a beemer!

Personally I'd stay well away from liquid metal on a head (or anywhere important really). It's ok in an emergency when you're in the crap, but a proper repair using new / recon parts is the way forward.

cheers
Matt

 

[RickG]

Given that you are guy who knows about easy outs and has been brave enough to give it a go so far, I'm sure you'll manage the relatively simple job of taking the head off, it really is straightforward and quick as long as you carefully follow the steps in Haynes or the BMW workshop manual.

Where does the oil originate from? Which stud?

If the crack is accessible you could get the head ally welded, even the (presumably) knackered stud hole could be welded-up, redrilled and tapped.

Be worth trying and risking failing before you regard it as scrap and shell out on a new secondhand head??

Can you post a picture on this thread? You'd get a load more suggestions, some may even be helpful

 

[leodis41]

Check out this link. http://www.bmbikes.org.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=2186
It's one of Steptoe's, how to change a cylinder head gasket. This shows how to remove and replace the head.

Hope you get it sorted.

 

[brucewayne]

That is an awesome Steptoe thread! I've just printed it all out and it'll be covered in greasy fingerprints very soon!

Seems a lot less daunting now, except for...

If I am transferring the current head internals over to a "2nd hand" head i.e. valves etc. will i have to grind in my existing valves to the "2nd hand" cylinder head?

or should it all just mate!?

 

[Steptoe]

Take a look in the [URL="http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93209"]"FONT OF ALL WISDOM"[/URL]

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

will i have to grind in my existing valves to the "2nd hand" cylinder head?

YES !!

 

[brucewayne]

will i have to grind in my existing valves to the "2nd hand" cylinder head?

YES !!

oh no! not done that before....

 

[611735]

and its your birthday

sorry cannot help

 

[brucewayne]

Well...have just spent the evening in the garage...

Drained oil, removed rocker cover to discover a very mashed rubber ring washer that goes around the spark plug shaft, half of it was missing. Which would explain why oil was pissing out the centre section of the head, not so much from the stud area?

Will order a new rubber and pray I can get away lightly?

 

[mylovelyhorse]

That's what I'd do. Don't go further until you've proved it isn't that seal.

 

[brucewayne]

Thank god it doesn't need a cylinder head, it was the inner gasket. I've now fixed the fuel breather hoses (cheers steptoe), sprayed the last few panels and tidied her up ready for a photo!

Thanks for all your help GSER's, now I can ride her....hopefully!

 

[MattW]

Good result - well done!

It looks great - all the hard work looks like it's paid off.

cheers