mechanical f'wit award

I probably deserve one.

I've been working on an old three cylinder diesel engine, what was
smoking somewhat. Having been pretty pleased with my progresss so
far[1], I got a bit more adventurous. Although it was no longer emitting
huge great clouds of white smoke , there was still quite a lot of blue
smoke and heavy breathing from the rocker cover. 'Valve seals' I
thought, and ordered some up. As the valve springs are relatively light
and quite easy to compress them without any special tool, I thought I'd
do it without taking the head off. First cylinder at tdc, change both
seals without any losing anything across the garage floor or down inside
the engine. Result. This is going to be quite easy. Second cylinder, I
had a bit more trouble, pressing the spring down took the valve with it.
Judicious use of the starter motor[3] and I got cylinder 2 at TDC. Valve
spring off, valve seal off and... the valve dropped down a bit. No
worries, the piston will stop it any second now won't it? Won't it? For
some reason I just watched it, didn't reach out to grab it, as the valve
disappeared all the way down and I heard it tip over as it hit the piston.

Now I've got the take the whole head off to get it out. I took the
injector out to see if I could see the valve through there and somehow
jiggle it about, but no luck.

arse, *arse*, *ARSE*

[1] refurbished injectors and properly adjusted valve clearances[2]
[2] valve clearance was about -0.25" on one cylinder
[3] turning the crank by hand needed a lot more disassembly

 

You're only going to have to do what yo know you should've done in the
first place ;-)

BTDT.

 

Oh nice [1]. What is it off / connected to ?

You know that it wasn't at TDC then, don't you

Top tip here if you don't have an air compressor and adaptor holding
the valve closed is to put a length of soft rope down the injector
hole to hold the valve in place. [2]

P.

[1] Is there such a thing as a 'dieselhead' ?
[2] When it's at TDC, that is (!)

 

A Kubota compact tractor

Do now, yes

I knew this.

 

So whilst you have the head off, you may as well whip the sump off and take
the pistons out to replace the rings, or say **** it and fit new pistons and
liners, and whilst you have the pistons out you may as well replace the big
end bearings, be silly not to do the main bearings at the same time, as well
as the oil pump, water pump wont go amiss and so on....

or is that just me who ends up doing things like that?

 

Nope, not just you. Water pump bits[1] are on order. Also valve guides.
I have thought about doing the rings/deglaze too, but the sump looks
like a PITA to get at.

[1]Surprisingly, several spares are available for the pump, including
bearings, seal etc.

 

Ah, ok. I was thinking maybe a boat.

If you come across a small diesel, let me know, as i've always
hankered after putting one in a bike. I also happen to have about 3
CB250N rolling frames it would go in (!)

Thinking about it, this would work only for a DI, or a petrol engine,
where you have direct access to the CC.

Cheers,

Paul.

 

You sick, sick puppy. I recommend you get treatment asap at your local
two-wheeled recovery centre.

Phil

 

I recommend the 3-cyl Daihatsu 1L turbo lump and put it in a modified
Beemer frame, using the Beemer box. 60bhp and a similar rev range, so
performance is about the same as standard.
--
Dave
GS850x2 XS650 SE6a

"It's a moron working with power tools.
How much more suspenseful can you get?"
- House

 

Haha, I'm either carrying on a great British tradition of
eccentricity, or i'm looking at new and wonderful ways of scaring
myself silly. Probably both.

Cheers,

Paul.

 

Why bother contrapting one, just import one from India.
ISTR they use a Kobutu engine in an Enfield frame. But ICBW.
Maybe one of the importers is bringing them in already ?.

 

Because he can, obviously.

v you the point v
.. ------------------------------------------------------------------.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (b.rogers at ifrance.com)
\`\ | /`/
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

Well, even if I can't molish it enough together to work properly, it
could moulder in some corner of the garage as a monument to (one) mans
stupidity.

P.

 

snip>

Can I interest you in a Wessex sidecar? Very rare, apparently quite
desirable and much cheapness to anyone I know.

 

Dreadful thing.
--
Dave
GS850x2 XS650 SE6a

"It's a moron working with power tools.
How much more suspenseful can you get?"
- House

 

A few years back myco were changing the unit what keeps the inflatable
dome up at Ealing lawn tennis club.

The old unit had a hardly used Hatz diesel engine in it, which was
unbolted and removed to save weight. If there had been enough room in
the boot of my Golf I'd have had it, but as there wasn't it went to the
scrapyard.

--
Dan L

Too much time to think, too little to do.


http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/

2002 Triumph Sprint RS 955i (It's big, and it's black)
1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr (Gone, but not forgotten)

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7/8)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11