Cylinder head removal - camshaft shaft sprocket

[Des N]

As I've got some time on my hands, I'm in the process of changing the head gaskets (leaking oil into water). Only had a little experience of removing heads before and never on a Stag so following Haynes Maunal to the letter and making notes along the way

Got to removing the camshaft sprocket, aligned marks, loosened one, cranked round and taken other out and then moved back to alignment. Now trying to undo the sprocket secruing bolt to attach it to the supporting bracket. The securing bolt is turning with the retaining bolt. Not clear in Haynes how to lock the sprocket securingbolt (fig 1.4 page 22 Haynes)

Thx

Just sussed it! 'Take a camshaft cap bolt'...doh! Probably going to be a few more dumb q's before I'm finished.

[Dave M]

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Hi Des

Ive just removed the left hand head off my Stag at the weekend. Hardest part was removing the studs, had to lock two nuts together on each stud in order to remove them. One of the bolts was also very tight. Good luck with yours.

Dave

[Des N]

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Seems like I'm just behind you Dave!

Taking it slowly and labeling everything as I go. I've got a stud removal tool from HRS, so see how I get on with that. I think the heads have been off before but a very long time ago.

How did you get the head off in the end? I was thinking of using the 'rope' trick.Do I need to take the camshaft off for that?

Cheers

[loudnproud]

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Hi Des your bigest problem will be getting the head studs out once they are removed heads should come off easily because the only thing holding them on will be the gaskets and goo that they were stuck on with. If they are difficult to get off give them a clout with a heavy rawhide mallet or a lump of wood and club hammer, good luck. Peter

[Des N]

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Right, thanks Peter. See how it goes in the next couple of days. Quite a satisfying jobin a weird way!

[StagnJag]

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Des N wrote:

Seems like I'm just behind you Dave!

Taking it slowly and labeling everything as I go. I've got a stud removal tool from HRS, so see how I get on with that. I think the heads have been off before but a very long time ago.

How did you get the head off in the end? I was thinking of using the 'rope' trick.Do I need to take the camshaft off for that?

Cheers

I would say yes, to that. No personal experience but if the valves open and the cylinder is full of rope I would imagine that the valves would bend!

Regards

Dave

[NickA]

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Dave M wrote:

Hi Des

Ive just removed the left hand head off my Stag at the weekend. Hardest part was removing the studs, had to lock two nuts together on each stud in order to remove them. One of the bolts was also very tight. Good luck with yours.

Dave

And if two nuts locked together on the studs slip use three; that's worked for me a few times in the past.

[NickA]

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Des N wrote:

How did you get the head off in the end? I was thinking of using the 'rope' trick.Do I need to take the camshaft off for that?

Defiantly take the camshaft off :shock:. And make surethe cam sprocket is really secured to the bracket otherwise the tensioner will take up the slackand you'll have to take the timing cover off to reset it.



Edit; just been thinking I'm talking cobblers, you're going to have to take the timing cover off anyway to remove the chains as you'll not be able to turn the engine over with the cam off and the chains still attached!

[marshman]

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Just my 2p worth but I've just removed my heads and I can still rotate the crank with the sprockets secured to the brackets. Ironically I removed the timing cover anyway to check the condition of the timing chains, guides and tensioners as I didn't like what I found when I removed the heads.

"loudnproud" is right when he says that your biggest problem is removing the head studs. I went mad and bought a head stud removal tool from Tony Hart. It works a treat and is much easier then trying to use mulitple lock nuts. It was still hard work though. Once the studs were out the heads came off easily.

Hope to get mine back together over the weekend provided nothing goes wrong.

Good luck with yours Des

Roger

[Des N]

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Wasn't going to touch the timing chains this time round as they sound ok. No idea how old they are though! Is there a simple way to check their condition without dismantling any further? One job at a time ;-)

Just got to get the inlet manifold off and then see how the stud removal tool works. Previous owner said at least one head had been taken off before. As it hasn't been too neglected or messed around with over the years...it's fingers x'd

[markhunt]

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Hi Dave



Can you do that, just take one head off then? I have one (Nearside) that is blowing oil and thought that I needed to do both. Is one viable?

Mark

[flying farmer]

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markhunt wrote:

Hi Dave



Can you do that, just take one head off then? I have one (Nearside) that is blowing oil and thought that I needed to do both. Is one viable?

Mark

Mark

There is no problem changing just one head.You are lucky and can see your leak. If you have a cooling system pressurisation or oil in the water problem then you have to change both to make sure you get to the bottom of the problem.

Neil

[Stagdad]

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Des N wrote:

Seems like I'm just behind you Dave!

Taking it slowly and labeling everything as I go. I've got a stud removal tool from HRS, so see how I get on with that. I think the heads have been off before but a very long time ago.

How did you get the head off in the end? I was thinking of using the 'rope' trick.Do I need to take the camshaft off for that?

Cheers

If you find the TH tool slips get one of these ,they are the dogs

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-2-SQUARE-DRI...item19b8dce8da

Cheers Steve

[V Mad]

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Steve, that stud extractor looks like it might be too big to fit the space around the stag studs. Have you used it in all the positions?

[Stagdad]

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V Mad wrote:

Steve, that stud extractor looks like it might be too big to fit the space around the stag studs. Have you used it in all the positions?

Chris you could be right ,I don't know if it would fit in some of the tight spots.Haven't had to try it on the head studs yet but i can vouch for it not slipping.

Cheers Steve