Blown Head Gasket (Before and After)

[kiker14]

Hi All,

Still relatively new on the boards here, but I figured I'd throw this out there. I had done some troubleshooting previously due to some issues I had with the motor and found that cyl 2 was low in compression. The compression testers can either be rented from autozone or you can just buy one (the one I got is a cheap $20 version, some are all the way up to $120 and above). I do not need precision, I just needed something that worked. I had a feeling the head gasket had blown but I wasn't sure... It turns out I was right.

Anyway, here are some pictures:

Before:

Head gasket blow out:

And after the new head gasket was installed:

Looks like I'll be back out on the water later this week!

 

[mitchbuck]

Re: Blown Head Gasket (Before and After)

Nice! You probably already know this but recheck the bolts to make sure they haven't loosened at all after running the boat the first time out.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Blown Head Gasket (Before and After)

Yea re-tourqe to 20#

 

[gm280]

Re: Blown Head Gasket (Before and After)

Great post and with pictures too.... NICE... Have fun on the water now...

 

[kiker14]

Re: Blown Head Gasket (Before and After)

Thanks guys! Yes I will re-torque to 20#'s after the next outing. Also, I used some anti-seize on the bolts so they should be a little smoother. I also drained them in carb cleaner for about 45 min before brushing them off, it's amazing how much stuff was on them.

I actually took a little video of the "reveal" (first time taking the head plate off) but it's not real helpful so I didn't post it with my original post. Here it is just for fun, if you are curious: Force 120 head gasket blown - YouTube

 

[johnbottsr]

Re: Blown Head Gasket (Before and After)

What were the symptoms that led you to pull the head off?
Also, did you check everything for flatness before you reassembled?

I ask because I think I am about to have to do this.

 

[mitchbuck]

Re: Blown Head Gasket (Before and After)

^If you have doubts then check compression! Its easy and if you don't have the tool you can always rent one for free from autozone.

 

[johnbottsr]

Re: Blown Head Gasket (Before and After)

^If you have doubts then check compression! Its easy and if you don't have the tool you can always rent one for free from autozone.

I did.
I was 135 in four cylinders and 90 in the 5th.
I was just wondering what the OP had for symptoms.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Blown Head Gasket (Before and After)

I did.
I was 135 in four cylinders and 90 in the 5th.
I was just wondering what the OP had for symptoms.

Well there is your problem, a fifth cylinder.
The only engine that should have 5 cylinders is a Mercedes Turbo Diesel .

 

[johnbottsr]

Re: Blown Head Gasket (Before and After)

Well there is your problem, a fifth cylinder.
The only engine that should have 5 cylinders is a Mercedes Turbo Diesel .

Man, I would love to have an I5 mercedes.
I would feed it vegetable oil.
My 12v 5.9L Cummins will have to do for now.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Blown Head Gasket (Before and After)

Nope Force added a 5th cylinder to their motor.Making it a 150.
The symptoms are: a miss, hard starting, no power, low power, no start, water on a plug or 2.
Low comp on 1 is possible a head gasket but more likely rings.
Low comp on 2 adjacent cylinders is likley a head gasket.

 

[kiker14]

Re: Blown Head Gasket (Before and After)

At a high level my symptoms were hard starting and poor low rpm performance (stalling often while leaving and returning to the ramp)

 

[Jiggz]

Re: Blown Head Gasket (Before and After)

With a blown head gasket, the obvious is misfiring or unstable idle RPM. The other symptoms will be lower WOT RPM and finally high fuel usage.