Carbon question

[Aggitated]

Decided to pull head of my 85' hp, sputterin' Force motor this a.m. I have but a few of questions.
Below are pics of Pistons, in order 1,2,3.
1. How much carbon is to much on the piston?
2. Should there be any clean spots on the pistons?
3. Thermostat was black with carbon any thoughts on that? Also, there was no gasket on T-stat, looks like someone used sealant for gasket. Grommet is bad too.
4. Head gasket itself looked good, no burned out or corroded places- May I reuse?
5. Some head bolts have corrosion on them, four to be exact, the rest are clean, any thoughts on this?


Thanks guys, you have saved me much agony.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Carbon question

Don't reuse an old head gasket.
They don't look too bad.What's the walls like?
Carbon on the thermo???
Just clean the bolts.Wire wheel,sand paper.
Retourqe 20#
Now carbon on the thermo??Could be the base gasket is leaking into the cooling?????Not seen that one.

 

[Jiggz]

Re: Carbon question

When that engine run again you can de-carb it to clean it up a little. Replace t-stat and gasket. They're really cheap.

 

[Aggitated]

Re: Carbon question

Jerry
Couple of quick questions.
What should I use between the head cover and the head? It looks like black silicone. The book calls for 92-90113-2, what is it?
Would a brass wire wheel be O.K. to clean the top of the pistons? I've used on car engines in the past with no problems, what about marine engines?
I'm looking for emery or a cloth wheel for a drill, any idea who has one? I've tried Sears, Auto Zone, NAPA, Harbor Freight, and no one has one.

Amazlingly, the cyl walls look real good. almost no scaring. Some carbon, but not much.
I did have a severly blown out exhaust gasket, but has since been fixed. I've never seen a gasket that blown out, it was burned up practicaly. Probably would explain the carbon on the T-stat. I'm like you I can now say I've seen it all.lol
My spark plugs looked good after running her the other day. All but no. three. It was carbon fouled. I know this cyl. isn't running to rich either. I may have found my sputtering problem. It looks like carbon is sloughing off the piston and fouling the plugs. There is a fairly thick crust of carbon on the pistons. The only time it will do it (skip) is at high rpm. I've got my fingers and toes crossed that this is it.
As you have seen, I've gone over this engine with a comb. It appears that someone before me was deep into motor. Paint chipped on bolt heads, bolts and screws missing or not factory. All have been replaced with factory stuff. ( I live two blocks from a huge fastner company) they have every screw of bolt known to man, in stainless no less.

I thank you and jiggz for you help. Now the starter on my car went out... it never ends does it?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Carbon question

Too much carbon on 1 cylinder.Possible the carb is set wrong?
Wrong jet???
Any silicone will work between the top and head.

 

[Aggitated]

Re: Carbon question

There was a lot of carbon on all three. I have since de-carbed, looks good. I almost never run WOT, I don't have to go far or fast to get to my fishing hole and I do a great deal of low RPM's looking for brush piles on depth finder. This is a major cause of my problem, not much I can do but clean up the mess and put back together.

Thanks jerry. I'll get head gasket and put together later in the week, take to the lake and hope for no sputter. After this I'm really running out of rabbit holes to go down, so to speak.

No1. spark plug looked normal. No2. had some carbon on it. No3. looked like it was about to foul out, plum black with carbon from the piston. Hey, I'm on it though.

 

[Jiggz]

Re: Carbon question

There's a way to de-carbonize an engine without taking it apart. For the most simple process just a spay bottle will do although others use Seafoam. I do it once a year before storage using seafoam or spray water.

 

[Aggitated]

Re: Carbon question

Jiggz, I used straight gas and a parts cleaning brush on the top of the pistons and head. All nice and shiney now. However, ther is still some carbon on in the holes at the bottom of the cyl. bore. Any way i can get that while I'm at it? It's (carbon) is kinda bad.

 

[Jiggz]

Re: Carbon question

Since you already got it disassembled. clean as much as you can. But in reality it's more efficient to de-carb when it is running. On muffs, prepare some pure seafoam on a spray bottle. Remove any obstacles to get direct access to the mouth of each carburetor. While the engine is idling, grab the link bar to rev the engine slowly up to about 3500 RPM.

Hold it stead and start spraying intermittently between the carbs not too much it will kill the engine. The engine will cough a little. Do this for about a minute and you should see carbon in the exhaust. If you do not see the carbon dust out of the exhaust increase RPM a little and spray more. You can even use straight water instead of seafoam.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Carbon question

Warn the neighbors. No fire here.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Carbon question

Like Jiggz says straight Seafoam or Mercurys Power Tune(my choice)
Get engine HOT and do the carb thing(seafoam,powertune) and then after it's run,remove the plugs and spray in the cylinders and let it set for a couple of days.
Then clean the plugs and go for a ride.
Helps clean it up.

 

[Aggitated]

Re: Carbon question

I think I was more curious than practical when i pulled the head. Whats the chances of this (carbon) causing the engine to run buggy?

I'll reassemble latter today and finish de-carbing, problay run her Tuesday.

 

[Aggitated]

Re: Carbon question

One of my favorite pieces of lit. is an article by the late Alan Norwood, syndicated columnist for over one-hundred newespapers in the U.S.. The title of it is "The things I love - old dogs, old boats, and children." I love this piece, and I have the same feelings; however, I'm slowely taking the "old boats" off my love list. lol.........

Thanks for your help. I will finish de-carbing later today, hope this takes care of the sputter, I have a feeling it won't though. But, you never know.

 

[Jiggz]

Re: Carbon question

Oh no! Old boats are very good at you age. They keep your brain working making sure you'll never grow your headfull of hair back, LOL. And the challenge continues on, how to make it work at the least expense.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Carbon question

"old dogs, children and watermelon wine" After all is said and done, if the sputter is in a range that you don't use, just skip it.

 

[Aggitated]

Re: Carbon question

I know, I know, but I like going fast. I might miss the big one if I don't get there quick. And sometimes if I happen to be up lake and a T-storm rolls in, I need to get know what I mean?