Is my cylinder head toast?

[Phatslax]

Hi - following some good advice here I have stripped down the top of my 35hp '83 motor and think I have found the source of the wet bottom plug. there is a nick or groove on the top of the lower cylinder that bridges the metal part of the head gasket - looks like a previous owner has dropped it or tried to chisel off a previous gasket. I can see where the combustion gasses have gone into the water jacket and I presume water has been sucked back in. The groove is quite small..

My question is my cylinder head now scrap?

David

 

[bgbass.1]

Re: Is my cylinder head toast?

no its not srap take it to a engine machine shop have them plane it down and put a new head gasket on.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Is my cylinder head toast?

Be careful with how far you cut it. .010" is about as far as you want to go normally.

 

[Phatslax]

Re: Is my cylinder head toast?

Thanks - it doesn't look like there is much to skim! but any should help I think the groove is slightly deeper than this, however do you think that a combination of a skim and a proprietry sealing compound may work?

Does the skim effect the compression significantly?

If so any recommendations as to which sealant to use? I'm trying to post a pic of the damage, the actual leak path is tiny, but set to grow with just a gasket in place....

Got to admit that I'm very impressd with the way this engine goes (or went) even with a wet cylinder..

 

[bgbass.1]

Re: Is my cylinder head toast?

they dont recomend any sealant on head gasket but after they plane it down see how much is left and ask them what you can do to foll the rest they will help if there a good machine shop

 

[bgbass.1]

Re: Is my cylinder head toast?

thats why only take .010 it wont affect the compression much. I had a head with a gouge in it after it got planed it was still there some about .005 all i did was fill it with a little jb weld worked great for years. If you do have to use it after you put it on make sure to sand it smooth