7 replies to this topic

[ajperry]

Hi all,

My little 1971 850 wouldn't start this morning, so checked all of the electrical connections and they were all fine, I've got plenty of fuel, ignition light comes on, battery fully charged.

Took this video for help diagnosing:

 

https://i.imgur.com/rYwTcis.mp4

 

Decided to take the plugs out and they were all sopping wet except number 1. Gave them a sniff and they had a fuelly smell but not strong so shone a torch into the cylinders and looks like I've got fluid in 2, 3 and 4, I rocked the car and could see it move in the cylinders. Put some blueroll through the spark plug hole of number 4 and it certainly doesnt smell strong enough to be just fuel...

 

 

So what have I got? Head gasket gone?

 

I need to know if this is worth the hassle fixing or just get on with pulling the whole engine out now, as I need to reuse the gearbox on my new engine build with a remote extension...

 

thanks in advance,

Alex

[Ethel]

Do the usual,

 

Pull all the plugs and crank it to see if they all spark, you could even warm them in the oven. Whip the air filter off and splash a little petrol down the carb throat. 

 

It's an A Series, I've managed to get em running with cylinders half full of water. Even if you do pull it reclaim the gearbox, I imagine you'd still prefer to know if it's a serviceable engine.

[DeadSquare]

It is cold, and petrol doesn't smell as strongly as it does when it is warm.

 

Try putting a match to you screwed up blue-roll.

 

You are very unlikely to have a cylinder head gasket suddenly go in 3 cylinders.

[ajperry]

Hi just tried the match to blueroll and it wouldn’t light so definitely not just fuel.
Checked the cylinders again and seems only 2 and 4 have fluid in them now.
I’ve pulled the plugs, cranked and have spark to all of them.
Put them back in and cranked it again and it doesn’t fire.
Pull the plugs again 1 is dry and 2-4 are wet again. Pics to follow

[ajperry]

Spark plugs:

1

 

2

 

3

 

4

[ajperry]

Update: I can see a drip approximately every 3 seconds when looking into cylinder 4 through the spark plug hole, coming from the rear side.

[DeadSquare]

3 and 4 plugs have water on them.

 

Turning it over has probably spread water through the shared inlet port.

 

Only thing to do, is drain the water out of the bottom hose and lift the head.

 

If the screw head is pointing the right direction, loosen the pipe clip on the water pump and force off the hose.

 

You can get a lot of water out by parting the heater hose from the bottom hose by the water pump and blowing down the heater hose.

 

If you lift the head without draining it, a lot of water goes down the pushrod holes, into the gearbox.

[ajperry]

3 and 4 plugs have water on them.

Turning it over has probably spread water through the shared inlet port.

Only thing to do, is drain the water out of the bottom hose and lift the head.

If the screw head is pointing the right direction, loosen the pipe clip on the water pump and force off the hose.

You can get a lot of water out by parting the heater hose from the bottom hose by the water pump and blowing down the heater hose.

If you lift the head without draining it, a lot of water goes down the pushrod holes, into the gearbox.

Thanks. I’ll have a go at sorting next weekend. Busy days today and tomorrow, always when you need to sort something out!