Author Topic: Head Gasket Gone (Read 6835 times)

Pete126 · « **on:** August 09, 2006, 06:29:18 PM »

Hi 126ers after having my 126bis in the garage for 12months i thought it was time to give it an airing only to find that it was leaking water out of the rad cap and misfiring, compression on number 2 cyl was nil, i removed the head and today took it to a machining firm near me so they could skim it flat, and was told by them that they don't advise the head being skimmed, infact one of the blokes said if the head gasket goes its a throw away engine.
my question is has any club member had a bis head skimmed and had any trouble afterwoods. also could you tell me the sequence for adjusting the tappets, as there is no mention of this in the manual.
THANKS

Chris Lakin · « **Reply #1 on:** August 09, 2006, 06:34:40 PM »

hi peter bloody hell dont listen to them!!

my BIS was left inour garage for 6 yuears with Headgasket gone, milky oil, youve sene it yourself.

just get taht head skimmed like i did mine get a copper head gasket and you will be laughing.

how many miles has engine done?

nice to see you back on here.

regards

Chris

126dave · « **Reply #2 on:** August 09, 2006, 07:13:03 PM »

hi,with attitude like that i would'nt use them,not anything to do with not giving them the business,its just you will not get a good job done if they think the motor/car is a joke.
follow Chris's advice,get the head done by someone who cares and fit a copper gasket,fill with antifreeze after cleaning your thermo housing etc and you'll be fine......oh.dont forget to bleed the system (several times) from the front bleed eh?

Pete126 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 09, 2006, 07:14:30 PM »

HI CHRIS, thought that could'nt be wright, the guy rang his mate who also has a machine shop and is supposed to be a member of a 126 club and thats what he told him. where do i get a copper head gasket from?

Pete126 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 09, 2006, 07:21:09 PM »

Cheers Dave, i'll sort that out this week,

126dave · « **Reply #5 on:** August 09, 2006, 07:26:13 PM »

thats cool,had hassle today from one company laughing at why a 126 would need discs..........was there to see if i could get them skimmed/trued,(do not ask why!)................ :evil:

slammed 66 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 09, 2006, 08:30:20 PM »

Theres a company called cometic that specialise in copper headgaskets and may possibly have a pattern for a 126, if not they'll make on for you in whatever thickness you require.

Try a web search for them

Ross

Chris Lakin · « **Reply #7 on:** August 09, 2006, 09:21:05 PM »

thats a good suggestion, as im not sure they do copper headgaskets for the aircooled engines, i might be corrected on that)

However i bought my (asbestos free) copper headgask set from Ricambio Interational, a whole engine gasket set for about Ã‚Â£45 i think it was. You might just be able to get the HG.

www.ricambio.co.uk - you can get your 10% discount off that peter,

regards

Chris

Pete126 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 10, 2006, 08:13:12 PM »

Thanks for the info and advice, i found cometic gaskets online and have emailed them, there in colchester, cheers ross. when i get a reply i'll pass the info on if they can do the copper gasket (sssh don't mention the discs......)

Pete

Chris Lakin · « **Reply #9 on:** August 10, 2006, 11:43:08 PM »

hi peter, single headgasket on ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fiat-126-BIS-704cc-Headgasket_W0QQitemZ110019963676QQihZ001QQcategoryZ10382QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

got to be worth it,

regards

Chris

Pete126 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 26, 2006, 10:28:16 PM »

Hi. finally got the head back after having it skimmed, and have refitted it, can anyone tell me the correct procedure for setting the tappets, i.e. are they adjusted in/ex on tdc on the firing stroke of each cyl or is there a sequence to follow, thanks.

Pete[/b]

Chris Lakin · « **Reply #11 on:** August 26, 2006, 11:47:09 PM »

hi peter i hope the below helps you

following is quoted from the aircooled haynes manual

"Check and adjust if necessary the clearence of the appropriate valve according to the table below

Valve fully open -------------------- check and adjust
No 4 --------------------------------- No1 (EX)
No 3 ----------------------------------- ------- No2 (IN)
No 2 -------------------------------------------- No3 (IN)
No 1 --------------------------------------------- No4 (EX)

(open/close the vales by turning the crank shaft)

The clearence is measured between the end of the vale stem and the rocker arm, using a feeler guage of the appropriarte thickness.
The correct clearences are given in the specifications. Note that the clearences differ between exhaust and inlet valves.

Where adjustment is required slacken the rocker arm adjuster screw lock nut and turn the adjuster screw untill the feeler blade is a stiff sliding fit.
Re tighten the lock nut without disturbing the adjustment

Rotate crankshaft and repeat the opperations on the remaining valves.

regards

Chris

ChrisRLewis · « **Reply #12 on:** August 26, 2006, 11:56:36 PM »

also check out this thread for revised torque settings for the Bis
http://fiat126club.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=736&highlight=torque

Pete126 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 27, 2006, 08:48:24 AM »

Hi thanks for that Chris n Cars thats my job for today, thought i'd ask about the sequence as it does not tell you in the manual, let you know how i get on.

Pete

Pete126 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 30, 2006, 07:11:41 PM »

well tales of woe, i had the head skimmed flat, lapped the valves in reassembled the head and today fitted it, set the tappets put water and oil in and still have no compression on number 2 cyl on no'1 there is 167lbs, i have put a good squirt of engine oil in no'2 to test the rings but still no comp' the cylinder is dry and not pulling in any water, the plug gets wet with petrol. what to do next. Thanks

Pete.