So I had to take the head off the TR-4 today, I thought I had really mucked
things up when trying to drill out a broken off manifold stud, thought I had
drilled into the water passages in the head, I was thankfully wrong, but
still have to get the stud out.
Anyway, when I removed the head, apparently there was still some coolant in
the passages (I swear I drained it) and it leaked out and pooled up slightly
in each of the cylinders, and also mixed with the carbon on top of the
pistons.
I blotted it out as best I could, but am a little panicky about what I can
and can't do in such a situation. All the manuals tell you how to do the
full fledged rebuild, but they don't address such shade tree mechanic
procedures.
I'm guessing that you cant go cleaning off the pistons while they are still
installed? Getting some of that carbon down on the sides for the piston
rings to deal with would not be good I'm guessing. The sight of it bugs me
though. I cringe at putting the head back on top of that mess.
Then again maybe I am wrong.
Someone tell me what precautions to take in this area, I don't wanna mess up
my engine.
FYI the engine only has about 2500 miles on it since a TOTAL rebuild, the
carbon is due to a mixture problem that went unchecked for a while is my
guess.
Scott Tilton
sweating in Richmond Virginia
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