Reinstalling the Head

I remember the last time I had my head off back the mid '70's, when I went to put it back on with the motor in the bike, I didn't have any problem. It talks about how to do it in the Commando Workshop Manual. I think I just followed their method, no rubber bands, no towels, but then maybe it was just my first time dumb luck. I'll see when the head comes back from Leo, but then I have nothing on the frame above the motor yet.

Dave
69S

Another tip, from my experience of mucking up a pushrod. Just before fitting the head, put a capfull of engine oil down each pushrod tunnel. So when you are jiggling and josling the pushrods with the head suspended above the barrell face, you can feel that the pushrods are fully seated in the followers. It is possible for them to skew off, this equals instant pushrod damage, if you turn over engine.

HTH Richard

Anyone who's capable of raising the pushrods into the head for removal when they're slippery and oily is more than competent to put it back on again when the rods are clean and dry.

The most important thing is not to believe the manuals when they say that the rods can do nothing other than seat in the cups on the followers....
They bloody well can and it causes a most unpleasant 'pinging' noise when turning the engine over (which of course I personally have never heard) ...and if you believe that, you'll believe anything !

hey Sgoud!
i don`t know if anybody already mentioned the following method:

i use some foam rubber to hold the pushrods in the head.
and put the foam out when the head is in place to let the pushrods drop.

it`s realy easy and a few minutes-one-man job!
And maybe you got some experience with Triumphs and BSAs......then you will for sure like the commando head more!

@Maylar: holding the rockers up in your style is a great idea!

chris

Chris Zet said:

hey Sgoud!
i don`t know if anybody already mentioned the following method:

i use some foam rubber to hold the pushrods in the head.
and put the foam out when the head is in place to let the pushrods drop.

it`s realy easy and a few minutes-one-man job!
And maybe you got some experience with Triumphs and BSAs......then you will for sure like the commando head more!

@Maylar: holding the rockers up in your style is a great idea!

chris

Click to expand...

Thanks Chris. Similar method to that of Grandpaul with the shop rags. I will certainly be using that approach which seems an absolute winner!

A) Is it a good practice to use Loctite on the 2 studs in the cylinder???

B) Should I use gasket sealant (spray) on both sides of the gasket around the pushrod tunnels???

THANKS

I have use the method of sticking something in there to hold the pushrod in place. The issue is to make darn sure you get ALL of what you stick there out. I thought I got all the heavy duty shop towel out only to pull the head back off the get the stuff that got pinched and tore off. Once you have done the finger method a few times you won't want to stick anything foreign in there.