BALL PLUGS Ball plugs that can’t be accessed and knocked out are difficult to remove. I use my Heli- arc welder and heat the ball until it is red hot. Then I weld a filler rod to it. When cool, it is usually loose and can be pulled out. If the ball is staked in,...
GOOD HEADS I’ve heard many shops complain about the finish and quality of some of the new bare cylinder head castings that are imported into the U.S. No one ever complains about the price, just the finish. In my shop, I look at these new castings as “a good core”. I...
PROTECT YOUR #1 ASSET What is your business’ #1 asset? Hand tools? Head equipment? Inventory? Every day owners protect their company assets by setting alarms and securing doors. But how often do you think about protecting your most valuable asset? ...Your Workers....
NOISY, BUT NOT ALWAYS DEFECTIVE VALVE LIFTERS Hydraulic valve lifters are probably the most precision machined part inside any engine. It does not take much to cause one to operate incorrectly. In this case we are not referring to lifter failure due to metal to metal...
REMOVE OIL GALLEY PLUGS Most aluminum OHC heads have some oil galley plugs. Remove these plugs when rebuilding and blasting the heads with glass bead. When you remove the plugs after glass beading you will find that the glass bead will be clumped up behind the plug in...
BROKEN TIP A Volkswagon 1.8L turbo 20-valve cylinder head can be found in most shops across the country. Due to broken timing belts, new valves are often needed. If a valve tip breaks off at the keeper groove, after re-installation, it is not the fault of the valve....