How to clean the head

Joebuyscorn · Jan 31, 2016

Pulled the head off my A to get a look inside and start the cleaning process. What's the best way to clean the carbon gunk off? Soaking in kerosene an OK way to go? What about the gunk on the Pistons?

gene bender · Feb 1, 2016

putty knife and cup wire brush with a drill there are lots of different shaped brushes

David G · Feb 1, 2016

I would let the gunk dry out, scrape it, then wet with kerosene and brush off.

The gunk tends to get your solvent dirty real quick, so might as well get the most off first.

JRSutton · Feb 1, 2016

just a cup style wire brush chucked in a drill.

I find an angle grinder, although quicker and more efficient, is too much and you'll be breaking your wrists every time you catch an edge.

It's not worth the fight. A simple cordless drillis all you need.

You can hit each one and be done in minutes. - hit it, spray it with break cleaner or carb cleaner, wipe it. Repeat. Then just blow it all out with compressed air and you're good to go.

not a bad time to chase your spark plug threads too.

Also wire brush the whole face of the head to be sure it's perfectly clean and flat.

also - since the heads off, I like to do a valve leak test. Put the head on its side so you can fill the exhaust and intake ports with some diesel. None should leak out of the valves even for a good half hour. If it does, and especially if it leaks profusely - you probably need a valve job.

This step also makes sure you got the innards of the head cleared of dust/junk from wire brushing.

JRSutton · Feb 1, 2016

pistons too - but I'd raise them each to tdc to hit with the brush. use compressed air afterwards. Then move the piston down, and before it starts coming back up - wipe the cylinder clean.

36F30 · Feb 1, 2016

(quoted from post at 22:03:10 01/31/16) Pulled the head off my A to get a look inside and start the cleaning process. What's the best way to clean the carbon gunk off? Soaking in kerosene an OK way to go? What about the gunk on the Pistons?

If I take one off it goes to Arnold Motors engine shop and goes in their hot tank, they crack check it, and then they touch up the valves and seats. If it needs to be trued up they do that too. You get back a perfectly clean head ready to bolt back on. It really doesn't cost that much and its worth every penny.

How to clean the head

Joebuyscorn

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gene bender

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David G

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JRSutton

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JRSutton

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36F30

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