Flat Head 4 Cyl. Head Removal

Bobfish1 · Jul 10, 2013

Might not be a tractor but I have a flat head 4 cyl. water cooled engine and I need to remove the head due to some valves not seating well. I know there are a lot of 4 cyl. tractor engines out there but my question is what is the easiest and best way to remove it without destroying the gasket. I am assuming the gasket is a copper one as the motor was built around 1950 and I cannot find a new gasket. I am leaving the intake and exhaust manifolds on the motor if I can. Same problem with gaskets on them.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Paul from MI · Jul 10, 2013

Remove the head as carefully as you can, avoiding using the head/block surfaces as prying points. The gasket still may be damaged. If not damaged, I would use copper coat on re-assembly to help seal. There are custom gasket makers that can duplicate your old one. You may need to do some searching on the internet or look through the ads in magazines to find one.

Mike M · Jul 10, 2013

You never should reuse a head gasket. What brand of engine is it ? Some tractors used common for the day industrial engines.

There are companies that will make head gaskets from an old one or a paper pattern. Lubbock gaskets is one name.

Duner Wi · Jul 10, 2013

Here is one supplier of obsolete gaskets.
I have no connection with olsons.

http://www.olsonsgaskets.com/Products.aspx

DeltaRed · Jul 10, 2013

Bob,no matter how careful you are,chances are good that the gasket will be ruined.I wouldnot reuse unless it was absolutely nessesary.That said,several years ago my father reused the head gaskets on a '66 GMC 305 V6.Coated it with aerosol aluminum spray paint.That pickup is still running to this day.If we knew just what engine you had,we could help you better...Steve

Bobfish1 · Jul 10, 2013

It is an old Kohler generator with a water cooled 4 cyl. engine 12 hp. and it is a Kohler L600 engine. I know it is not a tractor engine but most flat heads are similar. I went to Smok Stak's web site and asked there also but parts for these engines are hard to come by. The other post gave me a web site and if I am careful and send it to them they could make one the way it looks. I haven't done a lot of research (been very busy)with irrigation coming on here in eastern Nebraska and getting spraying done. I just bought this thing thinking I can put it at a remote hunting cabin without electricity.

john *.?-!.* cub owner · Jul 10, 2013

I can't help any on the gasket, but Copper Coat is good head and manifold gasket sealing. It sounds as if the engine is close to the size of a cub engine, wonder if that gasket might fit. or maybe one from the small 4 cylinder continental?

You can download a manual at http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&...FPkaQnw&bvm=bv.48705608,d.aWc&cad=rja

ben there · Jul 10, 2013

i have a L-600 Kohler generator too...had head off a few times and reused same copper gasket all three times...anneal gasket with a torch and drop in a pan of water...brush off any scale and spray both side with Copper Coat...as long as you dont damage gasket you can reuse infinitely.

37chief · Jul 10, 2013

I have heard old timers would soak the gasket in water for a day or so. It would swell up, and be used again. I think a good coat of copper coat gasket sealer might help, if you can't find another. If you use the old gasket, be sure to check your oil for water for a few days. stan

old · Jul 10, 2013

Back a couple years ago I built my BA Farmall and I did my best to do it old school as in reuse as many used parts as I could and still have it work well. I used a used head gasket on it (metal) and I coated the head and the block with 6 coats of aluminum paint and the last coat I did I did not let it dry and I bolted the head on. Has not leaked a drop of coolant and the tractor purrs like a kitten. As for that engine you have I know it since I have a gen set like the one you have

Bobfish1 · Jul 10, 2013

Doesn't look like this one has been off since being put on so is there a good way to get it to break loose or will it just lift off with a tap on the head with a plastic mallet. I know they made things to last back then. Did you ever have problems with the valves sticking. This as sat in a generator house for ever and hasn't been started since 2006 or 2007. Exhaust was horizontal. and I even thought I unstuck 2 valves but they must have carbon or won't seat well.

retired farmer · Jul 10, 2013

There is a gasket site called-- www.gasketstogo.com --that may be able to make a new gasket for you.

ben there · Jul 10, 2013

mine sat in the barn for over 20 years and no telling how long it sat before my dad got it...i didnt have any trouble getting head off...may have bumped it a couple time with a lead hammer...2 exhaust valves were stuck open...sprayed Gumout Carb Cleaner on stem and tapped them down...spin engine...spray...tap down..you get the idea...didnt take long to free them up...you may as well take carb apart and clean main needle and seat while you're working on it...mine sticks if not used once a month or so...mag should be ok but if no fire just clean points and replace condenser...mine had the sealed ignition too [ex Army unit] plugs and wires were bad so i used regular copper core wire and siliconed them into mag cap...been running like that past 25+ years...parts are hard to come by,i rebuilt water pump myself...got seals at NAPA...fuel pump is bad so my tank is elevated and runs on gravity...theyre good units and mine will run more than a day on 10 gallons hooked to a 3hp pump.

Johnski · Jul 10, 2013

Does the engine start at all? If it does loosen all of the head bolts and start it up, that's how we used to pop 'em loose on flathead V-8's.If it doesn't run pull the plugs and stuff some soft rope,like clothes line in a couple of cylinders and bar the engine over by hand carefully and the head should pop loose. Copper coat will work just fine on the old gasket if it's metal. HTH Jf

Flat Head 4 Cyl. Head Removal

Bobfish1

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Paul from MI

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Mike M

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Duner Wi

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DeltaRed

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Bobfish1

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john .?-!. cub owner

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ben there

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37chief

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old

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Bobfish1

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retired farmer

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ben there

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Johnski

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