Had some problems with my 130GL over the last few weeks.
Started off with the usual head gasket symptoms...overheating, misfire ect. I removed the head, found the gasket had gone, was in a bit of a rush so quickly re-assembled it with a new gasket. Still the same! So, a few days later, off with the head again, remove the valves and find a crack across a valve seat. "Ah, I thought...found the fault." I found another head, looked alright so I reground the valves, couldn't see any cracks so on the head goes with another new gasket...still the fuXXXXg same! I compression tested the engine, number 2 was well down. So, off with the head again! I put the head upside down on the bench, poured some fluid in all the combustion chambers with the spark plugs fitted and noticed a small leak on number 2 inlet valve, strange as it's usually exhaust seats that suffer most. Not wanting any more hassle I sent the head to a specialist who fitted new valve seats, I refilled the chambers again, no leaks this time so I re-assembled it again. Still the same...AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGHHH!!!! Number 2 was still down on compression, so guess what......off with the head AGAIN!! Obviously the head is OK, so I did what I should have done to start with, I removed number 2 piston. Here's what I found...apologies for the dodgy pic quality of the piston but you can see that there's a load missing from the piston ring area.
I found an old piston upstairs in the garage, re-assembled it and it runs sweet as!
You live and learn! The head/s ended up being removed and refitted 4 times FFS!
Started off with the usual head gasket symptoms...overheating, misfire ect. I removed the head, found the gasket had gone, was in a bit of a rush so quickly re-assembled it with a new gasket. Still the same! So, a few days later, off with the head again, remove the valves and find a crack across a valve seat. "Ah, I thought...found the fault." I found another head, looked alright so I reground the valves, couldn't see any cracks so on the head goes with another new gasket...still the fuXXXXg same! I compression tested the engine, number 2 was well down. So, off with the head again! I put the head upside down on the bench, poured some fluid in all the combustion chambers with the spark plugs fitted and noticed a small leak on number 2 inlet valve, strange as it's usually exhaust seats that suffer most. Not wanting any more hassle I sent the head to a specialist who fitted new valve seats, I refilled the chambers again, no leaks this time so I re-assembled it again. Still the same...AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGHHH!!!! Number 2 was still down on compression, so guess what......off with the head AGAIN!! Obviously the head is OK, so I did what I should have done to start with, I removed number 2 piston. Here's what I found...apologies for the dodgy pic quality of the piston but you can see that there's a load missing from the piston ring area.
I found an old piston upstairs in the garage, re-assembled it and it runs sweet as!
You live and learn! The head/s ended up being removed and refitted 4 times FFS!
