Date:         Fri, 18 Oct 2013 08:32:06 -0500
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: off with her heads
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY179-DS1292AE4FBE9B00555F9CEDA0060@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I had to resort to this. It was possible, but barely.

Getting the cylinder loose from the head required that I stand on the head
in the driveway and pound on the cylinder with a sledge hammer. The worst
part was pulling and reinstalling the wrist pin and clips. If there is a
way to leave the piston in the engine it will save you a lot of tedious
trouble but I doubt that it can be done, at least with any tools I have.

The experience was so bad that if it happens to me again I am pulling the
engine.

All the more reason to not let your heads go until they start leaking, but
do some preventive maintenance from time to time. I have done this a number
of times with no problems, but that last one, wow.

Jim


On Thu, Oct 17, 2013 at 11:38 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:

> Pull the head, cylinder(s) and all. Some raps on the side with a dead blow
> hammer will get the cylinders out. Then you can clean them properly and lap
> them into the heads to get a good surface on both the liners and heads. Yes
> you will have to deal with the rings. It can be done even with the engine
> in
> the van.
>
> Dennis
>