Tractor sounding '02 - Help!

[tech71]

16 minutes ago, NicholasMav said:

It's measuring 128.93

Oh you’re good, standard 1.5 mm head gasket would be fine. Guess you could have held on to the one you returned😉

As far as brand.. well, people’s opinions vary, I’m partial to Fel Pro but have used Victor Reinz and Elring head gaskets on occasion as well with no ill effects. A Cometic gasket is probably not warranted and yes, they be expensive.

Edited July 2 by tech71

[NicholasMav]

If anyone is still following this, how clean does the block surface need to be? I’m concerned about the circled area, and other areas similar.  Carb cleaner/brakekleen isn’t removing it.  I would think a razor blade would be a bad idea.  

[stephers]

Razor blade and brake kleen with some 120 wet and dry     Do the whole top of the deck like that.    plug the bolt holes easier to clean later

 

Thanks, Rick

[2002Scoob]

I'd aim to clean all that up as much as possible. Maybe start with brake-clean and a tiny square of scotch-brite? That's the least-abrasive path you could take to start with. Perhaps a bridge too far, but when I did my motor I spray-mounted some wet-dry to a piece of plate-glass I had lying around, and used that to flatten everything. Just avoid over-doing it between the cylinders. 

Edited August 11 by 2002Scoob

[OldRoller]

Yes, needs to be much cleaner. Carefully remove the head-locating dowels, place some rags/paper towels in the cylinders to catch debris, then use brake clean and sandpaper on a firm FLAT board to polish the deck. Remove heavy old gasket material with a razor blade. After clean, vacuum out the head bolt holes and try to hand fit the headbolts... you should be able to run them all the way down by hand. Any that feel rough or won't go, chase them with a tap and repeat the cleaning/fitting.

[2002Scoob]

side tip, fill your cylinders with tightly packed paper towels when doing this, and use a sparing amount of oil as a lubricant when 'wet' sanding. because water and iron... and also abrasive-loaded liquid anything is not something you want to drip into your rings. 

[2002Scoob]

8 minutes ago, OldRoller said:

Yes, needs to be much cleaner. Carefully remove the head-locating dowels, place some rags/paper towels in the cylinders to catch debris, then use brake clean and sandpaper on a firm FLAT board to polish the deck. Remove heavy old gasket material with a razor blade. After clean, vacuum out the head bolt holes and try to hand fit the headbolts... you should be able to run them all the way down by hand. Any that feel rough or won't go, chase them with a tap and repeat the cleaning/fitting.

Beat me to it  I didn't remove my locating dowels, but I started with a fair bit cleaner deck than OP, and just sanded around. 

 

Note, that's evaporust filling the water jackets. Pay no attention, just being OCD. haha

Edited August 11 by 2002Scoob

[NicholasMav]

Boy, I wasn’t planning on removing the block. Gonna see what I can do with it in situ.

Thanks all!

[2002Scoob]

Don't remove the block, you can do this in situ, no problem!!!

1 minute ago, NicholasMav said:

Boy, I wasn’t planning on removing the block. Gonna see what I can do with it in situ.

Thanks all!

 

[John76]

Make the head just as clean. 

Iron block is easier to clean. Aluminum head needs a kinder, gentler approach.

 

[NicholasMav]

Head’s been resurfaced.  Clean as a whistle.😗 

[Son of Marty]

I use a fine scotch bright rotary pad dry, just be sure to keep moving and don't stay in one spot, I coat the cylinders with a coating of grease on the cylinder walls then stuff a paper towel (ala Scoob) in them.

 

PS. If you choose to do it wet mineral spirits add a bit of lube and it doesn't evaporate right away like brake clean.

Edited August 11 by Son of Marty