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Water jacket crack

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Water jacket crack

Posted: Thu May 10, 2001 12:53 am
by Dwyer
Gentlemen I've just reassembled and started up our P-type engine after an extensive engine overhaul. The good news is that mechanical noises are the least I've ever heard from it - it's like a sewing machine. The bad news is that once it got hot a weep appeared from the front face of the block, behind the dynamo. With the radiator and dynamo removed and a little pressure introduced into the remaining water system, it's possible to see beads of water coming out in several places on a line maybe 1.5 inch long, and about 1 inch down from the head gasket. I can't see a crack, even under a lens, but there must be one. Obviously I'm looking for a cure that doesn't involve taking the whole XXXXXXXX thing to pieces again. Any suggestions? Regards Dave Dwyer J2, TA, TC

Re: Water jacket crack

Posted: Thu May 10, 2001 5:36 am
by joecurto@aol.com
Dave try some Bars-Leak this is a commercially available stop leak compound i.e. Pep Boys, Strauss etc. Perhaps this will work. On the more ambitious side "Metal Stitching " could be done. This consists of drilling and tapping special plugs into the split and then overlapping the preceding plug with the next plug. I remember seeing this stuff in a machine shop supply. You will probably have to find a machinist older than 30 who knows how to do it. Sad to say it is not the most pretty of repair. Joe

Re: Water jacket crack

Posted: Thu May 10, 2001 6:47 am
by Frank O_ The Mountain
In a message dated 5/10/01 5:38:34 AM Pacific Daylight Time, joecurto@aol.com writes: >>
Not necessarily Joe, my machinist (retiring after my job) has stiched up that old SA block you sold me years ago...after applying the tapered plugs which are very soft, he grinds them down and applys a special Catapillar epoxy and smoothes it out, then you paint that spot with paint mixed with ground up walnut shells (marine supply houses) and it looks just like cast iron!! Well, almost! Next we'll find out if it works! These plugs come in a varity of sizes and there is a firm out here in Turlock, CA who makes them...also does the repair. http://www.locknstitch.com/ Terry in Oakland

Re: Water jacket crack

Posted: Thu May 10, 2001 6:51 am
by joecurto@aol.com
Thanks for clearing up the metal stitching storey. Remember you bought the block from Gates Willard, I only put it in the box. Joe

Re: Water jacket crack

Posted: Thu May 10, 2001 7:21 am
by Want1937hd@aol.com
In a message dated 5/10/01 8:38:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time, joecurto@aol.com writes: >>
OK, I'm over 30 and years ago did a lot of metal stitching repairs to vintage blocks. All you need is some brass 10-32 screws and Locktite, a sharp center punch and extra taps and drills. Bob TC4946

Re: Water jacket crack

Posted: Thu May 10, 2001 7:50 am
by joecurto@aol.com
Bob you forget I know how much over 30 you are. Curto

Re: Water jacket crack

Posted: Thu May 10, 2001 8:08 am
by Skip Kelsey
Joe: As today is my birthday, I really know how much over thirty I am. Actually I have passed 30 more than twice. Its great to be alive!!! Cheers; Skip Kelsey................................. At 07:49 AM 5/10/01, joecurto@aol.com wrote:
>Bob you forget I know how much over 30 you are. > >Curto >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the >http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>Yahoo! Terms of Service.

Re: Water jacket crack

Posted: Thu May 10, 2001 8:40 am
by Want1937hd@aol.com
Happy Birthday Skip! You're only as old as you want to be. Bob TC4946

Re: Water jacket crack

Posted: Thu May 10, 2001 8:43 am
by Robert Johnson
Dave:
It occurs to me that since you cannot detect a crack even when viewing under magnification you might not have a crack.
Rather, you might be dealing with a casting porosity problem causing the weeping and, drilling/stitching on the block might not be necessary at this time (ie: don't shoot a butterfly with a cannon).
As Joe commented, there are many products on the shelf at your local parts store designed to stop water leaks by filling the gaps involved. Let me add another product to the list with which we always had success back in the 40's and 50's before many of these current products were available to plug up water leaks in metal, namely sodium silicate in solution. Back in my salad days this was available at the corner market and/or pharmacy and was known as "Egg Preservative". We'd put it in the water and get the engine hot, let it cool down, and repeat the cycle several times. usually 3 cycles would do the job. Apparently it solidifies in the gaps with each cooling, building up layers. I was told that it had the approximately same coefficient of thermal expansion as cast iron and that the fix would work indefinitely. I used it many times with success on cast iron blocks and to seal radiator tube pinhole leaks. I've used the modern products as well and they seem to work just fine also. I'd sure try a "stop leak additive" approach before drilling.
Bob Johnson

Re: Water jacket crack

Posted: Thu May 10, 2001 12:55 pm
by C Sherriff
Message text written by "J.E.A.Rich"
>> Obviously I'm looking for a cure that doesn't involve taking the whole > XXXXXXXX thing to pieces again. > Any suggestions?
================================================= Have it metal stitched - epoxy stuffing does not work other than short term as the crack just carries on getting longer. Metal Stitching can usually be done with the engine still in place in a case like yours. Clive Sherriff
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