Broke a rocker!!!

Post Sun May 01, 2005 9:01 pm

Broke a rocker yesterday. Somebody please tell me that i can fix it without taking the head off. (2.5 m20 engine)

Post Sun May 01, 2005 9:08 pm

dnt hold me too it but i think you can do a rocker without takin the head off Daz leeds
ask brianmoore or temple8 theyl know for sure

Post Mon May 02, 2005 11:33 am

Yes you can do it without taking the head off but it's a bit awkward.

The bonnet needs to come off, and the back of the engine/gearbox needs to be dropped so that the rocker shaft will clear the bulkhead when withdrawn.

Also the front of the engine needs stripping, cambelt/covers/cam sprocket etc. And don't forget to remove the rocker shaft locking plate at the front of the head.

There is a plug in the end of the rocker shaft that has an allen head screw underneath it, remove these and screw a long 8mm bolt into the shaft. Attach a pair of mole grips to the bolt just under the head and tap the back of the grips with a mallet/hammer, this will withdraw the rocker shaft.

The camshaft/engine will need to be turned over as you withdraw the shaft so each valve is closed as you remove the shaft past it.

Refitting is the reversal of removal

Quicker than decapitation !

Cheers,

Iain T

Post Mon May 02, 2005 5:31 pm

Templ8e30 wrote:
the back of the engine/gearbox needs to be dropped so that the rocker shaft will clear the bulkhead when withdrawn.

How exactly do i do that? and by how much? I just don't understand how i'd be able to get the shaft out without taking the head off.

By the way its the piston no.3 where the problem is.

Post Mon May 02, 2005 6:17 pm

i done this the other week mate! mine broke on number 5 and it was repaired with out taking the head off. i cant remember now if the bloke who fixed mine said that if it was below number 4 then they cant slide the rocker shaft out enough to get a new one on. lets hope im wrong!

Post Mon May 02, 2005 6:41 pm

Which way are you counting number 5? from the cambelt side?

Post Mon May 02, 2005 6:48 pm

yes mate from the cam belt side. im not a 100% but i think thats what he said

Post Mon May 02, 2005 6:54 pm

Its just that i thought that the rocker shaft could only go out by the bulkhead side.

Post Mon May 02, 2005 10:50 pm

To drop the engine/gearbox the exhaust and prop need to be disconnected.

On reflection I'd just lift the head off, but then I've taken m20 heads off so many times I could probably take it off change the rockers and have it back on and running in 4 hours.

Cheers,

Iain T

Post Mon May 02, 2005 11:30 pm

4 hours ehh t??

sounds good may be chasing your services mate

Daz

Post Tue May 03, 2005 11:39 am

Yep 4 hours with all the right tools to hand.

And 8 hours to fit the 2.7 engine/gearbox/prop/exhaust and get it running

And put the bonnet back on !

On the other hand it took me 8 hours the next day to fit new springs and shockers because the osf strut wouldn't come off the balljoint. Broke 2 lever type balljoint splitters trying, ended up buying a new control arm and bush and belting the balljoint with a sledge hammer and fork type splitter

You know what they say about a 10 minute job taking half a day

Cheers,

Iain T

Post Tue May 03, 2005 5:53 pm

Whats the correct sequence for doing/undoing the cylinder head? As i'm gonna have ago now.

Post Tue May 03, 2005 7:22 pm

chu346 wrote:Whats the correct sequence for doing/undoing the cylinder head? As i'm gonna have ago now.

Buy a Bentley manual. It explains everything and has diagrams too.

This way you are not likely to make a mistake and cause more damage.

I have removed a few heads and I would say take your time, keep things clean, don't cut corners. Otherwise you'll round off head bolts, shear manifold bolts, twist the head etc.

The Bentley manual will explain how to drain the cooling system, remove the head, reset the timing belt and tensioner and bleed the air out of the cooling system etc.

Buy one their worth it!

Post Tue May 03, 2005 8:24 pm

Project_E30 wrote:
chu346 wrote:Whats the correct sequence for doing/undoing the cylinder head? As i'm gonna have ago now.
Buy a Bentley manual. It explains everything and has diagrams too.

This way you are not likely to make a mistake and cause more damage.

I have removed a few heads and I would say take your time, keep things clean, don't cut corners. Otherwise you'll round off head bolts, shear manifold bolts, twist the head etc.

The Bentley manual will explain how to drain the cooling system, remove the head, reset the timing belt and tensioner and bleed the air out of the cooling system etc.

Buy one their worth it!

Cheers dude but i used to be a mechanic (ford) so i got some idea how to do things. I do have a haynes manual which has all the info i need, but i've left it at my mates house with my other cars.

At the mo im trying it with the head on anyway?