Bad Head??

[bob1954]

The head is off a John Deere water cooled 345. Engine number is FD611V-BSO1
Had a blown head gasket on the thermostat side and burning antifreeze really bad. After cleaning the head I found the two chips at the water jacket. Looking for opinions here, would you guys reuse this head?

 

[flyerdan]

When you lay the head gasket on it, is the chipped area where the coolant was being ingested? Can't really tell from the small pics if there is enough damage there to allow a path for coolant to flow, maybe there was cast off from the head that didn't allow a full seal.
I'd be tempted to smooth it out with a carbide burr so there isn't any high spots, burnish it up with a scotchbrite disc and give it a try. If it needs metal all the way to the edge, check with a shop and see if it can be filled; even brazing should be enough to seal that small an area. Should be way more cost effective than buying a new head, especially if that's the only issue.

 

[Richard001]

Bob,

Can you post some better pics? These are so small and the resolution is so poor that when you zoom in on it, it just turns into pixels.

If you have a real camera, use that, cell phone photos are crap.

Richard

 

[tomplum]

I'm afraid if you reuse that head, it will be a temporary repair. Am I correct that the actual sealing area of the head has been compromised by ~30% of the width ahead of the jacket?

 

[tjkubota93]

When you lay the head gasket on it, is the chipped area where the coolant was being ingested? Can't really tell from the small pics if there is enough damage there to allow a path for coolant to flow, maybe there was cast off from the head that didn't allow a full seal.
I'd be tempted to smooth it out with a carbide burr so there isn't any high spots, burnish it up with a scotchbrite disc and give it a try. If it needs metal all the way to the edge, check with a shop and see if it can be filled; even brazing should be enough to seal that small an area. Should be way more cost effective than buying a new head, especially if that's the only issue.

x 2

I agree with dan

Plus - use coppercoat

 

[tomplum]

These gaskets have a fire ring and are grafoil based. No CC . One should ask why there are chips out on the gasket side.

 

[bob1954]

I'll get better photos and post Sunday,thanks everyone

 

[bob1954]

I put back together and still had a leak. So a little food coloring in the radiator and I found the leak is in the exhaust port. Now I have to find a new head for it