head bolt retorque

[Eagleview]

If you do decide to crack the bolts before re-torqueing make sure you drain the radiator first . I have seen water in cylinders and in the oil by not doing so as the head can lift a little when you crack the bolts .

 

[greg_g]

If you do decide to crack the bolts before re-torqueing make sure you drain the radiator first . I have seen water in cylinders and in the oil by not doing so as the head can lift a little when you crack the bolts .

Good recommendation, although in my experience I've only found it necessary to drain enough to drop the coolant level to just below head gasket level.

//greg//

 

[RobJ]

hey,

no worries, the more opinions, ideas and information the better. the only reason I offer my opinion is because I bought a tractor. if i haden't I wouldn't be on here.

but the question remains should he retorque? I think yes.

P.S. Its spring here I have 8 inches of mud around the house i'm building and living in.

peace

Should he retorque - Well if the manual says to then so be it. I would probably not. I've rebuild several hundred diesel and gas engines and have never done this. It was not receommended in the manuals. When I replaced the head gasket on my Kubota I did not recheck. After some discussion here and double checking the manual, it DID say to retorque after a couple hours. But I did not do this and still haven't done this. Call me lazy I guess.

A question is should you loosen then retorque. I would not do this BUT if you wanted to and did one bolt at a time, yeah maybe. I would not loosen all of the head bolts then start over. Even if you drain all the water some still will be hanging around in the jackets and could comtaminate the gasket. Same goes for the oil returns. Plus IMHO, once you crush a head gasket, it should be replaced.

Then you get into the headbolts themselves. Do you know if they are a stretch bolt or not? Some OEM's say to replace certain bolts after they have been torqued. When I replaced the head gaskits on my Son's mustang Ford says to replace the bolts. I hated to but I did. In the engines I rebuilt many bolts were speced to be replaced.

JMHO yall,
Rob