The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-06-11
HORNE TE[LSNEW
METHOD TODETACH
Cylinder HEADS
Careful Raising Of Engine Roof
Ii First Precaution for
Auto Owners.

w Y C3u0Ot W NOO S0fc tnAl the Olu
saying ''rhe abvse of a thing Is no
argument against it's proper use" Is
always correct; for when a thing is
hsbitually. though Fundamentally
abused there must be something
lacking in its adaptability to practi-
cal conditions. says M c. Horine in
Motor. Adaptability TO conditions.
of course. is the best test OF perfec-
ton. The perfect thing 10 that which
is completely adapted to Its environ
ment
1t Is a fact that cylinder heads OF
the detachable variety. like timing
searcase covers. transmission covers.
etc. are shamefully abused by many
who have occasion to remove and re-
place them. AS result OF this
abuse, poor satisfaction is often ex-
perienced and serious damage is sus-
tanned by the engine; where with
proper precautions, the same MEM
Der will give Long and satisfactory
service. II conditions were such that
we might depend upon those who
work upon motor car engines exer-
cising proper precautions, we could
then absoive the designer OF RESPONSE
bility for the relatively small num-
Der OF instances in which trouble
develops through carelessness. Since
the \ abuse of detachable cylinder
heads is widespread and due TO preva-
lent lack OF understanding the
responsibility largely rests, with the
engineer. who, in designing for the
market which actually exists fails
to adapt his design to popular
notions.
PERFECT CYLINDER HEAD.
The abuse referred to concerns
gaskets and hold-doyn studs. Since
rigidity Is only relative and Severy-
thing in the world, even ball of
glass, has a certain amount OF fex-
ibility, IL follows that a cylinder head
has a certain amount of spring.
when originally manufactured, de-
tachabIe head casting is very care
fully milied to true fairness on the
face which is TO contact with the
cylinder head gasket. II this true
,at surface is retained, the gasket
will be pressed evenly all over Its
surface and will thus be able to hold
the pressure and water from leaking.
But as before stated, the cylinder
head is flexible and unfortunately not
at the same time elastic, so that
while II may be bent IL will not re-
turn to its original shape after such
reformation.
The cylinder head r. retained to
the cylinder block by a row OF studs
and nuts extending around the edges,
in ordinary construction. II in APP
plying or removing the head these
nuts are frightened or loosened I'M
evenly, enormous pressure will be
concentrated at a few points, result
ing in warping of the casting. When
once warped. q cylinder head casting
will not straighten out again and
cannot again be returned TO its true
shape by any subsequent even tight
ening of nuts. Many owners and re-
pairmen OF motor cars understand
the necessity of even tightening of
these nuts. but fail to apply the same
principle in the reverse operation, in
continently loosening away at one
not at a time, and thus doing as
much damage as In tightening one at
time
The proper manner of removing a
cylinder head is TO loosen all OF the
nuts about a quarter turn, proceed
ing from one nut to the one as near
ly disgonally opposite IL as possible.
repeating the process until all are
loose enough to turn freely. Each
may then be turned the rest OF the
way off individually. In replacing
the head, the same process should
be reversed. each nut being screwed
down until resistance is felt and
then Tightening each quarter turn
in diagonal sequence until all are
tight.
Another form OF common abuse Is
improperly freeing the head from
the gasket after the nuts have been
removed. Ordinarily the head will
stick TO the gasket. partially due to
vacuum between the two and par
TALLY TO the adhesion of the white
lead which is sometimes applied to
the gasket, though with a proper
gass<et OF the copper-sbestos type
lead is not needed. The usual man
ner is to insert the end OF screw
driver under the edge, tapping II
lightly with a hammer. Often the
mistake is made OF using too blunt
an instrument. such as cold
chisel of large size, so that the
edge of the gasket is damaged.
Many also attempt to pry the gas
ket and head off the cylinder block
together.
a