The Ford Barn

Dave in Denver · 10-11-2012, 11:45 AM

Thank you for the suggestions so far. This morning I jumped in a did the work to take the Riley Two Port head off the engine to see what is happening inside the engine. Well after the head was off and placed on the bench the issue was found. When I assembled the engine I did not follow Charlie Yapp's advice and place fire wires between cylinder 1-1 & 3-4 in the narrow area on the block. I figures I had a good gasket and did not need them. Well what I found was a blow out of the composite gasket between 1-2 & 3-4. This explains the loss of compression in all four cylinders during checking and also during the leakdown test. I would try to pressurize one cylinder only to have it leak out the adjacent cylinder. Oh my.

Now during assembly I will place fire wires into between the cylinders as the head is reinstalled on the block.

I guess climbing the hill a few days ago made the engine work a bit more than sitting in the garage and blewout the gasket.

I have much empathy for Marshall V Daut, during his cross country drive a few years ago in his A400 with a Riley Two Port that blew a gasket on the side of a deserrted road. I was only 1-1/2 miles from home though.

Just when I think I have it all figured out, these Model A's throw me a curve ball.

10-11-2012, 11:45 AM	#11
Dave in Denver Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 67	Re: Unexpected Exercise - problem found now work begins Thank you for the suggestions so far. This morning I jumped in a did the work to take the Riley Two Port head off the engine to see what is happening inside the engine. Well after the head was off and placed on the bench the issue was found. When I assembled the engine I did not follow Charlie Yapp's advice and place fire wires between cylinder 1-1 & 3-4 in the narrow area on the block. I figures I had a good gasket and did not need them. Well what I found was a blow out of the composite gasket between 1-2 & 3-4. This explains the loss of compression in all four cylinders during checking and also during the leakdown test. I would try to pressurize one cylinder only to have it leak out the adjacent cylinder. Oh my. Now during assembly I will place fire wires into between the cylinders as the head is reinstalled on the block. I guess climbing the hill a few days ago made the engine work a bit more than sitting in the garage and blewout the gasket. I have much empathy for Marshall V Daut, during his cross country drive a few years ago in his A400 with a Riley Two Port that blew a gasket on the side of a deserrted road. I was only 1-1/2 miles from home though. Just when I think I have it all figured out, these Model A's throw me a curve ball.