Club 80-90 Forums

I am trying to fix the head gaskets in my 1.9dg. The first head came off easily but the second will not budge.(Yes i have removed all the caps!)
I have scraped out most of the gasket and I have tried hitting it with bigger and bigger hammers although im a bit worried about doing terminal damage.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as its now doing my head in!

sheppy wrote: its now doing my head in!

Wocka wocka wocka!


Are you sure you have all the nuts undone? Can you wiggle it from side to side to release it?

Yes all the nuts are definately off. It wont wiggle - its absolutely solid.

Well give it a few light taps with a gentle persuader (rubber mallet). Dont belt the "pooh" out of it though and dont hit it somewhere delicate either.

In the old days we just cranked the engine to break the head to block adhesion but not sure about the VW as you already have one head off. Its a tough one that especially since you need upward force rather than side to break the bond. Could try heating the head with a portable gas bottle blow lamp and see if the expansion helps to break the bond, best of luck with that one.

Thanks - ill try it in the morning

are the spark plugs out

sheppy wrote:I am trying to fix the head gaskets in my 1.9dg. The first head came off easily but the second will not budge.(Yes i have removed all the caps!)
I have scraped out most of the gasket and I have tried hitting it with bigger and bigger hammers although im a bit worried about doing terminal damage.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as its now doing my head in!

If you are absolutely sure all fixings are out you might try getting one of the pistons approaching TDC with both valves closed and putting some engine oil into the plug hole. Replace the plug and manually turn the engine to achieve an hydraulic lock. Remember that following the sine rule the force you will generate will tend to infinity as you get closer to TDC so more oil will generate les force. At the correct level to be achieved by trial. the lock will ocure just before TDC and will either lift the head or break somehing.
Regards
Ken

Its come off now. The blow torch did it in the end. There was sealant around 1 of the studs that had glued it in and the blow torch softened it enough to lever it off with a crow bar.

Thanks for all the replies. I would probably have given up on my own.