I am currently trying to get the head off my engine to get it crack
checked (possible cause of overheating), and get the header port
matched.
Unfortunately, the head seems good and stuck. It wouldn't come off
with my usual trick of jacking it up off the engine using a hydraulic
jack and a long piece of steel.
So I'm thinking I'll try the rope trick. Quick question: when doing
this, is it okay to use the starter motor to crank the engine over and
pop the head off, or is it better to just turn the engine by hand using
a long wrench on the crank bolt? I'd rather use the starter if
possible since it will generate a lot of torque, and since the crank
bolt is hard to get at. But I'm wondering if any damage could be
inflicted on the pistons or crank by the forces generated by the
starter when the rope gets compressed and the pistons continue to go up
and attempt to push the head off. I realize the pistons and crank
experience tremendous forces during normal running, but something about
this rope trick seems to suggest to me that it could inflict some harm
on the pistons. If the head is really stuck, then the pistons might
try to come up and get stopped dead in their tracks by the stuck head.
This is almost comparable to having the timing chain break and the
piston contact a valve, except that the piston is moving slower than
during normal running, and the rope is a lot softer than a valve. But
still, it seems a bit traumatic. Am I being ridiculously
over-cautious? Have other listers used the starter with the rope
trick, or just manually cranked the engine over with the crank bolt?
Tim Holbrook
1971 TR6
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