[TR] Spitfire Engine Woes

[Alan Myers]

Hi Greg,

If it were me, I'd pull the head and look particularly closely at the head
gasket in between cylinders 1 and 2. The fact that two adjacent cylinders are
showing 0 compression is what's got me suspicious.

Yes, if the leak is from one cylinder to the adjacent one, you would quite
possibly see no compression at all (or so little it doesn't register on the
gauge) in both cylinders. Those cylinders are out of phase with each other...
One likely has either exhaust or intake valve open, when the other is in the
compression stroke. This would allow all compression to be vented away, as
well as any ignition that's still occurring in either of those cylinders.

You might first want to carefully repeat the compression test a couple times,
just to make sure it's not a testing error. Then if it is confirmed there's 0
psi in both those cylinders, go ahead and pull the head.

Like Randall, I don't see much point of a leak down test in this case, once
you know there's no compression at all in those two cylinders. A stuck or
broken valve or valve spring is very unlikely, since two cylinders are
involved. So I also don't think you'll be able to tell much just from
inspecting the valve train with the valve cover off. It's going to require
deeper surgery than that.

The good news may be that all that's needed is a new head gasket. Of course,
probably a valve cover gasket, too. This is assuming all that's found is a
blown head gasket, the head bolts all stay put, and both they and the nuts are
reusable.

Keep us posted what you find!


Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif.
amfoto1 at aol.com
'62 TR4 CT176602L
www.triumphowners.com/640



-----Original Message-----
Message: 4
Date: Fri, 16 May 2014 22:15:00 -0500
From: "Greg Lemon" <glemon at neb.rr.com>T
o: <triumphs at autox.team.net>
Subject: [TR] Spitfire Engine Woes
Message-ID: EE61AC89A3424E5BB8DE9AA5E7360275 at livingroompc
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Friend in the club says his Spitfire suddenly started running on two
cylinders(ran a short errand, then problem started when he fired it back up),
whichwould be backed up by by his compression test numbers:"Cylinder 1 and 2,
zero compression.  Cylinders  3 and 4 =  120No smoke, strange noises, etc.
Plugs 1 and 2 are dry."The guy, who I don't know very well, but offered to
help diagnose, says hewould not know where to start in diagnosing or fixing
the issue, but has beentold possible head gasket.That seems to sort of make
sense, but is a blown head gasket likely to giveyou zero compression?, would
think the starter could spin it fast enough tobuild some pressure even if you
were getting some blowby with a head gasketissue?  My thought would be a stuck
or broken valve, but would be odd to havethis happen on two cylinders at the
same time, same with a broken piston,broken camshaft? broken crank? broken
wouldn't be spinning the pulley if 1 & 2aren't turning.My thoughts are to
definitely look at the valves with the cover off as themotor is spun, as well
as run another compression test, maybe feel If we aregetting and suction in 1
& 2,  and check the intake and exhaust for anythingthat does not look
right.Anyway your thoughts on possible problems as well as some diagnostic
tests(don't have a leak down tester) I could help him with an a casual
afternoon inthe garage.Thanks, Greg Lemon

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