[TR] TR4A Aluminium Head

Wed Apr 12 11:53:22 MDT 2017

OK, everything is supposed to arrive in the mail today.  One thing I found
upon cleanup is there is a small repair in the back corner by the #4 hole on
the left stud.  It is between two water channels so I am not too worried and
the stud hole has been heli-coiled.  BUT, closer inspection showed the
repair to high by .002-.003” and this may very well have been the basis of
my original issue of water up in the head.  Going back this week with the
proper gasket and torqued at 70lbs, Moss says to run 100% summer coolant
with aluminum.  Wish me luck.

Thanks for all your input, really has helped.

Bill

From: Tony Drews [mailto:tony at tonydrews.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2017 12:30 PM
To: Bill Beecher <bill_beecher at flash.net>
Cc: triumphs at autox.team.net
Subject: RE: [TR] TR4A Aluminium Head

The fire ring is still over the outside edge of the liner so works as it
should as far as sealing liner to head and pressing into block
appropriately.  You'll either want a stock style payen head gasket (put the
seams on the block side) or something like the Cometic 91 mm.  The liner
protrusion (or lack thereof) would be a good cause for a leak with a solid
gasket.

Cheers, Tony

At 09:03 AM 4/6/2017, Bill Beecher wrote:

Hello Tony,
Thanks for the input on the head gasket.  I am wondering about something as
I tried to sleep, if the head gasket is oversized as I have ordered what
will be over the 86mm liners to keep them from moving around?  As you may
have seen, my liners are about .002 below the deck (not the best position)
but one poster noted that protruding liners was not good for an aluminum
head.

Am I overthinking this?

Thanks,
Bill

From: Tony Drews [ mailto:tony at tonydrews.com <mailto:tony at tonydrews.com> ] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2017 10:53 AM
To: Bill Beecher <bill_beecher at flash.net <mailto:bill_beecher at flash.net> >
Cc: Triumphs <triumphs at autox.team.net <mailto:triumphs at autox.team.net> >
Subject: Re: [TR] TR4A Aluminium Head

The larger diameter is to have the fire ring outside the intake valve pocket
in the head.  I run smaller diameter pistons than 91mm too.  The 88 mm
gasket has the fire ring inside the valve pocket and that's instant leak.

Regards, Tony

At 10:44 AM 4/4/2017, Bill Beecher wrote:

I have 86mn pistons, do I need a 91mm to outskirt the liners?  Is Comtic the
best head gasket for aluminum heads?

Straightedge show no sign of warpage, and no visible damage any where now
that it is cleaned.  

Tom, how hot and how long in the oven?  Can I just sneak it in under Momma's
biskets?

Many thanks to all,

Bill

Sent from my Altair 8800

On Apr 4, 2017, at 10:34 AM, Tony Drews <tony at tonydrews.com
<mailto:tony at tonydrews.com> > wrote:

Definitely has the symptoms of blown head gasket.  I've had much better luck
with compressible gaskets than solid ones.  Solid ones need liner protrusion
to be PERFECT.

The Aluminum heads have the intake valves unshrouded like you'd get if you
milled a stock head.  My latest head gaskets have been Cometic ones.  On
line their store lists 88 mm gaskets but if you call you can get a 91 mm
gasket.  This is almost large enough diameter to keep the fire ring
completely out of the combustion chamber.  Steve Yott was having some 92 mm
ones made of a similar design.

I can't comment much on the head itself - I know one of my racing
competitors ran an aluminum head for a few years and had constant head
gasket problems so went back to iron at some point.

Regards, Tony

At 06:53 PM 4/3/2017, Bill Beecher wrote:

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Happy Monday List,

Have had a problem with some water up in the rocker area of the TR3(TR4A
Motor) ever since I bought it last year.  Just now getting to a point where
I can pull the head and see if I can see what the issue is.  Below are my
observations:

1. Did not know it was an aluminum head until today, re-torqued it last year
when I first saw this problem at 95lbs.  Learned today it should be 70lbs.

2. Runs great, compression checks out good at 150-55 across all.  But after
getting up to highway speeds then coming back to town it quickly overheats
and blows the water past the rad cap.

3. Cannot see any damage to the solid copper head gasket.  Is this the right
type gasket for an aluminum head?

4. Cannot see any damage to the head, how do you check an aluminum head?  I
would think that magnaflux would not work here.

5. Drained and checked the oil last fall, no water present in the case.

Any suggestions from the collective wisdom would be greatly appreciated,
seems this motor was intended for some level of performance as it also has
Mossï¿½s roller rockers. 

Many thinks to all,

Bill B

TS30800L

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