3 hp M head gasket

I have a 3 hp IHC M that has been partially restored. the head gasket was replaced, but the head has some pitting and worm tracks from years of leaking. the gasket was replaced without sealer, and leaks water and compression. Do you feel I can seal it with copper coat gasket sealer, or might I need to use JB weld as a surface buildup. It looks to be a real bear to fixture for machining. Al

Al, it could be done at the lathe or at a mill. It cost a little time to fix up the head, but that's part of the hobby. The easy way is to clean the surface of the head and engine block very well and smear JD Welt at both sides of the gasket. Place the head and tighten the nuts well, remove the excess of JB Welt with a wet rag.

"Sixm" John

Al,

If you have a few hours to spend doing it try this, it has worked for me on my Harley heads and a couple of other small engine heads.. I have used this process numerous times..Get a piece of plate glass 1/4" to 1/2" x 12"x 12",,A few sheets of corse wet or dri sand paper, fine oil and a case of beer or pot of coffee, spread a little oil on the glass and appyl a sheet of wet or dri parper, apply a liberal amount of oil to the grit place the head on the oiled wet or dri,,, clean all of the crud off the surface to be "ground",, Place the head on the oiled grit and start moving around in a circular pattern,,after 5 or 6 revolutions rotate the head 180* another 5 or 6 revs rotate head 90* and do another 5 or 6 revs, rotate head 180* then 90*this procedure will ensure that you don't remove too much from one side, repeat the operation til you reach the desired results... Plate glass is about the flattest "unground" surface you can find... It takes time but from what I am seeing just about everything in this "hobby" is time consuming..Oh yes I forgot to mention that this is better if done to the tune of some Chet Atkins Gee tar music...for me any way.. PS If you can't find the glass and you have a table saw with a machine ground surface will work just as well... Good luck

Gene, for little parts that are flat it's a good way to go, but allas in this case it doesn't work. The head isn't flat the valves are sitting in the center combustion isle that fits in the sleeve. It's just the outer ring that holds the gasket

"Sixm" John

John is right, the center boss goes into the cylinder about 1/2 inch. I am certain the head was originaly machined on a lathe. I am going to try several other things before I remachine it. I think JB weld on the head and copper coat sealer on the block. I have several E-Mails on this, and it is a bear to set up to turn it. Thanks guys. Al

PS I still need the exact dimensions of the lumber used on the skid, was at a show last weekend and there were none there.

Al:

I've had good luck on block decks by removing the studs (if any) and using a nice big file that's about twice as long as the deck is across.

If you are careful, going crossways all over the surface to keep it as even as possible, you can get most of the high spots levelled enough for the gasket to seal adequately.

The head is a different story, though, unless it is flat all the way across.

Take care - Elden