Head Swap

[warp9.9]

So my Roadster has needed a new head for awhile (I can tell you the story if you want, but basically she has a small crack in the right rear that weeps oil). So after months of looking and putting off shelling out 2500 bucks for parts, I lucked out and found a complete engine on eBay that I snagged for 300 bucks. Gonna go pick it up this weekend and ship it home. I've done a rebuild on this engine before, but I don't plan on taking the engine out just to swap the head. Here's a list of what I KNOW I'll need, and I'd like your input on anything else:

-Head bolts
-Head Gasket
-Valve cover gasket
-Valve cover bolts/washers (I know I don't HAVE to replace these, but I want to)
-?
-?

Do I need to pull the front engine cover off? Or will I have enough room to lift my head over the cam chain guides?

You guys' wisdom and input is ALWAYS appreciated!

Ok just so you know you do not have to pull the engine to change the head.
Head bolts Yes as the OEM ones are stretch bolts and according to Triumph get renewed.
Head Gasket Yes make sure you buy for the newer ones.
Valve Cover depends on the shape of the one you Take off. Same with the washers.
Yes you will have to take the front cover off Unless your not planing on changing the timing gear guides and have a scope to insure your timing marks are line up. of course you might be able to see that thru the inspection hole I am not sure.
You do not have to pull the engine to change pistons either. No matter whether you do it the Triumph way or the fast easier way from the bottom end.
That is a great price on the engine I would have been bidding on it had I known about it. Even if your shipping it to Hawaii. If you change your mind or run into trouble getting it shipped let me know I will buy it from you.

 

[cardinal93]

Great find there Mike! Good luck on the swap. You've definitely put some sweat and blood into that girl of yours!

 

[MikeDeY]

Thanks for all the input! The engine I bought "has less than 200 miles on it. Did not run when removed"... So I don't know what's wrong with it. Looking forward to pulling it apart. So you all recommend I change the chain guides as well?

 

[warp9.9]

Thanks for all the input! The engine I bought "has less than 200 miles on it. Did not run when removed"... So I don't know what's wrong with it. Looking forward to pulling it apart. So you all recommend I change the chain guides as well?

Most likely the guide in both bikes are good. Personally I would pull the front cover when you do it to insure you set the slack in the timing chain correctly there has been Rockets from the factory with one tooth off which you probably would not notice the loss of horse power unless you put it on a dyno. Now 200 miles on the engine and it did not run. My first question would be did the owner do a engine swap? and if so why. If it was the engine then I could only guess whats could be wrong with it.
Now if you go with any Carpenter stuff you will be using a modified guide and tensioner system. If not then it would depend on whether or not you changing the springs and cams or not, and how much spring tension is presented to the system.

As long as the engine did not lose it timing and had a piston and valve collision the head should be fine. If it did well then its like buying a lottery ticket as to whether the head is still good or can be repaired. Do not let this alarm you as it is a remote chance and I am speaking worse case scenario. below is a shot of a head after timing chain tensioner failure,

Note the broken exhaust valves and damage tot he head and piston in #3 and both sets of exhaust valves in #1 and #2 are bent. Of course this one did not like the broken valves standing up in the intake valve area of #3. Anyway new head cams pistons and liners in this puppy. I know I sold him the head and stuff. They say the tensioner letting loose only happens ones in a while but I have seen two already which wis enough to say the tensioner needs some safety features so it will not release. Thus the Warp9.9 tensioner modification


Personally if your 2011 has a head casting issue I can not believe Triumph has not stepped up to the plate and installed a new head on her free of charge. Especially since it is a manufactured Flaw/Failure. These things happen and depending on the quality control testing parameters on the heads it could have got by. Then there is the human error factor which I have only heard of a couple other head and block with casting failures. Only a couple though.

 

[MikeDeY]

Most likely the guide in both bikes are good. Personally I would pull the front cover when you do it to insure you set the slack in the timing chain correctly there has been Rockets from the factory with one tooth off which you probably would not notice the loss of horse power unless you put it on a dyno. Now 200 miles on the engine and it did not run. My first question would be did the owner do a engine swap? and if so why. If it was the engine then I could only guess whats could be wrong with it.
Now if you go with any Carpenter stuff you will be using a modified guide and tensioner system. If not then it would depend on whether or not you changing the springs and cams or not, and how much spring tension is presented to the system.

As long as the engine did not lose it timing and had a piston and valve collision the head should be fine. If it did well then its like buying a lottery ticket as to whether the head is still good or can be repaired. Do not let this alarm you as it is a remote chance and I am speaking worse case scenario. below is a shot of a head after timing chain tensioner failure,

Note the broken exhaust valves and damage tot he head and piston in #3 and both sets of exhaust valves in #1 and #2 are bent. Of course this one did not like the broken valves standing up in the intake valve area of #3. Anyway new head cams pistons and liners in this puppy. I know I sold him the head and stuff. They say the tensioner letting loose only happens ones in a while but I have seen two already which wis enough to say the tensioner needs some safety features so it will not release. Thus the Warp9.9 tensioner modification


Personally if your 2011 has a head casting issue I can not believe Triumph has not stepped up to the plate and installed a new head on her free of charge. Especially since it is a manufactured Flaw/Failure. These things happen and depending on the quality control testing parameters on the heads it could have got by. Then there is the human error factor which I have only heard of a couple other head and block with casting failures. Only a couple though.

Awesome advice and pictures! I guess I'll find out when I pull the head off if it was damaged. Either way, 300 bucks was too good to pass up! My bike's head issue was caused (I believe) when I crashed it. Left side down and tore up the left side of the engine. So I pulled it, replaced the case and the messed up things and put her back together. About 1000 miles later, I noticed the little crack on the right side. Maybe it was a factory flaw... but I'll just assume I did it.

 

[TriumPhil]

If Carpenter Racing does not have the parts you need to spare, give these guys a shot: http://pinwallcycle.com/

They are a huge MC salvage operation and I'll bet that they have most, if not all of the bits that you desire.

 

[warp9.9]

Awesome advice and pictures! I guess I'll find out when I pull the head off if it was damaged. Either way, 300 bucks was too good to pass up! My bike's head issue was caused (I believe) when I crashed it. Left side down and tore up the left side of the engine. So I pulled it, replaced the case and the messed up things and put her back together. About 1000 miles later, I noticed the little crack on the right side. Maybe it was a factory flaw... but I'll just assume I did it.

Phil is right about Pinwall Cycle parts, only they do not have much of engine parts right now. They usually sell the whole engine for about 2499.00 and keep them whole unless they get a damaged one. I agree Either way you have not wasted your money as you can get 500 for the crank easy. And then there is the transmission and clutch components to boot if its the newer style you can always use it to add a Billet basket or sell it to some one who wants to.

 

[TriumPhil]

They'd have more Rocket parts on hand if you'd stop scarfing them up as you often do, Scott!

 

[MikeDeY]

Yeah, I got the crankcase thru them a couple years ago! Awesome business.

 

[warp9.9]

Yeah, I got the crankcase thru them a couple years ago! Awesome business.

Let me guess out of a 2011 Touring !!!