New head bolts K241
 

Hi, I am in need of new head bolts I believe and can't seem to find any. I blew the head gasket on the 102 over the winter and got a new Kohler gasket and torqued it to 30 ft/lb and again after warm and in the correct sequence. Well it blew that gasket when I was plowing my mechanic buddies yard up for a new garden the other week and he said I should've gotten new head bolts. I want to get this buttoned up and sell it,Thanks

Your head is probably warped. Get it flattened out at a machine shop. Only costs 10 bucks to do at the shop I go to. Or you can do it yourself. I've never had to buy new bolts and I've don't hundreds of them over the years. Don't hold me to it, but I'm pretty sure they are not torque to yield lime most automotive head bolts.

Can you translate...?? :Huh:

Reusable with nothing to worry about lol

Great thanks for quick replies. I'll take the head to machine shop when I get home. Lounging around hotel now down Spartanburg sc way. Hate to sell the thing but truck needs a new tappet cover and while I have whole front end tore apart gotta performance cam to slide in and some more air to shove down its throat, and the 102 is the least used tractor

They are just grade 8 bots. No, they are not torque to yield. Cubby102 is correct, you need to plane the head.

If you really want to put new bolts in it I don't see a issue with it. I have gotten them from the hardware store in the past. I'm sure someone that has done more engines then me will chime in. But I've used grade 5 bolts when I've had to replace broke. Or rusted bolts on the heads

Did I miss something? What does your truck have to do with the cub.... :Unknown:

Ha, just so don't have to dig in pocket book too bad. Probably should've just left that out, sorry.

Sounds like a Ford. I'd sell the truck instead. :biggrin2:

Ha! No it's a cummins that happens to be wrapped in a dodge shell.

OH! Well it's definitely a keeper then! That cover is a PITA to get too. I feel your pain. Attachment 65327

My wife supports me with my cub addiction but when I proposed the new mods for the dodge she suggested I move one and I had to agree with that. Kinda stinks but such is life, thanks for all the replies though.

You can resurface it yourself.

Here's how I do it. A piece of plywood to secure the 600 grit emery (sand ) paper, a piece of window glass, a stapler and some water.

Use a circular pattern and check often to make sure you are pressing evenly.

Don't forget proper torque specs and correct tightening pattern too.

Jeff, thanks! That sounds like something I can do! Thanks a lot! I saw in another post some time ago your in Allentown area. I was just up that way a few wks ago en route to Milford pa area, I'd like to stop by your shop I know Lehigh valley pretty well. Im just a rambler from east tennesse that happens to live in western md now. Anyways thanks! Also I have gotten a lot of compliments on your sleeve hitch that's on the 102

It's not hard to do, just watch your patterns as you make your circular motions. Clean the paper as needed too.

Use "modern" glass that is flat ( I grew up in a house that was built in the 1840's and the glass was wavy )

Good to hear the sleeve hitch adapter gets good reviews :beerchug:

You should always replace the bolts and studs when you remove the head. The fasteners have been through heat cycles and loose their tensile strength.

Grade 5 bolts????
I hope you are kidding. My first choice is Kohler bolts and them grade 8 bolts.

The grade 5s were put in almost 10 years ago and are still holding up great. Not saying it's right though maybe I just got lucky. If I ever have to pull it apart again I'll swap em out

Jeff, I resurfaced the head using your technique when I got back home and got the new gasket on. Put about an hour on it and so far so good! I briefly had it on the chopping block and my wife of all people said it was a horrible idea to get rid of it. It doesn't get many hrs put on it but don't think I could replace it. Thanks for help!

Jeff

You know I agree with you almost all the time but I have to disagree with use of plywood to resurface a head. I use a piece of 3/8" thick glass under the wet dry sand paper, plywood is just to irregular to get a good flat surface. :beerchug:

I like the glass under it too. I haven't used such a fine(600gr) sandpaper though, will try that.

I hung on to a cutoff when i put granite counters in my house. It's ground flat and works great for lapping heads.

My picture shows the glass window pane but I forgot to mention ( write ) it. I did edit my wording last night to include "window pane".

It is corrected now :beerchug:

Definitely used glass in the process. Back down in appomatox va but will run the 102 again some more this wknd. I was up in your neck of the woods last week in Lehigh valley, bushkill pa. Tore some brookies up on toms creek in the evenings, nice benefit of working up north. Anyways, I'm confident the repair is solid. Thanks

When installing the head bolts, should anti-seize be applied to them? If yes does that affect the torque setting?

I just dip them in a little motor oil. I think thats what the manual says.

Per the instructions that came with my head gasket set from Kohler, they said it isn't necessary to use new bolts and they don't include new bolts with the gasket kits anymore. This was a CH engine.

The engine in question at the beginning of this topic was a K series engine. As I stated earlier it is cheap insurance regardless what the instructions that came with your head gaskets kit.

OK, one more item not mentioned--chase the head bolt hole threads with a tap and clean out the debris before replacing the bolts/studs.