Freelander 1 What’s needed for K-series head gasket job?

Erm, it’s dropped four exhaust valves.

It was driving fine, then he parked it up for the night, but when he came to start it next morning, it was locked up.

What’s odd is that the timing belt tensioner was still in place and the belt was tight. As far as I can tell, by estimating turns, the engine was still in time. No signs that the valves hit the pistons but they must have done.

guineafowl21 said:

Erm, it’s dropped four exhaust valves.

It was driving fine, then he parked it up for the night, but when he came to start it next morning, it was locked up.

What’s odd is that the timing belt tensioner was still in place and the belt was tight. As far as I can tell, by estimating turns, the engine was still in time. No signs that the valves hit the pistons but they must have done.

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Odd, Have you taken the head off?

Alibro said:

Odd, Have you taken the head off?

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I have now!

When you say dropped valves, what do you mean? Are they broken?

Alibro said:

When you say dropped valves, what do you mean? Are they broken?

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Yes, broken off. If you remember, I found the timing was out, with the valves 1 tooth late. I wonder if this meant the pistons initially hammered the exhaust valves on the exhaust stroke, and they’ve been operating slightly bent ever since, and finally locked up.

As I say, the tensioner and timing were still OK, and the owner didn’t hear anything odd when he shut the car off. Just came to it in the morning and it was locked.

I’ll replace all the exhaust valves, as two more seem to be bent. My Sykes tool doesn’t have the reach to get to them - any recommendations for valve spring compressor tools for the K series?

It's unusual to loose so many valves in one go. It's not uncommon for a bent valve to snap eventually, the exhaust valves are more prone to this type of stress failure, due to the bi-metal design. But to drop 4 at once is very odd.

Could it have had the head gasket replaced recently? If so maybe the guy badly cocked up the timing, realised his mistake and instead of taking the head off again to check the valves he just had a second go at the timing and when it started he immediately sold the car to your mate.
I don't think one tooth out would damage the valves, as Nodge said earlier, it's common.

Alibro said:

Could it have had the head gasket replaced recently? If so maybe the guy badly cocked up the timing, realised his mistake and instead of taking the head off again to check the valves he just had a second go at the timing and when it started he immediately sold the car to your mate.
I don't think one tooth out would damage the valves, as Nodge said earlier, one tooth out is common.

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We’ll never know. His wife bought the car sight unseen

It was one tooth out in the worst direction - meaning the pistons were ahead of the exhaust valves, so they would be approaching each other. The other way, the intakes would approach the piston, but it would be retreating. Maybe that.

Nodge68 said:

It's unusual to loose so many valves in one go. It's not uncommon for a bent valve to snap eventually, the exhaust valves are more prone to this type of stress failure, due to the bi-metal design. But to drop 4 at once is very odd.

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Cyl 2 and 4 valves are busted off, and 3 are clearly bent. It looks like the lot has taken a hammering for a little while. Can’t imagine all that happening between shutting the car off and re-starting.

guineafowl21 said:

We’ll never know. His wife bought the car sight unseen

It was one tooth out in the worst direction - meaning the pistons were ahead of the exhaust valves, so they would be approaching each other. The other way, the intakes would approach the piston, but it would be retreating. Maybe that.

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Ah well, sounds like a fun project. Every silver lining has a cloud and all that.

Got small problem here while I’m waiting for the bits - a genuine timing belt and tensioner have arrived, but they don’t come with a replacement tensioner bolt. The manual does say not to re-use the old one. Where can I get one, and why doesn’t the tensioner come with one?

Of the 8 exhaust valves, 2 were ok, 4 were broken off and 2 were bent. I’ve replaced all 8 with Osvat ones. What a fiddle getting the collets back in!

Couldn’t lap the valves, as some sh1tty little mouse had eaten a piece out of my valve grinding stick. But my old engine refurb book says there’s little point in lapping anyway.

Head is back on, just a little bit of building up to do for a test.

guineafowl21 said:

Of the 8 exhaust valves, 2 were ok, 4 were broken off and 2 were bent. I’ve replaced all 8 with Osvat ones. What a fiddle getting the collets back in!

Couldn’t lap the valves, as some sh1tty little mouse had eaten a piece out of my valve grinding stick. But my old engine refurb book says there’s little point in lapping anyway.

Head is back on, just a little bit of building up to do for a test.

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Could you put the remains of the stick in a drill?

Alibro said:

Could you put the remains of the stick in a drill?

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No, it’s eaten some of the suction cup so it no longer sticks on.