Broken Head Bolt - 239

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Nov 7, 2003 | 02:46 PM

MercM47

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 136

Likes: 0

Broken Head Bolt - 239

While torquing the head bolts down one snapped. Its No. 19 in the torque sequence against the fire wall. No way to drill it out without removing the engine which I cant do where I live.

Its away from the compression side of the head where the large water jackets are located...can I run the engine without it or am I dead? Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Nov 7, 2003 | 04:27 PM

sosotwo

Senior User

Joined: Apr 2003

Posts: 209

Likes: 0

did it brake at the head or further down if is not far down you can weld a nut on it .
a good rod can build up the stud without sticking it to the head
tricky welding though.
havr fun hope this helps

Nov 7, 2003 | 05:10 PM

Paso1

Tuned

Joined: Dec 2001

Posts: 431

Likes: 3

From: Saskatoon sk

Were you re-torqueing the bolt or was it out and broke when you tried to torque it. If it broke because you were re- torqueing I 'd say leave it be, it likly won't cause any problems. The flip senerio is a toss up, wether it will leak.

Nov 7, 2003 | 06:41 PM

286merc

Posting Guru

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 2,119

Likes: 2

From: Southern New Hampshire

Leave it alone but keep an eye on the exhaust.

Since its on the exhaust valve side you stand a good chance of never doing more than losing a little coolant at times. Check the radiator for bubbles once in awhile to be safe, that means the head has to come off.

Now tell me about how well your torque wrench is calibrated?

Nov 7, 2003 | 07:30 PM

ozzie 1

Senior User

Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 152

Likes: 0

This advice is a little late for you now, but any time I install head bolts I always run a proper sized tap into the block to be sure the threads are clean. Lots of time there is rust and other crud in the bottom of the hole and that can cause the bolt to break. If the hole is dirty you may also get a bad torque reading. Ozzie.

Nov 10, 2003 | 07:42 AM

MercM47

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 136

Likes: 0

I re-used the original bolts when it broke down deep at the threads. Set the torque wrench to 65 lbs and never made it there. Its a brand new wrench from Pittsburg, never calibrated it. Could have been the angle of the wrench not being squared and placing side loads on it.

Nov 12, 2003 | 09:17 AM

MercM47

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 136

Likes: 0

Carl,

Thanks for the help...so far so good...no water in the exhaust or bubbles in the radiator...glad I took your advise and used the aluminum paint on the head gasket.