cracked diesel head.

[zopi]

I have a 3 cyl kubota diesel with a crack in the center cylinder of the head..appears to be a surface crack, I am certainly not capable of welding it...does anyone know of a shop in eastern virginia that can do an oven weld repair on something like this, in addition to giving it a stock valve job after?

I would just buy a new head, but 700 bucks per, I don't have the cash to sink into what is basically a free skid steer...

[papabear]

Even if you have to pay $1000. to get it fixed,............
A $1000. skid steer is a good deal.

[zopi]

true....but I don' got right now...<G>

[castweld]

I usually charge 400 to repair with valve job, pressure test, and surface. Most of the production welding shops charge more.
I have been quoted 900-1200 from local dealers for new heads. May be higher here? For 700 (if it is NEW) I would get a new one, swap parts from old head. They come bare. Try to determine cause of overheating and repair problem too.
Peter

[zopi]

Originally Posted by castweld

I usually charge 400 to repair with valve job, pressure test, and surface. Most of the production welding shops charge more.
I have been quoted 900-1200 from local dealers for new heads. May be higher here? For 700 (if it is NEW) I would get a new one, swap parts from old head. They come bare. Try to determine cause of overheating and repair problem too.
Peter

400 ain't bad...I'll likely wind up getting a bare casting...spensive bloody little things.

HEH...cause of overheating is easy..piece of rebar through the radiator...

I love old equipment, and I keep telling myself that.

[jasonstewart]

rebar through the radiator. nice

[Rhyno]

Originally Posted by castweld

I usually charge 400 to repair with valve job, pressure test, and surface. Most of the production welding shops charge more.
I have been quoted 900-1200 from local dealers for new heads. May be higher here? For 700 (if it is NEW) I would get a new one, swap parts from old head. They come bare. Try to determine cause of overheating and repair problem too.
Peter

Great advice! That is how I would do it.

I have repaired heads, depending on where the crack is, makes some "hit and miss."

-Rhyno

[tresi]

Originally Posted by jasonstewart

rebar through the radiator. nice

I find that they work better without rebar or in the case of my last radiator job they should not be able to flop back into the fan.

[zopi]

Ok...so..this thing will cost 700-900 bucks either way..unless I get lucky and find a salvage engine, or get creative and adapt something..right..

I'm gonna strip this head down, hot tank it, grind out this crack, put up a little furnace, preheat and weld the damn crack...it appears fairly shallow, and isn't in a wierd place...got not much to lose here...gotta guy at work will true the gasket surface for me and pressure test...might have to go get a valve job...or might check and see if the local high school had a valve machine..god knows I did alot of free valve work when I was in high school...

This ought to be fun...

[76GMC1500]

Have you heard of stitching pins. These may be a DIY alternative, especially if the crack doesn't run across an injector seat or a valve seat. I would do a dye penetrant test to determine the full extent of the crack before continuing with any method.

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[castweld]

Originally Posted by zopi

Ok...so..this thing will cost 700-900 bucks either way..unless I get lucky and find a salvage engine, or get creative and adapt something..right..

I'm gonna strip this head down, hot tank it, grind out this crack, put up a little furnace, preheat and weld the damn crack...it appears fairly shallow, and isn't in a wierd place...got not much to lose here...gotta guy at work will true the gasket surface for me and pressure test...might have to go get a valve job...or might check and see if the local high school had a valve machine..god knows I did alot of free valve work when I was in high school...

This ought to be fun...

If you are planning to arc weld it- don't. Even if it would pass a pressure test it will fail once you run it.

Two welding options that will work
1: fusion with cast iron filler, OA torch
2: spray weld with OA rig

This can be done "back yard style" but isn't easy.

Your crack probably isn't just surface, but a pressure test will show if it goes through. If you want to attempt this, mag the head and post a few pics. If you want some advise I'd be happy to help. If you are the kind that likes to "figger it out" on your own, have some fun and be sure to post results.

Peter