Dolphin Engine Overheating

[littledancersadhu]

I am sure you can just but head gasket material and use the old one as a template.

On the over- heating , got to be water restriction if your impelor is fine.

Sounds obvious but, have you checked the inlet strainer??????

 

[andsarkit]

I doubt you will find a new head gasket but there is a lot of information online on making your own either from annealed copper or commercial head gasket material.
Best if you have the old one as a template but you can just use the cylinder head as a guide for the new gasket. It looks like a fairly simple gasket with two big round holes for the pistons and a few small holes for the bolts and waterways. If you don't have the original gasket you can make a template from thin card by tapping around the holes with a ball pein hammer to define the holes. This can then be transferred to the gasket material.

 

[rotrax]

Copper sheet of similar thickness and find somone who can copy the old gasket onto the programme of a computerised lazer cutter.

Years ago I had 100 motorcycle clutch plates made by water jet cutting.

All things are possible if you have the right kit.

Good Luck!

 

[Tremyporth]

Could you help, I live in Sydney and need to buy a Dolphin 2 cylinder marine motor head gasket any ideas where to get one As the motor ceased production years ago and I can't find anyone with spares or a diagrAm to make a new one

If you were in UK I would point you towards a very helpful company in Redruth, Cornwall. Ram Gaskets. They seem to be able to make almost any sort of gasket. Helped me out with some seals for Halkey Roberts inflatable valves a few years ago. Seemingly unobtainable from dealers, without them the dinghy would have been scrap. Maybe there is an equivalent manufacturer in Australia? Enthusiasts who run classic cars, motorbikes, tractors etc may know of suppliers or sources local to you.
Otherwise, don't be afraid to try do it yourself. No need for high tech laser cutters etc. Use the old gasket as a pattern. Get two pieces of plywood, sandwich new gasket material from an engineering supplies company between the two sheets of ply. Screw it all together so there is no movement between the sandwich layers. Using the old gasket as a template, mark off the shape of the gasket on the outer face of the plywood. Then carefully, using drill / jigsaw / dremel or whatever takes your fancy, cut through the three layers following the markings you have made. Then undo the screws and throw the plywood away.

 

[Sandro]

If you are making a new gasket please mind the thickness of the old one. It would affect the compression ratio.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Here is some one in OZ who makes custom gaskets

Gasket Solutions

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

Just a thought. Once had a Dolphin engine and think it had a separate cooling water exit to sea, but if injected into exhaust then there could be a build up in deposits slowing down the flow and driving temperature up.