Vexing Problem of Perplexing Panda - Case Cracked

jeremyshaw

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Those of you who followed and kindly responded to an earlier post on the subject of my friend in the Caribbean who has been struggling with a difficult overheat problem on his Fisher Panda Kubota-engined genset may remember that despite pressure tests and changes of hose/pump he was still getting air in the coolant, but no sign of contamination nor funny noises nor signs of poor running - just gradual buildup of bubbles until the coolant overexpanded and or overheated. Those who diagnosed a cracked cylinder head were right. So here's the promised update:

He writes:
“Yep, my Panda has cracked it's head, but we have most likely cracked this case

Island time is never easy to get used to, but when it comes
to engine repairs on an island it doesn't take long before you either go insane or learn to adapt.

Finally today I've been visited by a mechanic that was as eager as I am to figure this out. I explained my overheating and got him up to speed in about three minutes and went through the list of parts replaced -blah blah blah. Ten minutes later he had the cylinder head off and in his greasy hands sanding away at some lite rust (shouldn't be rust in these parts he noted). The gasket looked intact when we removed the cylinder head and I began to fear we may have just created more questions -- but then a tiny crack slowly revealed itself. . If you want to see
what a cracked cylinder head looks like on a tiny 2 cylinder engine, just take a look at mine below.

You'll see the tiny crack (enlarged) just above the heart shaped fuel channel.

Island time sorta lulls you into accepting fate whatever it may be. If I'd have found this the first day I started hunting down this problem I'd have been pretty bummed. A new Cyl Head will be over $500, but since it has taken this long I don't really care any longer. I'm just happy to know what has been causing my overheating.

I am confident this crack has been forcing air into my the coolant and this has been my problem."

So, diagnosis finally over. Now it just needs fixing!
Thanks to all who helped.
http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x170/jeremydjshaw/
[image]http://http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x170/jeremydjshaw/[/image]
 

BrendanS

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You need to link to the actual image, not the page, for it to show correctly

FischerPandaCrackedCylHead.jpg
 

Bajansailor

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There is a workshop here in Barbados that specialises in welding and machining cylinder heads (this aspect keeps them busy full time), and they have a good reputation.
I dont know which island your friend is at, but the odds are that there should be a good quality machinist nearby.
 

jeremyshaw

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Good suggestion thanks (and DuncanMack). He's in Bonaire, which is pretty short on machine shops. However it is but a half day sail from better equipped Curacao, so I'll suggest that option.
 

ccscott49

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Glad to have been of help, hope he gets it sorted, strip the heaqd right dowen, before it goes fro welding, will maybe need skimming, after welding, but a lot less than $500.
Been looking at it again, it may not need skimming, as the crack is not in an area of gasket sealing, but be careful, if thats the xhaust valve and the crack goes onto the exhaust port area, it might not be such an easy repair. Needs a good inspection/crack testing.
It may in the long run, be more efficient/reliable to just buy a new head and be done with it.
 
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