FE350 engine zero compression after new head gasket

dieselwulf

Hello. I just changed the head gasket on my 2005 Turf 2 Club car, and now I don't have compression. Engine was running before removal of the head, suspected bad head gasket because she smoked after about 10 minutes of warming up. Confirmed when I pulled the head off and there was oil around the pushrod ports and a clean spot on the piston near there. Removed the rockers per the service manual. Installed the new gasket and torqued the head down to spec. Installed the push rods and then installed the rockers after the head was torqued down. Engaged the starter to make sure all was good and air is blowing out of the carburetor and sucking alternatively, same with the exhaust port. Removed the head, re-checked everything and tried it again with the same result. What am I missing? New head gasket is the same thickness as the old one. No dirt on top of the lifters. Thanks in advance!

BGW

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Shepard

Sounds like the valves were too tight.

lockman1

The rockers aren't adjustable on an FE350.

IF... your cart is a "key start" cart, it will have an ACR, (Automatic Compression Relief valve)
and the compression with an ACR will only be about 71psi at start-up,
a "pedal start" cart w/o an ACR should have about 156psi

dieselwulf

Engine is pedal start, no ACR. Sorry should have mentioned that. I was able to procure the service manual. According to the manual, you are supposed to let te lifters settle 20 minutes after rebuild, or poor engine performance may occur. I left it assembled last night, this morning I rolled it over by hand and it seems that all of my compression I had is back. I will try to fire it up after work today after I recheck everything.

mdillonaire

when you disassembled, did you check the rocker pads and roll the rods for straightness? How many hours are on the engine? I assume you didnt disassemble the bottom end, so you may have some worn rings. Try squirting a small amount of oil in the spark plug hole and test compression again. If compression goes up, your rings are leaking. Could also try a leak down test if you have a leak down tester.

dieselwulf

It was as the service manual said. You must let the lifters settle down after taking a load off of them. After waiting overnight she fired right up. The head gasket cleared the smoke problem but I have other issues. Will start a mew thread.

freemurray

how much trouble was it to rebuild? Trying to decide to have someone else rebuild it or not. I am mechanically inclined and have plenty of tools