Lister D water in sump

Hello everyone, my name is Michael, I live in South Yorkshire, I am currently restoring my first stationary engine (lister D) it was buried in the back of my dad's barn so I dug it out with intentions of trying to get it going (30yrs ago) after freeing the valves it would turn over and had a spark, so I cleaned it off put a new head gasket on it. I then must have got distracted (women & work !!) The engine got put in shed, _____move forward to first lockdown last year I thought I would get it out and have another go. I managed to transfer a few parts from a donor seized engine and purchased a few from ebay and got it running in the summer, after a few adjustments it was going well until it got up to temperature and dumped the water into the sump. I have now stripped it completely but can't see anything obvious ,
I wondered if there was any common places prone for cracking on the crank case or cylinder head ? Or what opinions are on the head gasket being left so long before running/retorque????
Sorry for the long message.
Thanks in anticipation.

The block and head are very good on D's and I've never heard of one cracking and breaking unless from a great height, there are no torque values to tighten the head to just do the up tight and all should be good, are both faces nice and smooth/flat, what type of gasket are you using solid or heat resistant material between to copper pieces, either way put in the oven to heat to 150C to let it soak for a while to soften it and then I smear some grease on both sides to let move when bolting down.

Maryalice

Thanks Maryalice
I am going to order a new gasket, is there any preference as to which is better?

I've never used a solid type so cant comment on them, what I forgot to say is when running again look out for bubbles as a sign of leaks and if leaks dump the water and carefully retighten, whilst hot, and test again, dont forget the two head bolts under the rocker shaft. If all ok after the first run tighten again but dont go silly.

Maryalice

Cheers

If you are going to take the head off; check that the studs are screwed right in to the block.
Also that the nuts are not tight on the studs, and that the correct flat washers are fitted
under the nuts.

Thanks oldgit, I have the head off already,the studs are still in the block and the nuts are free (but there was no washers on any off them !.) I presume they should be flat washers ?

Sorry; I don't actually know if they do have flat washers.
I was thinking if they should have flat washers but they were missing; the domed nuts may ''bottom'' on the studs before the the gasket was properly compressed.
There will be people on here that will know.

Hi Mike just to add when you removed the 3 dome nuts
and the two nuts under the rocker shaft there should
have been flat washers that could be your problem
RichieR

Thanks Richie

5 Off S545 Washer for holding down studs

Plenty on fleabay also e.g.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-16-Stainless-Steel-Flat-Washers-imperial-washers-7-16-Flat-Washers-SS-x25-/360593682162

MBike wrote:Thanks Richie

No problem
RichieR