Johnson 6hp Stuck Cylinder Head

[Putzaroni1]

So I have a 1969 6hp Johnson (6R69M) that I started to attempt to bring back to life tonight and discovered a couple things that I need to address.
Overall condition of the motor is pretty clean but it has been repainted so tough to tell.
I was easily able to get the head bolts out but now I'm having trouble getting the head to release from the block. I tried tapping with a rubber mallet but not hard and it didn't help. What is the trick to get it to convince the cylinder head to release from the block.

Also, the pull start has no resistance. Is this a major or minor thing ?
Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[fhhuber]

https://www.permatex.com/products/ga...-gasket-maker/

Not quite the same stuff as the above link... but I was working on about that age 6 hp Johnson engines for Great Lakes Naval Station in the early 1980's, and we were using an anaerobic sealant (had a Johnson part number) that was NOT easy to get off.

If its the same sealant causing your problems we'll need to look it up (may be hard to find what it was) because you have to use the right solvent. It will take chunks from the head trying to pry it off.

We had appx 5 min to torque the bolts before the stuff was set solid as a rock.

 

[Tim Frank]

have you tried putting the plugs back in and pulling it over a couple of times?
Might break the seal.

 

[Putzaroni1]

Tim,
Do you mean pulling the pull cord over a couple times ? Right now it doesn't have any resistance so I may need to fix that before I can proceed.

Thank you FHHuber, I never thought of that but likely someone did put it back on with some kind of gasket sealant. I'm trying to soak the gasket with penetrating oil for now. Can't hurt but might soften things up if it's just a gasket.

Love these 6hp's and am going to stick with this one even if I have to attempt tearing it down completely.

 

[AlTn]

try stuffing a length of rope in one of the spark plug holes then turn the flywheel in a clockwise rotation until the rope is against the head ..will more effort against the flywheel push it off the block?..use common sense twisting the flywheel, you don't want to damage the rod

 

[interalian]

Assuming all the bolts are out (they're all out, right?)), I can't see how giving it a few good whacks with a mallet will harm anything. If you can find a shoulder to apply a drift that would allow force to be in the 'away' direction, a few smacks with something heavier is OK too - work your way around, and side to side. Just don't be tempted to pry between the mating surfaces.

 

[Tim Frank]

Tim,
Do you mean pulling the pull cord over a couple times ? Right now it doesn't have any resistance so I may need to fix that before I can proceed.

Yes, that is what I meant. Use the rope starter with the plugs in.
If the plugs are in and there is zero compression, it obviously will not work.
You'll have to figure out the cause after you get the head off.

 

[Putzaroni1]

Assuming all the bolts are out (they're all out, right?)), I can't see how giving it a few good whacks with a mallet will harm anything. If you can find a shoulder to apply a drift that would allow force to be in the 'away' direction, a few smacks with something heavier is OK too - work your way around, and side to side. Just don't be tempted to pry between the mating surfaces.

So I doubled checked the bolts and there are 8 showing on the picture on shop2.evinrude.com
I had someone put a socket wrench in the hole where the thermostat goes and pry away while I whacked a hammer with a block of wood. It doesn't even move !
Not sure what to try next. Brutal !

 

[oldboat1]

I've tapped them with a big bladed driver. Need to be careful, but catch the head wherever you can at the mating point and tap the driver away from the powerhead, angled in slightly. Run up and down the joint. At some point the seal should break.

 

[boobie]

I say there are 10 bolts. The parts books could be wrong. Look way at the very bottom of the head and look good !!

 

[oldboat1]

That's a good point -- I see 8 bolts (308728) listed, but count ten holes in the head gasket....

 

[Putzaroni1]

Well, that's embarrasing ! Yes indeed there are 10 bolts. Hopefully this helps someone else !! It seems that if you take those other 2 bolts out, it pops off nicely
(Egg on Face !)

I am missing one bolt so need to pick one up. I figured out why the starter wasn't engaging and it's because the previous owner had taken the flywheel off and not bolted it back down properly. Once in there, it's missing a coil and a condenser so I guess I'll get the entire kit and figure out how it goes together. Never done the coils, points and condenser before so here we go !
Thank you all.

 

[boobie]

The other 2 head bolts have different part # 's. Yes, there is 10.

 

[boobie]

As the old saying goes "poop happens".:lol:

 

[oldboat1]

Glad you got it (points to boobie....) When working on the ignition for the first time, it's a good idea to do half at a time so you have the other side as a template. Not a bad idea to replace wires too (7mm solid core).

 

[Putzaroni1]

Shall do oldboat1.
I'm going to replace both coils, condensers, points, wires and the caps. I purchased the 2 tools for this motor to help with this from a guy someone recommended a couple years ago but I can't remember his name. It was a ring to insure the coils don't stick out and something to help set the points. Should help.
Carb is going in for a soak as we speak and we'll start putting it back together hopefully this weekend. Can't wait to hear it run !!
Thanks for all the advise guys.