Cylinder head change and stopping debris dropping into cylinders

Probably not, but don't worry about it. The muck can't get past the piston rings and as a last step before the replacement head is fitted, use a vacuum cleaner to get it out.

Chris

Cheap B&Q / Argos / etc vaccuum is your friend. Preferably a wet n dry so that you can hoover out the coolant which also invariably fills the bores when you lift the head off too.

Tim..

or the tool on your airline commonly used for blowing down a fitters overalls while he isnt looking. I used to drop a lint free rag across the head I was more worried about stuff dropping into the oilways and waterjacket Derek

Back when I was a lad I was told to put some grease around the edges of the postons whe doing a decoke. The muck was then wiped off with the grease.

Great idea. Thanks.

drain the coolant out first to stop it filling the bores when you remove the head.

LOL! You've obviously not removed many cylinder heads in your time...

Tim. .

oh yes very many, tis my job, infact ive got one to do tomorrow, 216 rover surprise surprise..........

The message from "Tim \(remove obvious\)" contains these words:

There are times when it works - mostly times when there's a block drain.

IME, even after draining the coolant, sufficient always remains in the cast passages in the head so spill out all over the shop when you lift the head, even carefully straight up.

How many recent engines have a block drain plug anyways?|!

Tim..

Also I used to wrap tape around the oil and waterways on the old haed gasket and refit that - also used to stop the odd bit going down the oilways.

The usual way is after removal to squirt some oil down the bores and turn the engine over by hand. The dirt sticks to the oil and will be left at the top of the bores.

However, make sure the cylinder liners etc can't be disturbed by doing this as on Rover K-Series.