Morris Minor Owners Club

There has to be an easier way

My 1098 overheated this week - top of rad hot, lower cold. Aha...thermostat I said. Easy peezy, three bolts, little tap, out with the old in with the new.

Little taps turned into big taps, WD40 and then I gave up and read posts here. Toilet cleaner has been sprayed, still not budging. My blood pressure is now through the roof, and the advice on another posting on here to use a cold chisel and belt the thing is probably the way I will now go, as the old housing is now stuffed! But...angry as I am, swinging a lump hammer at a cold chisel does not sound such a great move, and surely risks cracking the head? If this is the way to go, where is the weak point to whack it?

On other BMC's I have had this is a five minute job........any advice hugely appreciated, but I should warn you...I am a novice, so please treat me like an idiot, and you will not go far wrong

Cheers

RT

The stat housing is always a source of frustration for most of us using the good ol' A series lump. Only in very rare circumstances does a housing that has been on the car for a number of years come away from the head in one piece. The trick is to be patient and go carefully so you don't knacker the head or the housing seat on the head.

Copious amounts of WD40 down each of the studs. Clean as much grot off the studs themselves esp at the joint of the housing and stud. Tapping each side of the housing by the relevant stud will help to free it and as soon as it starts to lift, GENTLY lever each side with a screwdriver or wide wood chisel to lift off. Alternatively, if you can, just remove the stud from the head itself if you have a good stud extractor.

If the existing housing is now toast, it may move easier as some of the inherent strength of the casting has been removed. Once off, carefully inspect the studs for damage and replace if necessary - they are only a few quid to do all 3. Clean the threads if not renewing, clean the debris away from the head and all traces of the old gasket and housing BEFORE lifting the old stat out, clean the seat where the stat sits once removed and then reassemble with new stat, gasket, housing and nuts/washers on the studs. Apply a thin smear of grease to each of the studs and threads and hopefully, if you ever have to remove again, it won't be such a trauma

Thanks. I am persevering! I had toyed with locking down two nuts to extract the studs, but my guess is that if the housing is stuck this fast with crud, then in all liklihood the studs will sheer off if I try to remove....then I am completely banjaxed!, although I guess they are going to have to come out at some point.

Anyway, will persevere with the wd40 and limescale remover cocktail!!

Rich

If the studs sheer off, you will be able to remove them with a stud extractor. If you have not got one I'm sure a mate will or you could visit your local Machine Mart and snap one up - http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... C=SRC-stud extractor - always a useful piece of kit to have. Good luck

Very little chance of getting the studs out before the housing is off I'm afraid.
In extremis I've used a hacksaw to cut the housing next to a stud or two as close to the head as I dare, this give some space which allows the bits to move when beaten.
Once they are moving it's only a question of time and application before they come off.

I've used a hacksaw to cut the housing next to a stud or two

In my experience, this is the way to go.

Cheers
Don

Thanks guys. Further silly question....when hacksawing, presumably cutting down the housing next to the studs (and stopping when close to the head!), and then lifting the centre of the housing, or cutting across close to the stud and head towards the stud?

You have to laugh....so much for my view of this being a 10 minute job! I bought the car as Moggies are easy to work on

Always cut vertcally with the hacksaw, the thermostat housing and studs are relatively cheap to replace, the cylinder head is not ! As you say stopping "close to the head". Attack it whichever side of the stud you feel most comfortable with.Put some old rag the area to catch the metal swarf, it will help with the tidying up later.A smear of grease on the hacksaw blade will help catch some of the swarf as well.Wipe off and re-grease occaisionally.
Once near the head a "gentle " tap with a cold chisel or big old screwdriver should separate the metal.Releasing one stud to daylight might allow you induce movement in the cover ( back to the WD40 or even better Plus Gas ).The liquid needs to seep underneath to do it's work.gentle tapping with a block of wood sandwiched between hammer and cover.
Good luck with it.
Bob

Seriously - this is a complete waste of time (as I indicated in your other post on the subject) - there is nothing wrong with the thermostat. They are very very reliable - and if they fail - they stick open! If you are past the point of no return - remove the studs. No need to start cutting/bashing anything.