mine is broken, thats funny james :-?
I would like to just set the record straight on this one, with a sequence of events, in order.
Firstly - I notice a post on here. You've changed your front crankshaft oil seal - and when you've gone to start the car, you have no compression and it won't run.
You have asked if anyone can look at it for you.
I agree to come and have an initial look at the car and help you out. In total, I make two trips to you. I stressed from the outset this would all be free of charge, aside of travelling expenses - purely out of the sprit of OOF and to help a fellow member.
First trip - I arrive, after 3 hours and 170+ miles each way, and look at the vehicle.
I firstly check the valve timing, and notice on some cams you have fitted the belt a tooth out. I ascertain that when you removed the lower crankshaft sprocket, you have attempted to wedge a crow bar in between the crankshaft sprocket and the lower cambelt idler. You have then attempted to rotate the crank backwards, using a ratchet and a long scaffold pole, or simelar implement, without the cambelt fitted.
I suspect that your actions have resulted in pistons contacting valves, and bent them.
I then, upon your request, strip your engine to the point whereby the cylinder heads are removed.
Upon removing the heads, it turns out my diagnosis was correct, you had indeed bent at least 12 valves, as a result of the method you employed to try and undo your crankshaft bolt.
We consider options. I suggest because it didn't happen with engine running, valve guides and seats should be OK, and I offered to replace the valves, and rebuild your heads - again at no cost.
You had trouble in sourcing valves at a good price, so without consultation you bought an unknown set of heads from a breaker.
I sent you a message, saying "are the heads ok, are there any broken studs" and you replied "no they are fine, no broken studs".
Trip 2 -
Unfortunately this wasn't the case, you clearly didn't inspect them prior to my arrival on the day we arranged to re-fit, and when I arrived discovered a broken manifold stud in one, and a spark plug with a rounded fastner practically welded to the other one, which rendered it useless given the tools and facilities available.
Because this one head was useless, I then volunteered to use the valves it, and rebuild your old one - making one good one. I did this, and lapped all the valves in - the end result - a cylinder head you could use on the car.
I then re-fitted both heads to the car, and torqued them down. I re-fitted your lower sprocket, backplate, camshafts, bearing shells, and sprockets, water pump, thermostat, transfer pipe, inlet divider, and other necessary components. I re-fitted your cambelt kit, set it up using the correct tools, and then fitted the outer cover. All torqued and set perfectly.
After I undertook this work we then compression tested your car.
At this point, compression was fully restored on all 6 cylinders, and you once more had a healthy, correctly timed engine.
The only jobs then left to do, were to fit anciliary components such as a few connectors, plenum, aux belt and front inlet pipes, and scuttle covers etc.
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I accept that you willingly covered my fuel and accomodation, for which I was obviously greatful, but -
I also stress that aside of this,
I did not charge you a penny for this work, for which I clocked up circa 700 miles in two trips.
All work and time was completely free of charge, one gentleman helping another out of a tough spot.
Given the level of the work done, the cost in a dealership would have been moreso than the '98 CDX would have been worth, probably a few times over.
The very fact is,
For no reward, I transformed your engine into something that (through your doing) was good for nothing more than an ornament, into a healty motor that needed nothing more than a few ancils fitted to finish it off - and given you were happy to attempt a crank seal, you shouldn't have any problem fitting those.
IF I broke a small inexpensive component - which I find hard to believe - then I apologise, but in the scheme of things is it really that big a deal, and given the above, does it warrant your sarcastic remark?
I find your level of sacrasm and tone incredibly rude, both here, and in your other correspondance.
I agree that I have been a bit difficult to pin down date wise, but I did make it
VERY clear that this would be the case from the beginning, and you accepted it. You stated the car had been off the road for months, and you weren't in a rush - and it was on this basis I agreed to help.
Sorry if you're unsatisfied with the above, but frankly I will not lose any sleep over it.
I am aware I have the old exhaust heatshields in the car, and I will post these to you at the first opportunity.
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To anyone reading - apologies for the long post, but I have what I'd hope to be a generally good reputation, which I have worked hard for, so I am going to actively dispute anything which unfairly questions my integrity or ability, and back this up with a full set of facts, as opposed to a sarcastic remark.