Cylinder Head Reconditioning

Valve Seat Machining

Valve seats are accurately machined to provide the required seating surface between the valve and valve seat.

UMR Engines uses specialised valve seat machining equipment to machine cylinder head valve seats. Valve sealing can then be checked as part of the cylinder head reconditioning process.

Depending on the cylinder head and its condition, valve seat work may also involve replacement valve seat inserts, valve servicing or other repairs before final assembly.

Aluminium Welding & Repairs

Aluminium cylinder heads can suffer from corrosion, damaged water passages, combustion chamber damage and cracking.

Where suitable, damaged areas can be prepared and repaired using aluminium TIG welding before the required machining operations are completed.

Whether a cylinder head is suitable for welding and repair depends on the location and extent of the damage, the condition of the casting and the availability of a suitable replacement cylinder head.

Cylinder Head Pressure Testing

Pressure testing can help identify leaks and defects in cylinder heads that may not be obvious during a visual inspection.

UMR Engines can pressure test suitable cast iron and aluminium cylinder heads as part of the inspection and reconditioning process.

Testing is particularly important where an engine has experienced coolant loss, overheating, coolant contamination or other symptoms that may indicate a problem within the cylinder head.

Crack Detection

Cracks in a cylinder head can sometimes be difficult or impossible to identify by visual inspection alone.

Suitable cast iron cylinder heads can be crack tested to help identify defects before machining and reconditioning work proceeds.

Crack detection is particularly valuable on older, diesel and hard-to-replace cylinder heads where determining the condition of the original casting is an important part of deciding whether it can be successfully repaired.

Cracked Cylinder Head Repairs

Some cracked cylinder heads and castings can be repaired rather than replaced.

This can be particularly useful with classic and older engines where replacement cylinder heads may be difficult to obtain or the original casting is worth preserving.

Whether a crack can be successfully repaired depends on its location, extent, cylinder head material and the overall condition of the casting. The cylinder head must therefore be assessed before determining whether repair is practical.

Cylinder Head Surface Machining

Surface machining restores the cylinder head sealing face where machining is required following inspection and measurement.

The cylinder head is checked for condition and straightness before machining. The required finished surface must be suitable for the particular cylinder head, engine and head gasket application.

Overhead-cam cylinder heads may also require additional inspection for alignment or distortion before final surface machining and assembly.

Cylinder head machining should be based on measurements and the condition of the cylinder head rather than automatically removing material from every cylinder head.