how to remove REALLY stuck cylinder head - Kawasaki Jet Ski

tomcat27

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The unit is older and has had many years for the head to glue itself together. so far we tried PB blaster, the "rope trick" (filling the cylinder with rope and using the starter to pop it off - this didn't work), various hammers, prying tools. We have to clean out bird seed from the engine. (I hate these meeses to pieces!!)
 
well, the old Acetone & ATF (Dexron trans fluid) 50/50 does not hurt. (down the stud holes is where I would place it)
then rubber mallets, then hammers, hitting the sides/ends of the head. That should shock it free.
440/550/650 Kawi heads are sturdy castings, light raps around the perimeter should do it.
Have no idea about the Yamahas or Sea Doos. Those Yam heads look way frailer than the slugs Kawasaki first used.......
 
While aluminum is easier to melt or damage with heat, if it were mine I would use 2 propane torches at the same time. One on each side. Then place a wood board on one side while it is still hot and hit that board with a hammer.

Heat is your friend when metal parts are stuck together.

If you have an IR temperature gun shoot for getting the head to about 500 F if you can.
 
I’ve owned 20+ Jet Skis almost all Vintage Kawasaki. From stock to a full race World Finals ski. I used to part them out and restore them. Is that what you are working on? The corrosion build up around the studs locks them together surprisingly well sometimes. Either remove the cylinder and hammer the head off with a block of wood from underneath, remove all the studs and it comes off easily, make a tool that lays flat across the studs and uses the spark plug holes to pull it up.
 
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