The cylinder head group consists of the cylinder head, valves, valve guides, valve springs, valve seat inserts, crossheads, and injector sleeves. The exhaust valves are manufactured from a material capable of operating at a higher temperature than the intake valves. In addition to being made from different materials, the intake and exhaust valves are different sizes.
Mark, label, or tag the cylinder head parts such as crossheads, valves, and valve springs with the cylinder number and location from which they were removed. It is also recommended that the intake and exhaust valve positions be marked on the combustion face of the cylinder head. Use a paint pen to facilitate installing the correct parts in the correct locations.
There are two different designs of cylinder liners used in Signature™, ISX, and QSX15 engines. The design used in a particular engine is dependent on the engine’s production vintage.
Engines assembled prior to engine serial number 14022615 have groove-top liners. They are characterized by a groove machined into the top surface of the liner flange.
Engines assembled with engine serial number 14022615 and higher have flat-top liners. They are characterized by a cylinder liner flange that is flat, except for the fire dam.
Cylinder head gaskets are different depending on the liner design. The cylinder head gasket designed to be used with groove-top liners can not be used with flat-top liners, and the head gasket designed to be used with the flat-top liners can not be used with groove-top liners.
Engines built with groove-top liners must use a cylinder head gasket and fire rings.
Engines built with flat-top liners must use a one-piece cylinder head gasket without the fire rings.
Listen for a chirping sound between the cylinder head and engine block.
A chirping sound, usually during acceleration, indicates a combustion leak.
Confirm leaks with a transparent bottle half filled with water. Immerse the overflow tube from the coolant tank and run the engine at high idle until the thermostat opens and watch for a stream of bubbles in the water. This confirms a combustion leak.
Batteries can emit explosive gases. To reduce the possibility of personal injury, always ventilate the compartment before servicing the batteries. To reduce the possibility of arcing, remove the negative (-) battery cable first and attach the negative (-) battery cable last.
WARNING
Do not remove the pressure cap from a hot engine. Wait until the coolant temperature is below 50°C [120°F] before removing the pressure cap. Heated coolant spray or steam can cause personal injury.
WARNING
Coolant is toxic. Keep away from children and pets. If not reused, dispose of in accordance with local environmental regulations.
Disconnect the batteries or air supply to the air starter to prevent accidental engine starting. Refer to the OEM service manual.
Remove the ECM. Use the following procedure for CM570 engines, in the Signature™, ISX and QSX15 Electronic Control System, Troubleshooting and Repair Manual, Bulletin 3666259. Refer to Procedure 019-031 in Section 19.
Remove the ECM. Use the following procedure for CM870 engines, in the Signature™ and ISX CM870 Electronic Control System, Troubleshooting and Repair Manual, Bulletin 4021334. Refer to Procedure 019-031 in Section 19.
Remove the ECM. Use the following procedure for CM871 engines, in the ISX CM871 and ISM CM876 5 Electronic Control System, Troubleshooting and Repair Manual, Bulletin 4021560. Refer to Procedure 019-031 in Section 19.
This component or assembly weighs greater than 23 kg [50 lb]. To prevent serious personal injury, be sure to have assistance or use appropriate lifting equipment to lift this component or assembly.
Use a chip vacuum to remove the excess oil from the top of the cylinder head.
Remove the cylinder head capscrews.
Use engine lifting fixture, Part Number 4919360 or equivalent, to lift the cylinder head.
Remove the cylinder head. Remove and discard the gasket.
Remove the fire rings from the cylinder liners, if equipped.
Immediately upon removal of the cylinder head, plugs must be installed into the oil passage drillings in both the cylinder head and the block. The plugs are necessary to prevent debris from entering the lubrication system during the repair. Failure to insert the oil passage plugs can result in a connecting rod bearing failure, crankshaft failure or both.
Reusable plugs, Part Number 4089255, are included in the master plug kit, Part Number 4918319.
Install the plugs in the cylinder block and cylinder head oil drillings.
NOTE: This step is not applicable if the engine has flat-top liners and a single-piece head gasket, or when upgrading from grooved-top liners and a 13-piece gasket to flat-top liners and a single-piece gasket.
Prior to removing the cylinder head gasket and sealing rings (if installed), examine the gasket for carbon tracks across the sealing ring.
The pressure of carbon indicates a combustion leak.
NOTE: This step is not applicable if the engine has flat-top liners and a single-piece head gasket, or when upgrading from grooved-top liners and a 13-piece gasket to flat-top liners and a single-piece gasket.
Inspect the cylinder head combustion surface for pitting or erosion.
Pitting or erosion on the cylinder head combustion surface located in the area where the cylinder liner fire dam contacts the head is not acceptable.
Pitting or erosion on the cylinder head combustion surface located inside the fire ring area is acceptable.
Prior to cleaning the combustion face of the cylinder head, small rubber plugs, Part Number 4089255, and tape must be used to plug or cover the oil supply holes at the ends of the cylinder head to prevent debris from entering the oil passages.
Use Scotch-Brite™ 7448, Part Number 3823258, or equivalent, to clean the cylinder head combustion face. Also make sure there is no loose debris sitting in the valve pockets around the head of the valve.
Do not use power tools to clean the combustion face of the cylinder head.
Prior to cleaning the combustion face of the cylinder head, small rubber plugs, Part Number 4089255, and tape must be used to plug or cover the oil supply holes at the ends of the cylinder head to prevent debris from entering the oil passages.
Use Scotch-Brite™ 7448, Part Number 3823258, or equivalent, to clean the cylinder head combustion face. Also make sure there is no loose debris sitting in the valve pockets around the head of the valve.
See the Leak Test section of this procedure for more cleaning details.
When using solvents, acids, or alkaline materials for cleaning, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for use. Wear goggles and protective clothing to reduce the possibility of personal injury.
Use a gasket scraper to clean the cylinder block deck surface.
Use Scotch-Brite™ 7448, Part Number 3823258, or equivalent, and solvent to remove any residual gasket material from the cylinder block deck surface.
Use a chip vacuum to remove the excess oil and coolant from the capscrew holes.
Make sure the cylinder head capscrew holes are clean and free of debris, oil, and coolant.
Do not use power tools to clean the combustion face.
This component or assembly weighs greater than 23 kg [50 lb]. To prevent serious personal injury, be sure to have assistance or use appropriate lifting equipment to lift this component or assembly.
NOTE: This task is preformed off-engine.
Place the cylinder head on a work bench with the intake side down.
Install the gasket (2) onto the combustion face of the cylinder head.
Install the plate (1), with the marking “exhaust” toward the exhaust side of the cylinder head.
This component or assembly weighs greater than 23 kg [50 lb]. To prevent serious personal injury, be sure to have assistance or use appropriate lifting equipment to lift this component or assembly.
Place the cylinder head into a tank of water.
Apply 207 kPa [30 psi] of air pressure to the cylinder head.
Inspect for bubbles.
Make sure the test assembly is not leaking.
If bubbles are present, the cylinder head must be replaced.
If a drop of fuel drips or runs down the face of the head within 30 seconds, inspect the valves and seats to determine the necessity of parts replacement. The valve and valve seat must be checked using the vacuum test procedure.
If a drop of fuel has not run down the face of the head in 30 seconds, it indicates that the valves and seats are sealing properly.
If a drop of fuel drips or runs down the face of the head within 30 seconds, the valve and valve seat interface must be checked using the vacuum test procedure.
If a drop of fuel has not run down the face of the head in 30 seconds, it indicates that the valves and seats are sealing properly.
Use valve vacuum tester, Part Number ST-1257, to inspect the seal between the valve and the valve seat. To perform this test, the cylinder head must either be sitting on its side or turned upside down so that the combustion face can be accessed.
The valve vacuum tester can be used to test all Cummins® engine models. The seal ring, Part Number ST-1257-35, and vacuum cup, Part Number ST-1251-6, are used to seal the cylinder head inserts.
If the elapsed time is less than 10 seconds, perform the following checks:
Repeat the test to be sure the equipment is operating properly.
Use a mallet to hit the valve stem lightly to make sure the valve is seated. Repeat the test.
Apply a thin layer of grease on the outside diameters of the insert and the valve head. Repeat the test. The grease pattern will show the point of leakage.
A break in the grease seal pattern will indicate leakage between the valves and valve seat or the valve seat insert and the cylinder head.
This component or assembly weighs greater than 23 kg [50 lb]. To prevent serious personal injury, be sure to have assistance or use appropriate lifting equipment to lift this component or assembly.
Place the cylinder head combustion face down on a clean, smooth and level work surface that is sturdy enough to support the weight of the cylinder head.
Valve springs are under tension and can act as projectiles if improperly released. To reduce the possibility of eye injury, wear safety glasses with side shields. Before releasing the valve spring tension, check that the collets are properly seated.
CAUTION
Do not use an impact tool for any part of this procedure. Doing so can damage the tool and/or the engine.
Use the four valve spring compressor, Part Number 4919358, to compress the valve springs.
The replacer screw pilots in the injector bore and is secured using the injector hold-down clamp.
The side of the retainer plate with the larger diameter chamfers faces down to accommodate the valve springs. Failure to position the retainer plate properly can result in damage to the engine and/or tool.
Position the compressor plate (2) over the replacer screw (1) and onto the valve springs.
This component or assembly weighs greater than 23 kg [50 lb]. To prevent serious personal injury, be sure to have assistance or use appropriate lifting equipment to lift this component or assembly.
With the use of a lifting device, roll the head up on its side to gain access to the valves.
Remove the valves.
Mark the valves with an electric pencil (engraving tool) for location as they are removed.
The intake and exhaust valves are manufactured from different materials and are not interchangeable.
NOTE: Only remove the valve seats if they were not within specification criteria in the Clean and Inspect for Reuse section.
Use slide hammer assembly, Part Number 3376617, and valve seat extractor, Part Number ST-1279-1, to remove the intake valve seat inserts from the cylinder head.
The exhaust valve seat insert does not have a lower inside diameter chamfer for the exhaust seat puller to grip. It will be necessary to use the valve seat grooving tool to cut a groove in the inside diameter of the exhaust valve seat inserts.
Set up the cutting tool with the cutting edge 7.75 mm [0.3 in] from the base of the grooving tool motor.
When cutting the groove, make sure the base of the tool remains flat on the cylinder head combustion face during the entire cutting operation.
To cut, set the tool on the head surface with the cutter in the valve bore.
Contact the valve seat insert inside diameter with the grooving tool on.
Apply enough pressure to prevent tool chatter, but not so much pressure that the tool or seat insert is overheated.
Follow the inside circumference in a clockwise direction for three complete rotations.
When using solvents, acids, or alkaline materials for cleaning, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for use. Wear goggles and protective clothing to reduce the possibility of personal injury.
CAUTION
Do not use caustic or acid solutions to clean the cylinder head capscrews. Damage to the capscrews can occur.
Clean the cylinder head capscrews with a petroleum-based solvent.
Clean the capscrews thoroughly with a wire brush, wire wheel (soft), or nonabrasive bead blast to remove deposits from the shank and threads.
When using solvents, acids, or alkaline materials for cleaning, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for use. Wear goggles and protective clothing to reduce the possibility of personal injury.
CAUTION
If the oil passages are not plugged or covered before cleaning, a crankshaft failure can occur.
Do not use power tools to clean the combustion face of the cylinder head.
Prior to cleaning the combustion face of the cylinder head, small rubber plugs, Part Number 4089255, must be inserted in the oil supply holes at the ends to prevent debris from entering the oil passages.
Use Scotch-Brite™ 7448, Part Number 3823258 or equivalent, and solvent to clean the cylinder head combustion face.
When using solvents, acids, or alkaline materials for cleaning, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for use. Wear goggles and protective clothing to reduce the possibility of personal injury.
WARNING
Wear appropriate eye and face protection when using compressed air. Flying debris and dirt can cause personal injury.
Use a flexible brush and solvent to clean the valve guide bores in the cylinder head.
NOTE: This step is not applicable if the engine has flat-top liners and a single-piece head gasket, or when upgrading from grooved-top liners and a 13-piece gasket to flat-top liners and a single-piece gasket.
Wear in the area where the cylinder liner fire dam contacts the head is acceptable.
Wear in the area where the fire ring combustion seal contacts the head is not acceptable.
To distinguish the difference, use one of the inspection gauges detailed below.
NOTE: This step is not applicable if the engine has flat-top liners and a single-piece head gasket or, when upgrading from grooved-top liners and a 13-piece gasket to flat-top liners and a single-piece gasket.
Install the inspection gauge, Part Number 3164442, on the cylinder head combustion face with the dowel pin in the injector bore for the cylinder being evaluated.
Inspect the area within 1/8-inch of the outside diameter of the tool all the way around its perimeter. Any wear that can be felt with a fingernail within the 1/8-inch area is unacceptable, making the cylinder head not reusable.
Wear beyond this 1/8-inch area will have no effect on future combustion sealing and the usability of the cylinder head.
NOTE: This step is not applicable if the engine has flat-top liners and a single-piece head gasket, or when upgrading from grooved-top liners and a 13-piece gasket to flat-top liners and a single-piece gasket.
Install the inspection gauge, Part Number 3165071, on the cylinder head combustion face with the dowel pin in the injector bore for the cylinder being evaluated.
Inspect the area within the narrow slots cut into the tool.
Rotate the tool to view the entire wire ring area on the cylinder head combustion face.
Any wear that can be felt by fingernail within these slots is unacceptable, making the cylinder head not reusable.
Wear outside the slots will have not have an effect on future combustion sealing and the usability of the cylinder head.
The use of flange-head capscrews with the torque-plus-angle method of installation places the capscrew beyond the yield point and permanently stretches the capscrew. These capscrews can be reused throughout the life of the engine, unless the capscrew exceeds the specified free length.
The free length must be checked to reduce the possibility of bottoming in the block during installation.
Use the head bolt stretch gauge, Part Number 3163162, to measure the capscrew free length.
To check the capscrew free length, place the head of the capscrew in the appropriate slot, long or short, with the flange against the base of the slot.
Prior to magnetic crack inspection of the combustion face of the cylinder head, small plugs, Part Number 4089255, must be used to cover the oil supply holes at the ends of the cylinder head to prevent debris and magnetic powder from entering the lubrication system during magnetic crack inspection. Failure to insert the oil passage plugs can result in a connecting rod bearing failure, crankshaft failure, or both.
Use magnetic crack detector, Part Number ST-1166, to find cracks in the combustion face, in areas around the valve ports, and the injector bores.
Place the magnetizing head on the combustion face, as illustrated, to check for cracks that run across the cylinder head.
When using solvents, acids, or alkaline materials for cleaning, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for use. Wear goggles and protective clothing to reduce the possibility of personal injury.
WARNING
Wear appropriate eye and face protection when using compressed air. Flying debris and dirt can cause personal injury.
CAUTION
Failure to insert the oil passage plugs can result in a connecting rod bearing failure, crankshaft failure, or both.
Remove the magnetizing head and use solvent to clean the cylinder head. Dry with compressed air.
The cylinder head must be thoroughly cleaned after using the magnetic crack detector to remove all of the iron fragments.
The side of the retainer plate with the larger diameter chamfers faces down to accommodate the valve springs. Failure to position the retainer plate properly can result in damage to the engine and/or tool.
Position the compressor plate (2) over the replacer screw (1) and onto the valve springs.
Before the cylinder head is assembled onto the block, all oil passage plugs must be removed. Failure to remove the oil plugs will result in extensive engine damage.
Remove the oil plugs from the cylinder head and the cylinder block.
Two different styles of head gaskets are used on Signature™, ISX, and QSX15 engines, based on the style of liner used in the engine. Correctly identify which style of liner is used before installing the head gasket. Refer to Procedure 001-028 in Section 1.
This component or assembly weighs greater than 23 kg [50 lb]. To prevent serious personal injury, be sure to have assistance or use appropriate lifting equipment to lift this component or assembly.
Use engine lifting fixture, Part Number 4919360 or equivalent, to lift the cylinder head.
Two long cylinder head capscrews placed toward each end of the cylinder head serve as convenient guides when lowering the cylinder head into place.
Align the cylinder head over the dowel pins and lower into position.
Make sure the four longer capscrews placed in the correct location. Engine damage can occur if these capscrews are not placed in the correct locations.
Tighten capscrews in sequence.
It is recommended to use an air impact wrench and socket, Tool Number 3163059 and 3163484, to rotate the capscrew 90 degrees.
NOTE: If the cylinder head or the cylinder head gasket is being replaced due to a malfunction that caused an internal coolant leak, the external crankcase breather element must be replaced, if the unit is equipped with an external crankcase breather element.
WARNING
Coolant is toxic. Keep away from children and pets. If not reused, dispose of in accordance with local environmental regulations.
WARNING
Batteries can emit explosive gases. To reduce the possibility of personal injury, always ventilate the compartment before servicing the batteries. To reduce the possibility of arcing, remove the negative (-) battery cable first and attach the negative (-) battery cable last.
Install the ECM. Use the following procedure for CM570 engines, in the Signature™, ISX and QSX15 Electronic Control System, Troubleshooting and Repair Manual, Bulletin 3666259. Refer to Procedure 019-031 in Section 19.
Install the ECM. Use the following procedure for CM870 engines, in the Signature™ and ISX CM870 Electronic Control System, Troubleshooting and Repair Manual, Bulletin 4021334. Refer to Procedure 019-031 in Section 19
Install the ECM. Use the following procedure for CM871 engines, in the ISX CM871 and ISM CM876 5 Electronic Control System, Troubleshooting and Repair Manual, Bulletin 4021560. Refer to Procedure 019-031 in Section 19.
Install the batteries or air supply to the air starter. Refer to the OEM service manual.
If a malfunction resulted in coolant, oil, excessive fuel or excessive black smoke entering the exhaust system, the aftertreatment system must be inspected.Refer to Procedure 014-013 in Section 14.
Hello, I'm Jack, a diesel engine fan and a blogger. I write about how to fix and improve diesel engines, from cars to trucks to generators. I also review the newest models and innovations in the diesel market. If you are interested in learning more about diesel engines, check out my blog and leave your feedback.
View all posts by Jack