W50 Head Gasket

TheGreatEscape · **Posted:** 17 Feb 2025 20:04

Has anyone successfully replaced their head gasket on their W50? Long story short, I was replacing our glow plugs and broke a tip off in the head. A lot of hard work and a few choice words later, I've installed all new glow plugs and have everything back together.

I followed the manual with torque specs and all of that, fired up the engine and let it run for 5-10 min. We seem to have a small coolant leak at the backside of the head gasket. I ran the engine again today, this time for closer to 30 min and the leak is still there. I checked the torque on the 2 of the rear nuts and turned them down a bit more, maybe 1/6th of a turn. It's hard to tell if that made a difference, I'll be checking again this weekend. I changed the oil before starting the engine and it's still clean.

The manual calls for running the engine for a minimum of 15 min after installing the new gasket, then backing off the head nuts 1/6th of a turn then retorquing. I usually don't cut corners when it comes to engine stuff but is this step super necessary? Could this be why we have the leak? I REAAALLLLYYY don't want to pull the exhaust manifold off again, but I'll do it if I have to, I guess...

puffcard · **Posted:** 24 Feb 2025 19:36

I've done a rebuild and two head gasket replacement. The job isn't hard. After the rebuild. A very complete one, with new pistons and turned crank. About a 1,200 hours after rebuild. The head gasket blew, cylinder to cylinder, not coolant. We pulled head, had the head go thru and resurfaced. Cleaned the long block deck and reinstalled. Two years later in Bahamas, the gasket went out again. Did the replacement on the hook. Clean surfaces with wet dry sandpaper, wrapped around a flat tile. Reinstalled and ran great till I replaced the motor with a Beta...trust was the factor. But I think the problem was the head bolts stretching. I would back the bolts a 1/4 turn and would take 1-1/2 to get it back. Head bolts are available from England at about $20/ea.

TheGreatEscape · **Posted:** 25 Feb 2025 22:30

That's something I hadn't thought about, they could be stretching. I haven't run the engine since my post but I plan to this weekend with the warm weather we're going to have. I'll report back.

I think a repower could be in our future, hopefully later rather than sooner! Our W50 has been reliable but we're planning on some long coastal cruising and I'm not sure how long she'll hold out for. Are you happy with your Beta? I hear good things about them

puffcard · **Posted:** 27 Feb 2025 00:16

If I was sailing local, I would still have the W50. But the trust was lost, and we were doing the Bahamas each winter. I installed a Beta 35. I do like it, runs smooth, very easy to maintain, very reliable. It does have a little less power.

Zoombats · **Joined:** 16 Jan 2019 08:52 **Posts:** 105

Head bolts and head gasket are also available from North woods Tractors in Gleason Wi.

Maineiac · **Posted:** 22 Apr 2025 11:03

Zoombats wrote:

Head bolts and head gasket are also available from North woods Tractors in Gleason Wi.

And you get candy with every order!

Tartan37.com

W50 Head Gasket

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