Riley 2 port and B motor problems

javiern54

Member
I am having trouble figuring out what is wrong with my model a. The motor is a GAZ motor with 100 miles on it and the head is a charlie yapp riley 2-port. It seemed to have blown a head gasket, at first. After driving and letting it warm up, it began to smoke a little, then all at once a huge ploom of smoke came up around the engine, I thought it was on fire for a sec. So I assumed it was a head gasket, but when the head was removed it looked fine. Both surfaces are flat and no obvious signs of failure. The cylinder walls look good, I havent pulled any pistons yet. I felt like an oil ring on a piston wouldnt allow that much to dump at once. Where is the oil coming from? And so much at once? thanks
 
Smoke came up around the engine? Not out of the exhaust? Isn't this indicative of an external leak rather than internal?
 
Is it internal crankcase pressure; oil fill tube clogged? Tell tale sign is the rear main will leak pretty bad.

On the head gasket side, if the Riley's don't have the "Fire Wire" in the Head Gasket, between the cylinders, they are prone to blowing the Head Gasket, but you could see the gasket blown.

Just a couple thoughts.
 
I am having trouble figuring out what is wrong with my model a. The motor is a GAZ motor with 100 miles on it and the head is a charlie yapp riley 2-port. It seemed to have blown a head gasket, at first. After driving and letting it warm up, it began to smoke a little, then all at once a huge ploom of smoke came up around the engine, I thought it was on fire for a sec. So I assumed it was a head gasket, but when the head was removed it looked fine. Both surfaces are flat and no obvious signs of failure. The cylinder walls look good, I havent pulled any pistons yet. I felt like an oil ring on a piston wouldnt allow that much to dump at once. Where is the oil coming from? And so much at once? thanks

Hey Javier,
Taking your words literally, first thing I'd check for is an oil leak...from the engine, where the oil squirted onto the exhaust ('after letting iT warm up') . Look the exhaust piping over closely and you may see where the oil burnt area is. If I remember correctly, the GAZ block had oil pressuring , more so than even the US B block..no ? Anyway, is that pressure squirting oil out of some oil line or orifice, that could explain large amount of smoke.

Also, you say that you have a Yapp 2 port up top. There is the necessity to PLUMB an oil line(S) up to an OHV head and I'd bet that somewhere along that plumbed line...is where I'd look FIRST.

How about some pictures for us, eh :)
 
Rileys have no plumbing for oil to the rockers or valves they have a oil felt that is just moist with oil (they should feel oily but not drip oil) any chance you over oiled the felts
saw a guy fill the cups to the top once it smoked so bad the plugs oiled up
 
Rileys have no plumbing for oil to the rockers or valves they have a oil felt that is just moist with oil (they should feel oily but not drip oil) any chance you over oiled the felts
saw a guy fill the cups to the top once it smoked so bad the plugs oiled up

The C Yapp 2 port heads DO have oil to the rockers and don't need the feltpads. The oil needs to be plumbed to the head. The original Riley 2 port heads didn't have oil to the rockers and needed/used the felt pads.

This is an original Riley 2 port with C Yapp rocker arm stands installed and plumbed for pressure to the rocker arms.
 

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The C Yapp 2 port heads DO have oil to the rockers and don't need the feltpads. The oil needs to be plumbed to the head. The original Riley 2 port heads didn't have oil to the rockers and needed/used the felt pads.
I may be going out on a limb here but if I remember correctly the early heads that Charlie made did not have oiling to the rockers. Locate your serial number and post it or call him. You might also post your serial number and ask if there is anything else you should know as there were a few improvements during the production.

Charlie Stephens
 
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