Water directors in D2 5J head? Head gasket sealant?

[Dan Pratt]

Hey gang,
I am doing some homework on my latest project and I have encountered some conflicting information. I have the engine service manual and the parts book for reference but the service manual talks about the general cooling system and that particularly there are water directors installed and aimed as to cool the precomb chambers and such. But then in the actual section on head install, there is no mention of it. Also the parts book does not seem to indicate any water directors in the breakdown. Since the machine as I received it has the head off and apart, I cannot find any pieces indicating it had them before.

I am inclined to think that the general cooling system description was a typo probably based upon the D4 engine of that era. Does anyone know for sure what is right? It is a later D3400 engine, serial 5J8630.

Also, I have seen posts where it is mentioned to use some kind of sealant on the head gasket. I am using a new gasket, and plan on using sealant so no coolant leaks, but I am not sure the best sealant to use. I imagine that for uniformity, a spray type may be good (I have copper type spray). The brush on seems too goobery. Can anyone provide a best choice brand or part number please?

Thanks in advance.

[SJ]

The water seals and ferrules are to direct water from the block to head for cooling so there is no leak. I always put the smooth side of the seals up in the block so the head would go down smoothly over them and also the brass ferrules I always put the more rounded side up too and not the more straighter hole in them but that side down.Also I always used the #2 permatex on just one side of the head gasket when I installed them and usually I think I put it on the top side. There is other good stuff to use but my favorite was the permatex and some heads were a bigger problem than others like the more early ones like the 8U and 9U series D6 heads weeping out the sides of the heads.I used this on dozens and dozens of engines at the dealer over the years with good results.Not all engines had the problem of weeping like the D6s had and it seemed later engines of most all the models had less problem leaking unless they got warped or whatever.

[YeLLoIrOn]

Its not a spray sealant, its brush in a can type but its from caterpillar. Liquid Gasket part #138-8436. I use this on head gasket shims between the block and spacer plate on all spacer plate engines from cat. (3500, 3400 series etc.) some people coat the whole surface, but in your case i'd just coat around the edge about an 1" wide and around all water holes and oil holes. Coating the whole thing is fine i just feel its waste. Just my 2 cents- im sure others will have more ideas. Caleb

[Arthropod]

I always used 'Copper Coat' sealant on head gaskets, but I would think what CAT sells for head gaskets would be the best. I've also heard some people say to not put anything on the gasket, but I always feel better coating it with something. At least around the ferrules.

[Old Magnet]

This is what I use....

[Dan Pratt]

Excellent info on the sealers.

What about the directors/ferules? Can anyone confirm if they should be there or not?

Dan

[ccjersey]

I have the engine service manual and the parts book for reference but the service manual talks about the general cooling system and that particularly there are water directors installed and aimed as to cool the precomb chambers and such.
I am inclined to think that the general cooling system description was a typo probably based upon the D4 engine of that era. Does anyone know for sure what is right? It is a later D3400 engine, serial 5J8630.

Dan, I believe the description of water directors must be from a later tech manual describing the D311/D315/D318 engines from around 1947 and later series after them. I don't see any water directors in the parts book for 5J3501-5J10561. They do appear in the late D69U parts book as well as the redesigned D311 industrial from the late 50's early 1960's

[OzDozer]

Water directors in cylinder heads were in use by Caterpillar as early as 1940, in the D4600 engines. Check your parts book carefully, the water directors are clearly drawn and listed, if they are fitted to your tractors cylinder head (under the cylinder head parts pages).
In late 1955, a new and improved water director design was introduced, which gave beetter water flow, along with a "scrubbing" action that improved cooling ability.

[Arthropod]

My 1949 D2-5U took water directors when I replaced the head after a valve job.

[SJ]

You know it,s been so many darn years since I rebuilt engines but I looked in a 7J D4 parts book and there is no ferrules or seals listed for them so no doubt the 5J D2 with the 3400 engine doesn,t have them either.It,s hard to remember every little detail after being away from the job for years so then a parts book can and will refresh your memory which I don,t have for the old 3J and 5J D2.