Pulled a CAT C15 head gasket with a porta-power instead of the fancy tool... way faster

I was in a shop outside Billings last fall and the old timer showed me using a porta-power to break the head loose instead of that $400 CAT specific puller. Has anyone else tried this method or am I just asking for trouble on the next one?

2 comments

2 Comments

patricia_wright2d ago

Honestly, how many times have you actually seen a head crack from a porta-power versus the old timers pulling them like that for 30 years? The fancy tool is great for a dealership that bills out at 200 bucks an hour, but in a real shop you gotta work smarter not harder. Tbh the breakaway torque thing is overblown anyway because you're not torquing the bolts, you're just breaking the gasket seal that's been baking on for half a million miles. Ngl the real risk is not evening out the pressure but if you know where the head bolt pockets are and hit the right spots between them, it's no different than the factory puller. I've seen more cracked heads from guys using a torch too close or hitting it with a sledge than from a porta-power. It's all about feel and knowing when to stop pushing.

phoenixp302d agoMost Upvoted

I read somewhere that CAT actually designed those heads with a specific breakaway torque in mind, and using a porta-power puts a ton of pressure on just the corner bolts instead of spreading it out evenly. Heard a story from a guy who did it on a C18 and cracked the head at the injector bore. I mean if it worked for you and it was faster then I get it, but I'd be real careful about where you put that pressure. The old timer might have known the exact sweet spot on that particular engine. For me, I'd rather take the extra 20 minutes and use the right puller than risk a $3000 head.