[SEL] RE: Update on the Ruston Hornsby - PB 3 - The head is off...

[Richard Allen]

Hi, Paul,

The light colored deposits in the combustion chamber of the head are
lead oxide from using leaded gasoline. This may help to give you an
idea of the last time the engine was run. Leaded gasoline in the U.S.
was last used around 1978 or so. When I worked as an engine mechanic we
were warned to never wire brush the lead oxide deposits out of an
engine head without first soaking the deposit with oil or kerosene so
it would not throw out fine dust to be inhaled, and then we were again
warned to be careful and put a clean rag over our faces and wear eye
protection. If you ever get a peculiar sweet taste in your mouth and
nose while working on an engine or while welding, the taste is from
lead compounds, which are intensly sweet. Children eat old lead paint
chips because of the intensly sweet taste.

Work and play safely!

Richard Allen