Daimler Knight engine

[Vectis]

Hello everyone

I'm new to this forum but have been watching it for a couple of years and I have a question which I'm hoping people can help with. I'm one of a group who are in the process of restoring a 1927 Daimler CK bus, and while not being a military vehicle, the chassis which was purchased 'new' in 1927, would have been a refurbished unit from some time earlier, and may well have been a military unit. The engine is a Daimler Knight sleeve valve engine, and we have a question regarding the cylinder heads which hopefully someone out there may be able to help with.

 We removed all the ancillaries, cylinder heads and sump to inspect the internals and on removal of the heads it was noted that there were no gaskets used. We are now in the process of reassembly and the question is, should it have head gaskets, and if so, what?  The manual that we have clearly shows, and states, 'Joints for cylinders and heads' but it doesn't state what material it is. If any knowledgable mechanics or anyone has experience of these types of engine  can point us in the right direction it would be much appreciated.

Hopefully I've posted this in the correct area, if not apologies, afraid I'm not very computer savvy.

Pete.

[john1950]

Was it a running engine without gaskets?

[radiomike7]

I found a picture of a Stearns Knight which uses a junction ring (known as a junk ring) to seal between the head and inner sleeve, it also looked like the cooling for the heads was on a separate circuit from the block.

[Vectis]

Hi John and Radiomike,

Our best guess as to the last time the engine may have ran would be the mid 1930s, it was purchased by a fisherman to put in a boat!!! Not suprisingly, it's rumoured the boat sank, it is extremely heavy and it wasn't used it then stood until late 1965 before it was purchased and paired with the bus. It is in amazing condition, turns freely, no rusty bores, and appears to be in good condition.

  Indeed the junk rings seal the top of the bores, as they are a part of the head which projects down into said bore, the heads are a kind of upside down top hat so that the mating flange with the block is larger than the bore and allows for the head bolts and the water passage from the block.  The water, we believe, comes from the pump, through an alloy manifold and enters the block, from the block it flows up through a connecting tube concealed within the block and the  heads, fromthe heads it's through another manifold to the radiator, There is also a takeoff at this point which warms an atomisor unit that the carburettor is bolted to.

The gasket is shown as being between the mating surfaces of the head and block, we assume to stop possible corrosion between the surfaces, but as I say, the manual doesn't state what material it is. It's been suggested a paper gasket could be used, but we were wondering if anyone has stripped one of these engines and what they may or may not have found.

Thanks for your replies.

Pete.