Rachel:
I'm not sure how this happened.  If you've seen the head and block apart, it
appears that at least 1/3 of the prechamber insert is covered by the head
gasket and the engine block on the other side.  I wouldn't think it could
wiggle its way loose, unless maybe the head was really not torqued down
correctly (although I'd think ANY torque would be sufficient to keep it in
place and thus let the head gasket blow first.)  There was a half-moon shaped
piece of head gasket missing at this point, so perhaps the head gasket did blow
out this piece first and that gave the insert some room to drop down.  The PO
had replaced the head gasket at least once prior to my purchase and also
fiddled with the fuel delivery on the pump.  I'm guessing he had no clue what
he was doing.

Maynard Southard  OvO '79
'82 Westy Diesel "Reinhardt"
'82 Vanagon GL Diesel
'93 EV GL "Klinger"
'00 Golf GLS TDI "WooHoo"
'84 Jetta GL TD "Donor"

On Wednesday, September 05, 2001 10:16 AM, Rachel Cogent [SMTP:Gnarlodious@e
arthlink.net] wrote:
> > months ago when the #2 prechamber insert loosened and did a nice tap dance
> > on
> > top of the piston.
> So tell me what causes this to happen? I thought the the combustion chamber
> was pressed between the block and head so could not come loose.