53 Ford tractor rebuild

[BIGNASTY]

Have no choice in timing, have to rebuild my 134 cid Ford tractor motor. Need some advice from old time equipment mechanics. Started tear down and lifted the head, on # 4 exhaust valve seat has a crack its not a GAPING crack but can be seen it runs out of the seat and into the combustion chamber about a 1/4 of an inch. Are there problems having this welded and grinding a new valve seat or are these old head's a one shot deal? The new head cost is like $1200. 00 bare and another $ 180. 00 for valves/springs/keepers/guides.

The crank has been replaced (before I bought it) sometime because it is standard and will be turned 10/10 dont think this should be a problem. Any other thoughts will be appreciated



Thanks



BIG

 

[GCroyle]

BIG,

If'n you'd stick to Mule's this would not be todays discussion.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Ya I know Gary, but the DIL is wanting to use our old tractor cause her Husband (aka our Son) is being a prick just like his Dad (hope I can say that without turning myself in) and not letting her drive the one that they have, I cant drive the tractor anyway (dont have a left leg) so im rebuilding it for her to use on her chores around their place. Mules dont need a left clutch leg to operate them, but will have to get a tractor for Us an automatic if they make such a thing so I can drive it if need be, if not the wife is stuck doing the tractor work ( Heaven help us all )

 

[chipster]

Ya I know Gary, but the DIL is wanting to use our old tractor cause her Husband (aka our Son) is being a prick just like his Dad (hope I can say that without turning myself in) and not letting her drive the one that they have, I cant drive the tractor anyway (dont have a left leg) so im rebuilding it for her to use on her chores around their place. Mules dont need a left clutch leg to operate them, but will have to get a tractor for Us an automatic if they make such a thing so I can drive it if need be, if not the wife is stuck doing the tractor work ( Heaven help us all )

well then the OBVIOUS cure for your problem, is to put a HAND operated clutch lever on the tractor. hook it to the foot pedal so left footed people can use it and you can use the hand lever. I think it`s doeable and given your abilitiy to adapt, it would relieve your wife of HAVING to do the tractor work. LOL !!! :-laf :-laf

 

[GCroyle]

Think of it this way, BIG's trying to make some one hapy and risk upsetting a "mule" that's a rock and a pile of fertilizer to be between.

Maybe BIG can ride the Ford side-saddle sytle and hit the pedal with the other leg.

 

[B.G. Smith]

The head can be repaired if you have access to a good auto machine shop. I thought the 53 still had a flat head? bg

 

[jhenderson]

A good auto machine shop can replace the seat. The problem comes with the crack entering the combustion chamber. If you can see the crack with the naked eye, it may leak coolant. Pressing in a new seat may well spread the crack further. I would go on the Internet looking for tractor salvage yards. I know it's old, but tractors last a long time. I think it's worth a shot. I bet a used head is less than $350.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Ford 9N, 2N, 8N (1939-1952) Flat head



Part D3JL6049B - CYLINDER HEAD, 134 & 172 GAS

D3JL6049B---Cylinder head with 1/2" dia. head bolt holes. For 4 cyl. 134 & 172 gasoline engines only. Bushings are included for use with 7/16" dia. head bolts. When block has 1/2" dia. head bolt threads, do not use the bushings. Does NOT include valves or valve train parts.

Price: $1260. 06



Picture on the left goes with the Ford 9N (1939-1952)



Picture on the right goes with the 134 and 172 gas motors from 53 to ?

 

[BIGNASTY]

A good auto machine shop can replace the seat. The problem comes with the crack entering the combustion chamber. If you can see the crack with the naked eye, it may leak coolant. Pressing in a new seat may well spread the crack further. I would go on the Internet looking for tractor salvage yards. I know it's old, but tractors last a long time. I think it's worth a shot. I bet a used head is less than $350.

Was my thought also, but a hole drilled at the end of the crack and someone that is better than I at welding could make the crack disappear, My question was if the quality of the metal back in 1953 would be able to withstand the welding and still be a reliable fix. Many, Many Lycoming, Continental aircraft motor heads were fixed in just such a manner by some VERY unorthodox repairmen in an out of the way place, JUST to get it back to a REAL aircraft hanger that had parts to fix them.

BIG

Wife told me to quit being CHEAP and just get a new head but thats me!!!

 

[moparguy]

I'd weld her up. Not that I do it without some research. I suspect you'd need to preheat the head in an oven, bringing it up to a few hundred degrees (500 or so?), weld, then bring the temp down is a prescribed manner. Mr. Google may yield some valid advise.

 

[moparguy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FUUj5DyQGik

Found this.

 

[BIGNASTY]

I'd weld her up. Not that I do it without some research. I suspect you'd need to preheat the head in an oven, bringing it up to a few hundred degrees (500 or so?), weld, then bring the temp down is a prescribed manner. Mr. Google may yield some valid advise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FUUj5DyQGik



Found this.

Thanks Morparguy I have called around and have yet to receive a call back about the welding, I wont even attempt it I can make two metal parts stick with my Lincoln welder but I would kind of like this to be done correctly so I will leave it to the pros. There is a shop in Kalispell that does this kind of thing if I should go that route

 

[jhenderson]

There is another method of repair. The crack is machined and metal stitches that look like dog bones are installed. I've seen it work on big dollar , numbers matching muscle car blocks. The problem is no one around here does it.

 

[champspa]

here's a site that can repair the head if you want the original and not a replacement . http://midwestcylinderhead.com/ . they do repairs correctly

 

[BIGNASTY]

well then the OBVIOUS cure for your problem, is to put a HAND operated clutch lever on the tractor. hook it to the foot pedal so left footed people can use it and you can use the hand lever. I think it`s doeable and given your abilitiy to adapt, it would relieve your wife of HAVING to do the tractor work. LOL !!! :-laf :-laf

Chip

I went out to the shop today to fix an oil leak on our Chevy conversion, The tractor is sitting there next to it in the shop when on a beer break (oh no he has a beer and works on HIS equipment ) I took a look at this suggestion of yours. It is doable! I could make a mount and a rod to the clutch foot pedal and mount it under so others could still use the tractor the NORMAL way. Still waiting for some machine work and the head to come in. Its fun to work on things that have no FRIGGING COMPUTER HOOKED UP just points, rotor, plugs and wires, cap. Until I got use to the hand clutch I dont think I would use it in a tight area getting excited and confused would be expensive :-laf

 

[jhenderson]

You have to remember, there was no coolant involved in the aircraft engine repair. The coolant is the fly in the ointment.

 

[BIGNASTY]

You have to remember, there was no coolant involved in the aircraft engine repair. The coolant is the fly in the ointment.

jhenderson



Good point, that was thought of also but im sure that the av gas that we used had just a TAD more octane than what is at the pump now days :-laf



Anyway I talked to Greg Harman about it and sense he is THE MAN WITH THE WELDER SMARTS. We decided that a new head and to have different valve seats and guides installed to help combat the UNLEADED fuel we have to run. When I bought the tractor in 1977 in Utah it had a motor rebuild then so if I can get at least that much use again I wont be around for the next rebuild and someone else will have to make the choice. I have been looking at New tractors some with automatics they sound nice and the wife im sure would like the cab with heat but I still like the old Mules and plow way anyway FOR NOW!!! could change when I get a few more winters on me but for now I like it. The Price of them new tractors I could buy the wife her own set of mules, I cant tell ya what she said about that with the new restrictions on TDR in effect

 

[Newt]

Big

My Grandfather used to keep a mule to plow his garden. He bought a rotary tiller. He said the mule ate all year. The tiller just ate when he used it. He covered it with the bottom from an old wringer washing machine and just left it in the garden. :-laf

Newt

 

[BIGNASTY]

Big

My Grandfather used to keep a mule to plow his garden. He bought a rotary tiller. He said the mule ate all year. The tiller just ate when he used it. He covered it with the bottom from an old wringer washing machine and just left it in the garden. :-laf

Newt

Newt
I just love to work the old way I guess, We have been putting up Hay barns 2 of them 180ft wide x almost 300ft long and to high for me to get on a man lift (but I do) about 30ft high. I get down off the lift and FIL knows my affliction with the old life style, asks aint that fun doing it this way BIG how would ya do it the old way??? GRAZE COMES TO MIND!!! and who wants to own nearly 800 head of cattle anyway!!! I have a mule drawn plow, for snow one for garden the garden looks like this http://www.workinghorsetack.com/store/mcart.php?ID=845 I only got to use it for a good ground turnover for the wife's 2 acre garden that is now almost visible with the snow melting everyday. I cant wait to get at it again Your Grandfather sounds like a man that I would have liked to talk to, we miss so much info by letting laying to rest and not talking to them before they do.

 

[Newt]

Big

If/when the SHTF, the mule will look better than the Ford.

Newt