Ford Tractor Motors?

[RGardner]

I have a 1992 Ford 8830 tractor that I purchased used. When I bought the tractor it had approx. 2000 hours on it and the dealer had just put a new motor in the tractor. Sounded like a good deal to me except I wondered and asked why a new motor so soon? The dealer stated that there must have been a flaw in the casting or something. Fast forward to Saturday 1800 hours later and the tractor starts knocking loud with lots of white smoke coming out of the vent tube. I think I have dropped a valve and it has gone through a piston! Something seems very odd to me that one tractor would have 2 motors bad in less than 4000 hours! I know of several JD that have gone over 10000 with no overhauls! Anyone out there have experience with the larger Ford tractors? Btw this is a 170 hp turbo motor. I believe that the motor does not have sleeves just a cast block. TIA

 

[TFucili]

I'm not so sure on the bigger units, but on the 3 and 4 cylinder industrial engines, like you would find in backhoes and smaller ag and utility tractors, they had a real problem with cavitation pin-holes in the bores if you didn't stay 100% on top of the cooling system, and run coolant conditioner. Other than that we had several of the three bangers in rough terrain forklifts and they were as reliable as an anvil.