Adiredneck
Gold Member
I had two things to take care of tonight.
1). Install a block heater.
2) replace the rubber suction hose that connects to the hydraulic pump. It's cracked and sucking air, causing power steering problems.
Instructions on the block heater call for removing the hydraulic pump to access the frost plug closest to the flywheel. No problem. Area is very tight with the remaining hydraulic lines (steel) surrounding the area of the frost plug. I had the loader removed, but the quick connects were also in my way.
I then took a long Phillips screwdriver and tapped against the edge of the frost plug. It went in maybe 1/8" and stopped. Took my cordless drill and drilled a hole to see if I could pry it off with a pole barn nail or something. Drilled a couple more holes. Finally got the frost plug to spin and was able to grab it with some needle nose pliers. Looked and saw what I had done and freaked out for a minute. The water jacket was maybe 5/16 deep and there is metal right there!
Freak out time over, I collected my thoughts and took a small nail and felt around in the small holes I had drilled.. They are maybe 1/8" deep, 3 of them. Around 5/32" in diameter. No way I could have damaged Anything I tell myself. Block is likely very thick.
Cleaned up the block, installed block heater, re-assembled hydraulic pump, filled with coolant. No leaks. Good deal.
Start up the tractor. Power steering is acting right. Then I notice oil coming out of the exhaust. Rev it up a little, more oil. Shut it down, Freak out again and check the engine oil. $&@k!. Oil is white. Sick to my stomach. 9:30 at night, call dad to explain the symptoms. "Not good". He says.
I'm at a loss for words now. I'll take everything back apart tomorrow and get the exact depths with my caliper. Maybe the only saving grace may be that that the holes are only down in area just below the cylinder sleeve. Seems like it would not have drilled so easily. I couldn't put much pressure on the drill because of everything in my way.
Just sickening...
Any suggestions on how or if there is a fix for this would be greatly appreciated. Maybe it could be accessed from the inside by removing the crank? Does anyone know on this engine what is directly behind the 1st frost plug on the right side?
Luckily I still have my L3400, so I'm not without a tractor.
1). Install a block heater.
2) replace the rubber suction hose that connects to the hydraulic pump. It's cracked and sucking air, causing power steering problems.
Instructions on the block heater call for removing the hydraulic pump to access the frost plug closest to the flywheel. No problem. Area is very tight with the remaining hydraulic lines (steel) surrounding the area of the frost plug. I had the loader removed, but the quick connects were also in my way.
I then took a long Phillips screwdriver and tapped against the edge of the frost plug. It went in maybe 1/8" and stopped. Took my cordless drill and drilled a hole to see if I could pry it off with a pole barn nail or something. Drilled a couple more holes. Finally got the frost plug to spin and was able to grab it with some needle nose pliers. Looked and saw what I had done and freaked out for a minute. The water jacket was maybe 5/16 deep and there is metal right there!
Freak out time over, I collected my thoughts and took a small nail and felt around in the small holes I had drilled.. They are maybe 1/8" deep, 3 of them. Around 5/32" in diameter. No way I could have damaged Anything I tell myself. Block is likely very thick.
Cleaned up the block, installed block heater, re-assembled hydraulic pump, filled with coolant. No leaks. Good deal.
Start up the tractor. Power steering is acting right. Then I notice oil coming out of the exhaust. Rev it up a little, more oil. Shut it down, Freak out again and check the engine oil. $&@k!. Oil is white. Sick to my stomach. 9:30 at night, call dad to explain the symptoms. "Not good". He says.
I'm at a loss for words now. I'll take everything back apart tomorrow and get the exact depths with my caliper. Maybe the only saving grace may be that that the holes are only down in area just below the cylinder sleeve. Seems like it would not have drilled so easily. I couldn't put much pressure on the drill because of everything in my way.
Just sickening...
Any suggestions on how or if there is a fix for this would be greatly appreciated. Maybe it could be accessed from the inside by removing the crank? Does anyone know on this engine what is directly behind the 1st frost plug on the right side?
Luckily I still have my L3400, so I'm not without a tractor.
