I'm without my 422 for awhile.......

[MuncyBob]

Well, an update to my saga. If we could have coordinated it last weekend I was planning a trip up to NY to take Kevin up on his very genereous offer. Now I'm glad I did'nt make the trip. Spoke with the folks at Robin and apparently after serial# 2000000 they made a change. Even though the heads may be interchangable the newer models would also require a piston change and other work. My serial number is one of the old ones and I'm not sure Kevin's heads would work.
Now I have my heads at a machine shop and am hoping they can be saved or apparently it's another engine in the works. I'm told the issues are all heat related, so an additional fan will be installed(sure would appreciate a PM from anybody that has done this), exhaust pipes will be insulated somehow(has anybody done this?) and I plan to use the PT sparingly on very hot summer days. I wish there was enough room in the tub for a water cooled engine!

 

[ponytug]

Insulating the pipes is straight forward. You can get muffler blankets, but I don't have a part # for the 422.
Kragen/O'Reilly/Amazon works for heat tape. Just start at one end, wrap with about 50% overlap, stretching it tight, and use stainless wire to fasten the end down.
Bear in mind that the exhaust is going to be hotter. You may want to consider ensuring that it is not blowing on anything that you don't want to ignite.

You can get radiator cooling fans from any auto parts store, or junkyard. I'd add a relay to a switch for power control, and run a direct line back to the battery (with fuse!) to power it. Generally, pushing air works better than pulling air, and pushing clean/cool air works best of all, but moving any air is an improvement. Try to get a fan with a shroud.

Every little bit helps.

All the best,

Peter

 

[cqaigy2]

I did the wrap on the exhaust pipes. Just like Peter said. I also painted mine with high heat black.

 

[J_J]

Well, an update to my saga. If we could have coordinated it last weekend I was planning a trip up to NY to take Kevin up on his very genereous offer. Now I'm glad I did'nt make the trip. Spoke with the folks at Robin and apparently after serial# 2000000 they made a change. Even though the heads may be interchangable the newer models would also require a piston change and other work. My serial number is one of the old ones and I'm not sure Kevin's heads would work.
Now I have my heads at a machine shop and am hoping they can be saved or apparently it's another engine in the works. I'm told the issues are all heat related, so an additional fan will be installed(sure would appreciate a PM from anybody that has done this), exhaust pipes will be insulated somehow(has anybody done this?) and I plan to use the PT sparingly on very hot summer days. I wish there was enough room in the tub for a water cooled engine!

I believe I have one of the few water cooled engines in the PT line, PT-1445.

It is a 4 cyl Ford industrial engine , 45 HP, early 90's with 3pt attachments.

 

[MossRoad]

If I were going to build my own, and I'm not, I'd put in a Ford or Chevy straight 4 gas engine from a junkyard. While a Kubota diesel would be a close 2nd, I still don't trust diesels in the winter based on old experiences. Gas always starts. Diesel needs fussing(to be kind) around with.

 

[Gravy]

Well, an update to my saga. If we could have coordinated it last weekend I was planning a trip up to NY to take Kevin up on his very genereous offer. Now I'm glad I did'nt make the trip. Spoke with the folks at Robin and apparently after serial# 2000000 they made a change. Even though the heads may be interchangable the newer models would also require a piston change and other work. My serial number is one of the old ones and I'm not sure Kevin's heads would work.
Now I have my heads at a machine shop and am hoping they can be saved or apparently it's another engine in the works. I'm told the issues are all heat related, so an additional fan will be installed(sure would appreciate a PM from anybody that has done this), exhaust pipes will be insulated somehow(has anybody done this?) and I plan to use the PT sparingly on very hot summer days. I wish there was enough room in the tub for a water cooled engine!

If you are willing to make the drive to SW VA or arrange for shipping, you are welcome to my old EH72. It's been rode hard and put up wet, but it's still alive and kicking. It has some blow-by and has lost a bit of horsepower since it was new, but it still has decent compression and doesn't make bad noises or leave puddles. It would probably serve well in place of the EH65 for a few more years.

 

[Raw Dodge]

If I were you I'd cut my losses with that Robin engine, and get a new engine. It sounds like it got really hot,it had to to damage the air cooled OHV/OHC heads, so some where your air fins got blocked or the airflow was blocked by mouse nest,leaves or grass debris...besides the blow by had to be from low compression,worn rings or overheated rings that lost there spring tension and no longer could hold compression, or a blown head gasket....unless the engine was (dusted) as we call it,but you were up on the maintenance so its not likely.I'd like to feel the old rings ,measure the ring end gap and look at everything. An engines parts tell a story if you know what to look for,you can read it and tell what happened ...

 

[MuncyBob]

Based on what the shops have told me and from what folks here have said, I'm convinced my problem is heat related. Going back and reading the threads of installing the Robin muffler, the cage side fan, etc. I guess I never really appreciated just how hot it got in the tub. Hopefully a complete valve job, heads reworked and new gaskets will get me back in the saddle...then before it gets warm again the muffler and cage fan will be addressed. The VERY generous offers of engines here is appreciated and while I hope not to take any of you up on those offers I'm not saying you won't hear from me!

 

[KMA]

Sorry I haven't gotten back to you with the engine serial number... I've been on business travel this week, and I'm also in the middle of changing jobs, so it's very hectic.

According to my discussions with Robin Subraru tech support, their engines are not supposed to be exposed to the heat found in the PT4xx tub. I've been battling heat issues since day one, now on my second engine. If you go through some of my threads, you may see my fan installation and exhaust wrap over a new manifold (and muffler). Good luck!

 

[MuncyBob]

No problem Kevin, like I said I'm hoping I can resolve everything here but have yet to hear from the machine shop. It's too cold to be on the tractor right now anyhow!