Damaged block installing block heater L5240

[Wild Bill the 2nd]

When I split my TC35 I moved the back while leaving the front stationary. Wasn't bad at all. If that is the plan here I'd also suggest removing the chains.

 

[oldpilgrim]

When I split my TO30, the front axle attaches directly to the front of the engine, so the front axle came off leaving the engine hanging on the bell housing. There was no reason to move anything. I really don't know how a 'modern' tractor's parts go together so I can't advise anyone.

 

[Leejohn]

The previous owner had that seal done at the time of trade-in. I had some drips coming from the drain on the clutch housing, but I don't know if it was coming from the massive crack in the suction hose for the hydraulic pump. I had fluid all over the place once I took the right loader mount off. I think I will Replace it just for the piece of mind though.

My little story on that seal. I had to have that seal replaced under warrenty and about 2 weeks after it was leaking again. I just though if they couldn't do right I do it myself. When I took it apart it was not the seal,it was the housing. Then didn't tighten it down in stages and warpped it. I got a new housing, gasket and seal, has been good now for 500hrs +. That housing that holds the seal needs a bolt hole boss at the bottom, when you look at it you well see what I'm talking about.

PS My tractor is the L4240

 

[Adiredneck]

Not sure how the OP will break the tractor. Normally the rear half sits still. Front section is moved.

I plan on moving the front away. The rear of the tractor is backed up to the back wall of the garage. There is no place for it to go. If it wasn't winter, I would have it right in the center of the garage. My wife has gotten very used to having her car in the the heated garage, so I had to shove it back as far as I could to make room for her CRV.

 

[ovrszd]

If you were simply splitting to repalce the clutch or something like that it might be a tossup as to which end to roll.

But since are removing the engine, I'm with oldpilgrim and your plan of moving the front. That leaves the engine block hanging exposed and easy to remove hanging on a hoist.

 

[Jimmy Joe]

Interested in seeing where this all goes in the end, real bummer for the op. If the area behind the frost plug is only 1/8 inch thick it seems no matter what method used to get the plug out would be risky.

I have put a few block heaters in pickup engines, instructions said tap plug until the top or bottom tips out then grab plug and pull out. Never was lucky enough for it to go that way, usually ended up pushing it into the block then pulling it out with a pliers. If the plug was as close to the inner wall as it sounds like this one was and the wall only 1/8 inch thick you would stand a good chance of cracking the block driving the plug in or trying to poke a hole through it.

 

[JWR]

Interested in seeing where this all goes in the end, real bummer for the op. If the area behind the frost plug is only 1/8 inch thick it seems no matter what method used to get the plug out would be risky.

I have put a few block heaters in pickup engines, instructions said tap plug until the top or bottom tips out then grab plug and pull out. Never was lucky enough for it to go that way, usually ended up pushing it into the block then pulling it out with a pliers. If the plug was as close to the inner wall as it sounds like this one was and the wall only 1/8 inch thick you would stand a good chance of cracking the block driving the plug in or trying to poke a hole through it.

For all those reasons and more, I prefer to use the cooling system and put an in-line heater in the lower radiator hose or some other convenient spot. Sears sells the things or used to. Once they get started they move heated coolant through the system continually and in my view do the best possible job of heating the engine without intrusive mechanical affairs. I used them for years in automotive diesels back in the 70's and 80's.

 

[Adiredneck]

More progress.. Did this before lunch today.

 

[Adiredneck]

And this after lunch.. Called it quits at 3pm to take the kids bowling.

 

[Kubota 2350]

I plan on moving the front away. The rear of the tractor is backed up to the back wall of the garage. There is no place for it to go. If it wasn't winter, I would have it right in the center of the garage. My wife has gotten very used to having her car in the the heated garage, so I had to shove it back as far as I could to make room for her CRV.

Everyone knows garages aren't meant to have cars in them.

 

[The Fred]

Floor jacks are such a versatile tool.

Fred

 

[ovrszd]

I am a strong supporter of "use what ya got".

My shop is comfortably equipped. But I could easily spend $5K tomorrow on things I "want" rather than "need".

 

[oldpilgrim]

I hope you've been taking LOTS of pictures as you go along.

 

[hawkeye08]

The key to a project like this is to keep the start project and end project times as close as possible so you are familiar with the way things go and then the pictures will make sense and save you many hours of taking something apart because you forget the other widget had to go on first. I have a engine out of a pickup now and it will be a pain putting it back in because it has been years now. Life happened, I made choices to spend time with family and not on that project, but it needs to get done one of these days. Best wishes on a good result.

Are you still going to put a block heater on it? Will you do the freeze plug location or change to radiator hose as others have mentioned?

 

[Adiredneck]

I have taken very few pictures. It's been very straight forward so far. We took a few detours on the service manual today. It called to drain the hydraulic fluid. No idea why. We lost a little from the return lines, but nothing to warrant draining it. It also called to remove the battery, radiator, hydraulic cooler, power steering lines. There was no need to.

Dad helped today. His methods were a bit different than mine. I was marking bolts on my side of the tractor only to find that he was setting his in random order someplace. Several times I would tell him how I don't want to mess this up. He would just point to the block heater and say " like you did on that".

I am aiming to get the engine on the stand on Saturday, and begin stripping it. I need to pick up some longer bolts for the engine stand. That and we had to take the small block Chevy off the stand that had been there for 16 years.

The sooner I have the bock stripped, the sooner I can get the machine work done.

 

[Wild Bill the 2nd]

We took a few detours on the service manual today. It called to drain the hydraulic fluid. No idea why. We lost a little from the return lines, but nothing to warrant draining it. It also called to remove the battery, radiator, hydraulic cooler, power steering lines. There was no need to.

I was lucky enough to talk to a NH mechanic before splitting my last tractor. Several items like this. No need to remove some of the stuff they tell you to. Saved quite a bit of time.

Good luck there!

 

[ray66v]

Service manual procedure for radiator cap replacement:

Jack up radiator cap. Drain, and remove entire vehicle, one piece at a time, from under radiator cap. Remove, and replace radiator cap. Replace replace entire vehicle, one piece at a time, in reverse order. Refill, and check for leaks. :confused2:

 

[countrybumpkin]

Did you post pics of the damage someplace yet, just curios as to what it looked like from the freeze plug hole. Looks like your well on your way to getting it fixed.

 

[The Deerslayer]

Dad helped today. His methods were a bit different than mine. I was marking bolts on my side of the tractor only to find that he was setting his in random order someplace. Several times I would tell him how I don't want to mess this up. He would just point to the block heater and say " like you did on that".

Nice to see that Dad has a "sense of humor".

 

[Adiredneck]

Did you post pics of the damage someplace yet, just curios as to what it looked like from the freeze plug hole. Looks like your well on your way to getting it fixed.

Coming soon..