2515h Valve Lash

ptsg · Sep 7, 2020

K5lwq said:
I have never noticed that sound on mine. I will try to listen closely outside the cab and see what I hear.

Yeah, at first I though mine was just the clutch noise, which is still there. But the other day, I locked the clutch pedal down with the little hook the tractor has, set the tractor at 2000+ RPM, lift the hood and while looked around, I noticed the same noise. So I do have two different, yet similar, noises going on.

K5lwq · Sep 7, 2020

Okay, I just listened to mine. When I first turn the key on I can hear the electric lift pump. I started the tractor and let it come up to temperature and did not hear the noise. I ran it up to 2000 RPMs and all I could hear was a very happy Diesel engine. I brought it up to 2500 RPM and still a sweet sounding machine but no noise. I tried several other settings and the same result. I just do not have the noise you guys are hearing.

Or I am too old to hear anymore. Mine is the A2300 4 cylinder so maybe it is limited to the A2000?

ptsg · Sep 7, 2020

K5lwq said:
Okay, I just listened to mine. When I first turn the key on I can hear the electric lift pump. I started the tractor and let it come up to temperature and did not hear the noise. I ran it up to 2000 RPMs and all I could hear was a very happy Diesel engine. I brought it up to 2500 RPM and still a sweet sounding machine but no noise. I tried several other settings and the same result. I just do not have the noise you guys are hearing.

Or I am too old to hear anymore. Mine is the A2300 4 cylinder so maybe it is limited to the A2000?

That's good though.

Ours is a A1700. Must be a 3 cylinder thing.

Here is video with the noise we're discussing. I was try to incorporate the video here, without having to click the link but it's not working right.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10217682286957583

K5lwq · Sep 7, 2020

I can definitely hear it in that video but not on mine. It almost sounds like a loose fastener. It seams to change in frequency some in that clip. Has anyone tried to find it using a stethoscope to isolate where it is coming from?

ericm979 · Sep 7, 2020

Also check the play of the rockers along the shaft. I've yet to look at the valve train on mine but with some engines it's possible to have excess play there.

The A2000 in my 3725 does make some clattering noise at various rpms, which changes with engine temp. I've assumed that it's just the diesel noise that indirect injection is known for.

Cougsfan · Sep 7, 2020

Several comments. If the valves are adjusted slightly too tight, I wouldn't think that would be a source of noise. .008" on a engine designed for .012" is tight, but not alarmingly so. Perhaps if you let the engine cool overnight they would be closer to being in spec.

I did not pick up on the fact if both of your tractors have hydrostatic or geared transmissions. I know Pedro's is geared. If it only occurs in the geared, I'd suspect something in the clutch. I have seen clutches make noise in the past that are hard to isolate and identify. Mine is a hydrostatic A2300 and I don't here that noise.

Finally, how do you guys keep your engines so clean? Should I be spending my spare time washing my engine.

nosaj2 · Sep 7, 2020

ok so I found out that what I thought was the TDC mark for 1 was not. But I did not miss it by much. If you look at the video

, you will the the arrow and the "nib" that I marked with a paint pin. That is nothing apparently. Maybe a paint drip. But just below it you will see a line and a number "1" next to it. That is TDC for Cylinder 1. There are by the way two other marks for TDC for cyl 2 & 3. But the tech manual has you orintate the engine for cyl 1 TDC for 4 valves and 360 degrees for the other 2. Anyway, I will readjust and report back.

nosaj2 · Sep 7, 2020

Well never mind apparently that 1 degree of rotation did not effect the valve lash that much. Cyl 1 was looser than the rest but not by much. Maybe .002" of the rest.

nosaj2 · Sep 7, 2020

Cougsfan said:
Several comments. If the valves are adjusted slightly too tight, I wouldn't think that would be a source of noise. .008" on a engine designed for .012" is tight, but not alarmingly so. Perhaps if you let the engine cool overnight they would be closer to being in spec.

I did not pick up on the fact if both of your tractors have hydrostatic or geared transmissions. I know Pedro's is geared. If it only occurs in the geared, I'd suspect something in the clutch. I have seen clutches make noise in the past that are hard to isolate and identify. Mine is a hydrostatic A2300 and I don't here that noise.

Finally, how do you guys keep your engines so clean? Should I be spending my spare time washing my engine.

I'm starting to think maybe it is a 3 cyl thing. I did let it cool over night and check them. They hadn't moved over night. It is happening with HST and Gear drive. Mine is HST. FB group has a 2515 gear drive doing the same thing. Mine is clean because it is new. Only 26 hrs on it.