Old continental gas engine identification and rear seal leak

   / Old continental gas engine identification and rear seal leak #1  

jshwhite

Gold Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2011
Messages
263
Location
Missouri
Tractor
Kubota L4740
I've acquired an old beever chipper powered by what a friend told me is a continental engine. Looks to me like it came off a tractor (the chipper engine was replaced at one point). I think some of the older Massey's had continentals??

First question, can anyone help me ID this engine? There's a number etched into the side of it - 493 333 9. Also a number cast into the block - A152

Secondly, it's dripping a lot of oil off the clutch bell-housing. I think it's the rear main seal. Anyone have any tips on doing this?
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Last edited:
   / Old continental gas engine identification and rear seal leak #2  
There's a number etched into the side of it - 493 333 9.
By "etched" do you mean stamped? The serial number will be stamped into it someplace. The SN is frequently found stamped on a boss near the water pump in many engines.
 
   / Old continental gas engine identification and rear seal leak
  • Thread Starter
#3  
By "etched" do you mean stamped? The serial number will be stamped into it someplace. The SN is frequently found stamped on a boss near the water pump in many engines.
Yes, stamped is the better word :) It's right near the oil filter at the bottom of the block. I'll have a look near the water pump.
 
   / Old continental gas engine identification and rear seal leak
  • Thread Starter
#5  
Well we're making progress - on both the seal and the engine identification.

I pulled the flywheel, dropped the oil pan, and took the crank bearing off to get the seal out. The seal had several numbers on it. I took it to a couple of really good parts places but unfortunately all the numbers were extinct. So I went online and did some searching. I was able to cross-reference some numbers and narrow it down. Interestingly, most of the manufacturers for the seal were military/govt. And I finally located the seal from a military surplus supplier.

Evidently this is a common part for the M151 army jeeps. That gave me an idea for identifying the engine. I did some searching for the engine specs in the M151 jeeps. There were a few, but the common one seemed to be Hercules. The pictures of the M151 jeep engines looked like the engine I have. I found an article from Foley Engines which stated that "the Hercules G1600 serial number is a stamped-in number located near the dipstick. It is 7 digits in length beginning with 491, 490, or 493." My engine has a 7-digit number stamped near the dipstick beginning with 493. I think I found the engine!

I also discovered that this engine was used in White tractors, and I found a picture of one and the hood looks almost identical to what's around this engine.

So at this point as best I can figure this is a Hercules G1600 out of a White tractor.

On another note I've got the seal on order. Hopefully will fix my problem.
 
   / Old continental gas engine identification and rear seal leak
  • Thread Starter
#6  
The seal was delivered today. Just wanted to get opinions on installing it. It's about 4" diameter and I don't have any seal installers or sockets big enough.

The seal is held in place by the crank bearing, so when I unbolted the bottom half of the crank bearing, the bottom half of the seal was loose and I pushed it out by hand. Would the reverse work for installing? If I push it in by hand and then bolt the crank bearing back on to compress it in place, do you think that would cause any issues with it sealing?
 
   / Old continental gas engine identification and rear seal leak #7  
What about a pvc pipe cap? Installed many a seal with some sort of pvc pipe. Or maybe an oil filter cup wrench. Good luck, dealing with one in a Case 1830 Skidsteer. Glad it's not mine, I'd drop a small diesel in it!
 
   / Old continental gas engine identification and rear seal leak
  • Thread Starter
#8  
What about a pvc pipe cap? Installed many a seal with some sort of pvc pipe. Or maybe an oil filter cup wrench. Good luck, dealing with one in a Case 1830 Skidsteer. Glad it's not mine, I'd drop a small diesel in it!
That's a good idea. I'll look around and see what I've got. Yeah I actually have thought of putting a diesel on this...might do so if I find one cheap enough.
 

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