1920 tractor not turning over with good starter

ralph008 · Mar 28, 2020

MIkeWard said:
Just thought I should update this thread
I had a Diesel mechanic come and take a look at the tractor.
First thing he checked was the ground from battery to engine, he said the connection was weak and I should clean the connection where it bolts to the block and recommended running a separate ground to the lower bolt holding starter.
That really was not why it wont start.
He tried turning the crank pulley with a large socket and it would not turn in either direction.
He said either a connecting rod or valve is broken In block.
Gonna look for a new tractor. HST since I do a lot of loader and forks work.
My brother has the same tractor, I guess he will get a parts tractor with loader and backhoe.
Thanks to all who posted helpful suggestions
Mike

Did he push the clutch and put the transmission in neutral to isolate the engine? How many hours?

MIkeWard · Mar 28, 2020

Yes he did. Clutch in did not make a difference.
A little over 3,000 hrs on engine
Great tractor.

fried1765 · Mar 28, 2020

MIkeWard said:
Yes he did. Clutch in did not make a difference.
A little over 3,000 hrs on engine
Great tractor.

The 1920 certainly is a great little tractor.
I have 1989 also, (FEL, but no hoe) that I refurbished several years ago .
Looks like new now.
I consider it to be my toy tractor, since I baby it.
Only 1100 hours, so for the engine, I only adjusted the valves, but also replaced clutch and water pump, while the whole thing was disassembled.
I have a 48HP Kubota TLB that I use, if I need to do any real work.

jmc · Mar 28, 2020

MIkeWard said:
Just thought I should update this thread
I had a Diesel mechanic come and take a look at the tractor.....

He tried turning the crank pulley with a large socket and it would not turn in either direction.
He said either a connecting rod or valve is broken In block.
Gonna look for a new tractor. HST since I do a lot of loader and forks work.
My brother has the same tractor, I guess he will get a parts tractor with loader and backhoe.
Thanks to all who posted helpful suggestions
Mike

I bought one in 1988 and it was still going strong 15 years later. A used dealer bought it sight- unseen for what I paid for it before I added a Dual loader. Sometimes wish I'd kept it, except it had Ford's base tranny option- slower for back and forth work. The dealer said it was designed to be a 5000 hour engine.

Why not fix it or find a used engine? Others on TBN have posted searches for used engines online and it seemed like there's a pretty good network for used tractor parts.

ralph008 · Mar 28, 2020

Remove the valve cover.
if the engine was good before stopping it. I don't see how the rod could have broken. Remove the engine oil in a clean container to see debris.