Black Smoke followed by sudden death?
- Thread starter Iplayfarmer
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firemanpat2910
Platinum Member
sudden death??? its been 3 months. what will the autopsy reveal??
Soundguy
Old Timer
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2002
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- 51,575
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- Central florida
- Tractor
- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
You know.. unless the block went bad, and all the innards are mangled ( crank, rods, pistons, head.. etc.. ).. then i can't see how it is not fixable.
At very worst.. and engine transplant would save the rest of the chassie.. seems like a lot to 'walk away' from.
Wonder if the mechanic said it is a lost cause and then offered to buy the non running hulk for low $$? I've seen that before..
soundguy
At very worst.. and engine transplant would save the rest of the chassie.. seems like a lot to 'walk away' from.
Wonder if the mechanic said it is a lost cause and then offered to buy the non running hulk for low $$? I've seen that before..
soundguy
OP
Iplayfarmer
Super Member
Sorry I've been away. Things are busy what with looking for a new tractor and all.
The condemnation came down to a combination of low compression and "I can tear your whole front end off to check out the timing for Lots of money if you want"
I'd do a full overhaul on this engine if I was guaranteed that it would fix it, but no one who looks at it can tell me what's going on with it.
My plan is actually to bring it back and part it out. I've done some estimates based on past Ebay auctions and I figure that right now the tractor's parts are worth the difference between the tractor's value and the repair costs.
That means I'll be tearing it down. My plan is to tear it down systematically and check things out as I go (AKA autopsy). If I find a "smoking gun" that's the obvious culprit, I'll fix it and put it back together. If I don't, then I'll sell off the parts and get something new (wouldn't it be nice if we did take up collections for grieving "tractor widowers").
I've already started liquidating assets to build capital. I sold my extra generator, I've got the old sedan on the block, and I'm probably going to sell the extra motorcycle when the snow has melted off a bit.
I've already started looking at some other "project tractors" out there as evidenced by this post this post
I guess the point I'm at now is that I've decided saving this tractor is not the top priority, and if I get it running it will be a nice surprise, but I really don't expect to get it running.
The condemnation came down to a combination of low compression and "I can tear your whole front end off to check out the timing for Lots of money if you want"
I'd do a full overhaul on this engine if I was guaranteed that it would fix it, but no one who looks at it can tell me what's going on with it.
My plan is actually to bring it back and part it out. I've done some estimates based on past Ebay auctions and I figure that right now the tractor's parts are worth the difference between the tractor's value and the repair costs.
That means I'll be tearing it down. My plan is to tear it down systematically and check things out as I go (AKA autopsy). If I find a "smoking gun" that's the obvious culprit, I'll fix it and put it back together. If I don't, then I'll sell off the parts and get something new (wouldn't it be nice if we did take up collections for grieving "tractor widowers").
I've already started liquidating assets to build capital. I sold my extra generator, I've got the old sedan on the block, and I'm probably going to sell the extra motorcycle when the snow has melted off a bit.
I've already started looking at some other "project tractors" out there as evidenced by this post this post
I guess the point I'm at now is that I've decided saving this tractor is not the top priority, and if I get it running it will be a nice surprise, but I really don't expect to get it running.
Soundguy
Old Timer
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2002
- Messages
- 51,575
- Location
- Central florida
- Tractor
- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
If it truly is low compression.. I find it hard to believe that any mechanic worth his salt can't point to either ahead gasket, rings, or valves by doing a comp test wet / dry, and a leakdown test.
At worst.. sounds like sleaves, valve job and rings and head gasket.. if it really is a low compression issue. that's a pretty common rebuild..
soundguy
At worst.. sounds like sleaves, valve job and rings and head gasket.. if it really is a low compression issue. that's a pretty common rebuild..
soundguy
OP
Iplayfarmer
Super Member
Soundguy said:
The odd thing is that the compression is low but pretty equal from one cylinder to the other. The other problem is that the book specs the compression at 2800 RPM, and Bob says that He can't check that number with the tractor not running. He suggested that the compression issue may even be a matter of dry pistons due to trying to start it so many times with raw fuel being pumped in.
I asked what he suggest I do and he said "Get rid of it and get another tractor." Right there I knew that no matter what I told him he had decided he wasn't going to get it running. It's not worth my time or money leaving it there for him, and working on it myself is not good for my sanity or family harmony.
Soundguy
Old Timer
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2002
- Messages
- 51,575
- Location
- Central florida
- Tractor
- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
Sounds like a pretty p*ss poor lazy mechanic to me!
Soundguy
Soundguy
OP
Iplayfarmer
Super Member
Soundguy said:
I'm not going to fall all over myself to defend him.
I'm sure he sees this little 17 hp grey market tractor as a thorn in his side vs. the other bigger tractors sitting in the shop next to it.
RobJ
Elite Member
Sounds like you need a new mechanic. Even this didn't stop us from getting this dozer going one more time. One liner kit and some emery cloth and she was running. I don't think my BIL even replaced the head gasket. Your case still doesn't sound like anything major. I say stuff like he said when I don't want to deal with it anymore. 
You should offer it on Ebay or local as it. Just state the problems and post it. Guys like me will take advantage of a good fix-er-upper. You might get a little less money but less hassle with ebay shipping, boxing up stuff and waiting for money.
Good Luck,
Rob
You should offer it on Ebay or local as it. Just state the problems and post it. Guys like me will take advantage of a good fix-er-upper. You might get a little less money but less hassle with ebay shipping, boxing up stuff and waiting for money.
Good Luck,
Rob
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Treemonkey1000
Veteran Member
I agree with Soundguy on his assesment of the mechanics attitude. Find a crate motor sort of and get back out there and get dirty. I have been trying to see if there are any Tractor Wrecking yards out there to scrounge parts from. That would be a nice way to make some extra income if you had the acreage to store tractors and time to part them out.
