Case 480e rebuild question.

[Edypaul]

I just bought a case 480e with a stuck 4-390 diesel. I have serched the fourm to find out if you can remove the oil pan and do an inframe rebuild with not too much effort. I have yet to find the answers ??

 

[DJ54]

Why is the engine stuck, and how many hours are on it..?? Those would be my first two questions. If it has in the neighborhood of 5000 hours on it, the crankshaft will probably need looked at. You could plasticgage all journals, but not a fun job laying on your back.

Seized due to water in the cylinders..?? It may not be likely there, but if it got cold enough to freeze, if it cracked a liner/sleeve, it's possible it could have cracked the block between cylinders. You'd likely want, at least the block magna-fluxed. You might as well have the head checked while it's apart.

I'd vote for pulling the engine, and putting it on an engine stand, where it's easy to work on. If you would happen to plastigage the crank, and it would need cleaned up, you'd need to pull the engine anyway, to remove the crank. Just my opinion...

 

[Edypaul]

Thanks for the reply and the advice. Is it possable to do it in frame?

 

[Edypaul]

Do not know the hours. Its been setting for 6 months per the previous owner. He said it was running when he parked it. I have a manual on the way. We live in Florida so no chance of freezing. I find it hard to believe that sitting for 6 months will seize an engine. It looks pretty sealed up. Going to pull the hyd pump off to see if its stuck.

Ed

 

[rScotty]

Thanks for the reply and the advice. Is it possable to do it in frame?

Maybe. Possible or not depends on why it's stuck. I don't know the 480 specifically, but with most engines you can pull the head and pan in the frame to see what you have. If I was young again that's what I'd do.....basically figuring maybe I'll get get lucky and can fix it in the frame for the cost of rings and gaskets. If you do have to pull the engine, having the head off gives you convenient mounting points for a chain hoist.

On the other hand, I'm NOT young again and hate working laying on my back.... nowadays I'd probably do as DJ54 recommends. But I've done it the other way successfully. Just not on a Case 480.

BTW, those are nice tractors. I still see them in service - especially at local sand and gravel construction sites. 4 speed with reverser, powerful loader,big 3pt, and PS. What's not to like?

Oh, and another thing. Before you start in pulling the head and pan, make **** sure that it isn't the clutch or starter that is bound up instead of some internal engine part. You'd feel real dumb if you pulled a good engine apart and found that it was fine but couldn't turn because of some peripheral component. I've even seen tractors coming from flood areas that have the the clutch housing filled with mud and then rusting solid enough to make you think the engine is stuck.

A starter can lock up an engine if the starter gear is locked to the flywheel ring gear. If you simply take the starter off, that will eliminate that possibility. You probably want to rebuild the starter anyway.
Everytime you take something off, put a socket and cheater bar on the cranknut and see if you can turn it.
I imagine you have already done that, and maybe pulled the injectors to pour in oil as well..... ?

rScotty

 

[Edypaul]

Previous owner put a new starter on it. I received it with the starter off. Tried to turn it over with pry bar . No Joy. It has a shuttle transmission and a torque converter with a hyd pump on the front. If it had a standard clutch i would have tried to pull start it!
This is a farm tractor so it does not need to be perfect . Right now its a lawn ornament ( according to my Wife !) Im looking for a quick fix....

Thx Ed