I have a 1978 Case-David Brown that 2 years ago broke crank at 45 degree angle in # 1 rod it was running 900 RPM's at the time.I had it rebuilt with new crank ,pistons all valves and seats,now 2 years later and 206 hours while brushhoging last night at 1400 rpms the new crank broke at the back edge of # 1 rod again .Any ideas,could the balancer be bad somehow and be the cause.thanks for your time
Case-David Brown broken crank
- Thread starter fuzzy31
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Renze
Elite Member
Dont blame a balancer shaft, dont blame yourself (the mechanic who installed the new crank i suppose ?) just sell that piece of **** and, if you inist om something Case-IH, get a German built IHC-Case, those will run forever. English built IHC have fine motors too but the build quality is lower than the German ones. D-B is just a mistake, the breaking crankshafts is a very well known problem with Case DB engines.
Woodbeef
Veteran Member
Try getting ahold of Elmer the DB Guru over at his site. David Brown Home
Big_Cajun
Silver Member
I'd have to agree with Renze on this one (even though English built engines either leak or don't run, haha). I've always been told by everyone to stay away from DB tractors. If the tractor's sale is feasible for you, by all means pitch it. If not, I wish you luck with it.
BC
BC
Renze
Elite Member
I have a cousin in Canada who had a white painted DB, which had the same problem. The crankshaft of 4 cylinder DB engines has only 3 main bearings, which causes heavy vibrations and elastic deformation of the crank, causing crank break due to fatigue. The diff lock was crappy as well, when ploughing snow, you had to stop both wheels fully before engaging the diff lock or the claw splattered apart.
The last 3 bearing 4 cyl crankshaft i've seen was the Standard motor 4 cyl diesel of a MF 35, which didnt have a very good reputation either. The 3 cyl. engine sold by Frank Perkins as a replacement for existing gas fergies, outlived the factory mounted Standard diesel engine a decade or 2....
DB is like a French automobile: you either swear AT them or you swear BY them...
The last 3 bearing 4 cyl crankshaft i've seen was the Standard motor 4 cyl diesel of a MF 35, which didnt have a very good reputation either. The 3 cyl. engine sold by Frank Perkins as a replacement for existing gas fergies, outlived the factory mounted Standard diesel engine a decade or 2....
DB is like a French automobile: you either swear AT them or you swear BY them...
BigCrzyRdNeck
Member
i have a david brown 880a and beside the three point stop working one day cant blame it 30yrs old i would put her up against a jd or any thing her size maybe even bigger. its one the thoughest 45hp ive seen. i love mine and cant wiat to fix her might sale the mf when i get her fixed.
Robert_in_NY
Super Member
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David Brown doesn't have a great reputation but I always thought that was because of the water the engineers were drinking when they designed these tractors.
My ex's family has a 990 diesel on their dairy farm, it was the primary tractor there and has been very beat and abused. Yet it starts up every day regardless of temp and runs forever. The 3pt hitch doesn't work but that isn't anything new. I ended up servicing the tractor for them and I think it was the first time that tractor has had any fluids changed in 10 years
The engine had a slight oil leak which is what helped it. They would add a quart of oil every so often so that is how it had its oil change.
I hated to run that tractor as it was very crude and foreign but it was reliable.
My ex's family has a 990 diesel on their dairy farm, it was the primary tractor there and has been very beat and abused. Yet it starts up every day regardless of temp and runs forever. The 3pt hitch doesn't work but that isn't anything new. I ended up servicing the tractor for them and I think it was the first time that tractor has had any fluids changed in 10 years
The engine had a slight oil leak which is what helped it. They would add a quart of oil every so often so that is how it had its oil change.I hated to run that tractor as it was very crude and foreign but it was reliable.
BigCrzyRdNeck
Member
yea when i first got mine it ws weird things were a little backwards. she does always start. shes the hardest diesel to reprime ive ever seen. i guess itss the age but in the winter she needa a little help firing up or you will never start her. ive never seen a 3 cyclinder need a 1000 ca battery before. if i dont have one it will spin twice and if no start hang it up and pull her. we used to always just pull her in the winter instead of using the key.
Slacker
Gold Member
Here are a few pics of my neighbors DB990. As you can see, the PTO output shaft broke in two. I blame the operator, as he bushhogged things that I wouldn't cut with a chainsaw. He's having a hard time finding a replacement output shaft for it. Other than the pto stub busting, the old girl runs like a swiss watch.
JESSE1
Veteran Member
We bought a new 990 DB in '76. Never had any problems with it. It was a good, heavy tractor. Kept it 12 years, wish I still had it.
After changing the fuel filter, open the bleed valve at the fuel filters and operate the manual pump until fuel comes out. Close that bleed and open the bleed on the injector pump and operate the manual pump. Close the injector pump bleed and loosen the fuel line connections going to each injector. Open the throttle WIDE OPEN and crank the engine (it won't start) until fuel comes out the connections. Tighten the fittings and the injection system should be free of air.
After changing the fuel filter, open the bleed valve at the fuel filters and operate the manual pump until fuel comes out. Close that bleed and open the bleed on the injector pump and operate the manual pump. Close the injector pump bleed and loosen the fuel line connections going to each injector. Open the throttle WIDE OPEN and crank the engine (it won't start) until fuel comes out the connections. Tighten the fittings and the injection system should be free of air.
