Cracked Block Repair

Dave240 · Oct 31, 2013

Hello, Folks...
I have a 1958 International Harvester 240 Utility tractor with a C-123. I'm doing a total rebuild on the engine and while I pressed the sleeves out of the block yesterday I noticed two hair-line cracks in the block behind where the carbureator would be if the engine were assembled. I'm going to attempt to patch the cracks if I cant locate anyone who can weld it. I have had some old-hands tell me that a patch will be better...patches range from windshield sealant to J.B. Weld.
I'm going to attempt to weld/patch from the inside so it wont be noticible. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Dave

yomax4 · Oct 31, 2013

You will need to stop the crack from spreading. Drill a small hole at the ends of the crack if you can be sure that its the end. If its valuable, I would take it and have it magnafluxed to be sure where the crack ends. After that I would bevel it out slightly and repair it with a spray powder torch. If you were closer I would enjoy doing that repair. Of course you could have it stick welded. I'm not a patch guy but many have had the patch process work for them..

art · Nov 1, 2013

I don't know that you could get to it on the inside with a welder. The JB weld does work some times just be sure you clean it well. Best patch is welding. I have one tractor that I remember being welded in our shop over 40 years ago and it is still holding! We had our doubts as it has about 30 plus inches of weld both vertical and horizontal.

Dave240 · Nov 3, 2013

Thanks for the replies, Fellas...Art, I was able to get my pneumatic die and angle grinder in to clean up around the suspected area. The area is roughly wrist -deep beyond where the sleeves sit. I'm gonna have it magna fluxed first just to make sure. I'm still not totally convinced its cracked. It appears to be a casting flaw...of the two suspect areas, I'm convinced that the smaller of the two is a casting mar or "smudge". The other is less than an inch from the other and is longer and more pronounced. When I got the sleeves out it was evident that the cracks/flaws came thru to the inside but were slightly off-set...the mark inside is higher than the mark outside by as much as a half inch. There is 'rib' for strength that seperates the cracks from one another.
I'll let y'all know what happens.
Thanks again

Dave240 · Nov 4, 2013

Dave240 said:
Thanks for the replies, Fellas...Art, I was able to get my pneumatic die and angle grinder in to clean up around the suspected area. The area is roughly wrist -deep beyond where the sleeves sit. I'm gonna have it magna fluxed first just to make sure. I'm still not totally convinced its cracked. It appears to be a casting flaw...of the two suspect areas, I'm convinced that the smaller of the two is a casting mar or "smudge". The other is less than an inch from the other and is longer and more pronounced. When I got the sleeves out it was evident that the cracks/flaws came thru to the inside but were slightly off-set...the mark inside is higher than the mark outside by as much as a half inch. There is 'rib' for strength that seperates the cracks from one another.
I'll let y'all know what happens.
Thanks again

Good News! The magnaflux test shows that the block is fine.....thanks for the replies!