Engine will not turn over. Where to start?

[gemini5362]

If the engine locks up and it wont turn over that might be too many hours on a used machine some people might say

 

[flusher]

while i'm writing a book here, let me ask, how many hours on a used machine is too many? really broad question, i know, but any rule of thumb may help.

thanks again for your replies.

Check the thread "Buying Used" in the Buying/Pricing/Comparisons forum to get answers/opinions on your hours question.

 

[john_bud]

{snip}
my thinking is similar to both of yours, in that $3200 is a nice down payment on another tractor. i would like to get one that my wife could drive, she literally couldn't push the clutch pedal down on the long, she would lift out of the seat. there's a 1993 ford 2120 w/ loader and 394 hours for about $11k that i'm going to try to get out and look at.

while i'm writing a book here, let me ask, how many hours on a used machine is too many? really broad question, i know, but any rule of thumb may help.

thanks again for your replies.

Cacinok,

That 2120 is a real nice machine and the loader will do well over a ton. With 394 hours on it, it's a good price at 11K.

Hours are subjective. That 2120 is 13 years old and has done only 30 hours a year. We assume that it had good maintenance, but it could have the factory oil in it. That would make it a bad deal! A tractor with 4000 hours may have had maintenance done on schedule by the book and be in great shape. Check the usual maintenance things, grease on the zerks, clean oil, no water in the diff or trans, evidence that the trans and diff plugs have been pulled (can't change oil otherwise), brakes adjusted, tappets quiet, compression good (gas engine is easy, you can specify it on a diesel at a dealers lot if you negotiate it), no leakes, use the FEL to pick the front and check bearings. You know, the normal stuff.

good luck!
jb

 

[Cacinok]

flusher thanks for the reference, i'd done some searching, but not found too much.

john, good info thanks. i'm hoping to get out and look at the ford. oddly though, my wife doesn't think looking at tractors is an enjoyable Christmas time activity.lol. especially since the dealer that has the ford is a couple hours away in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Who makes the engine in that tractor?

 

[Cacinok]

Who makes the engine in that tractor?

i believe it was long, in romania. i'll double check when i get time, which seems to be non existent this time of year.

 

[Cacinok]

Without being able to turn the engine over just pulling the valve cover may not show much. Look for rocker arms with alot of clearance. Pulling the rocker arms or shafts would be the best. Put a strait edge across the top of all the valves and see which ones don't come up all the way or come up to far. Those will be the problem.

i finally had time to get out and pull the valve cover. none of the valves are obviously damaged or absent, at least from what is viewable. also, none of the rocker arms have more clearance than the others, all of the valve springs are in good condition. i didn't pull the rocker arms, however. given the fact the engine will not turn, at all, i'm leaning towards a spun bearing.

 

[Dusty]

If you can pull the pan and take a peek, it might be worth while. If it is a spun bearing, you might get away with cleaning it up and putting in a new bearing. It isn't recommended to do so, but I have put new bearings in without turning the crankshaft in the past and have lucked out, not having a problem. It is called band aid mechanics, but sometimes the quick and easy fix that cost very little will work and get you on your way. At this point, you don't have a lot to loose. The way it is, the tractor is just about worthless, so if you put $100 into a bearing and get it going, that is great. I hope that you get lucky and can get it running again. If not, hopefully some one that is mechanically inclined will buy it from you and you will recoup some of your investment.
Dusty

 

[cp1969]

If you are able to 'band-aid' this engine back together and get it running, PLEASE make the buyer aware of this before he buys it. That is the only decent thing to do.

Hate to see new poster asking about his Locked-up Long, about which he had no idea of it's engine condition prior to buying it.

 

[KICK]

If the engine locks up and it wont turn over that might be too many hours on a used machine some people might say

most likely a part failed, could or could not have anything to do with maintnence.

you can do all the PM's in the world and not prevent a valve from breaking and falling into the piston.

as they say ...... ***** happens.