How are we doing?

[JackRobin]

Hey Guys,

It's almost spring time, a lot of you will pull out your Power Tracs for various spring time projects. How are the engines performing? Any issues I should be aware of?

I know I haven't been around much and my PM box is empty, which is good I think?

Regards,

Jack Gawecki
Subaru Power Products
Technical Support Dept.

 

[BobRip]

Over 500 hours on my 422 engine and still going strong.

 

[Phils]

Hiya Jack! Spring is VERY MUCH arrived here in Northern California. Mid-eighties this week. With the time change and the climate change it seemed to jump from March to June in one weekend!

I know you are aware of the poor exhaust manifold/muffler arrangement on the smaller PTs. Is there anything available from Robin (or anyplace else) that would fit and work better, i.e. no backfires or run-on? I know my engine is running hotter than it should/could because of the extra heat NOT being properly carried away by the exhaust system. I'd be more concerned about damage from the extra heat if I didn't run synthetic oil but it'd still be better to improve this setup.

Beechwood made an excellent modification with two aftermarket mufflers but they fell apart after 16 hours. He changed them over to some glass packs. He used to have photos here http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/87286-180-mods.html but has removed them.

Any ideas? Does Robin make and sell any exhaust systems for the engines?

Phil

 

[RegL]

Hiya Jack! Spring is VERY MUCH arrived here in Northern California. Mid-eighties this week. With the time change and the climate change it seemed to jump from March to June in one weekend!

I know you are aware of the poor exhaust manifold/muffler arrangement on the smaller PTs. Is there anything available from Robin (or anyplace else) that would fit and work better, i.e. no backfires or run-on? I know my engine is running hotter than it should/could because of the extra heat NOT being properly carried away by the exhaust system. I'd be more concerned about damage from the extra heat if I didn't run synthetic oil but it'd still be better to improve this setup.

Beechwood made an excellent modification with two aftermarket mufflers but they fell apart after 16 hours. He changed them over to some glass packs. He used to have photos here http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/87286-180-mods.html but has removed them.

Any ideas? Does Robin make and sell any exhaust systems for the engines?

Phil

Spring arrived here to. It was in the seventies yesterday. Now we are predicted to get a foot and a half of snow between tonight and Saturday. I guess that's March for you.

 

[BobRip]

I would like to have a quieter engine. Mine is the old system that goes out left and right. I am open to suggestions.

 

[ldabe]

I would like to have a quieter engine. Mine is the old system that goes out left and right. I am open to suggestions.

Yeah! Who wouldn't?
I have the muffler with two ports also, but It seemed to me that the air from the exhaust only blew out one side.

Jack, buy the way, I had my engine oil filter come loose. Is that an unsual thing, or does the vibration cause that to be something that I should make a habit of checking to see if it is tight?
It is a bit of a pain to get to.

Thanks,
Abe.

 

[ldabe]

That last sentence should have said
'It is a bit of a pain to get to in such tight quarters.'

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah! Who wouldn't?
I have the muffler with two ports also, but It seemed to me that the air from the exhaust only blew out one side.

I think there was some discussion about this a few years ago. One of the ports is exhaust, the other draws air in to help cool the muffler.

 

[ldabe]

I think there was some discussion about this a few years ago. One of the ports is exhaust, the other draws air in to help cool the muffler.

That makes sense MR.
Is your muffler the same way?
And by the way, I guess I should have asked everyone, what I asked Jack...have you ever had your engine oil filter come loose?

 

[MossRoad]

I've got a Kohler engine with a Kohler muffler. It exhits out the rear of the tractor. My oil filter has never come loose, either. It is just a spin on type on the right side of the engine.

Here's a link to a pictue of it. The muffler is obvious. The engine oil filter is black and is directly below the yellow oil filler cap.

 

[Barryh]

Yeah! Who wouldn't?
I have the muffler with two ports also, but It seemed to me that the air from the exhaust only blew out one side.

Jack, buy the way, I had my engine oil filter come loose. Is that an unsual thing, or does the vibration cause that to be something that I should make a habit of checking to see if it is tight?
It is a bit of a pain to get to.

Thanks,
Abe.

I know you may already do this if not, might be something to try next time. Just coating the seal ring on your filter with a little oil may give you that extra half turn when you tighten down your filter.

I know it is (extremely hard) to get my big hands in the small engine compartment area to do this. So anything that = less resistance helps. To date mine has not come loose.

 

[MuncyBob]

I did have a slight oil leak laast year and it was the filter not being tight enough....whew!, thought I had MAJOR problems at first! Can't honestly say if it worked loose or if the installer(me) didn't tighten it enough...although I normally hand tighten as much as possible and then go 1/4 to 1/2 turn more with the filter wrench.

 

[MossRoad]

I was always told to never use a wrench to put an oil filer on. Anyone else ever hear that?

 

[Bob999]

I was always told to never use a wrench to put an oil filer on. Anyone else ever hear that?

Yes--I have always understood, and I think the directions on most oil filters say, that the filter should be hand tightened. The directions also say to coat the gasket with oil--it prevents the gasket from sticking to the sealing surface when tightening or removing the filter.

 

[MuncyBob]

I also have heard not to use a wrench, unfortunatley arthitic conditions prohibit me from getting the filter tight enough by hand anymore. I learned the hard way years ago not to tighten with a wrench...that filter and the garage floor were a mess by the time I finiched mutilating the casing trying to get it off!