Minneapolis Moline BF restoration - progress

[flusher]

A few months ago I described the 1951 MM-BF that I bought last Jan

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/vintage-tractors/136417-minneapolis-moline-bf.html

Finally finished with haying until Sep. So today I pulled the cylinder head. Previous testing showed that none of the 4 cylinders was holding much compression. The engine is a Hercules 1XB3SL ("SL" means cylinder sleeves).

Crud in the exhaust ports and in the manifold also.

Lotsa carbon on the valves. They probably don't seat worth a darn.

Some crub on the pistons. Sleeves are glazed but otherwise don't look too bad. Hope they're salvagable.

Head looks pretty good.

I'll pull the engine next week and get the pistons out. Anxious to see the condition of the rings.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

ah, sleeved engines.....the very reason the 8n ford is still going strong......

yeah, from the initial looks, just hone the cylinders to put some hatch back in them, and a new set of rings.......

keep us posted.....pics are good....

out of all the tractors grandpa has owned he always referred to the MM as, (in a deep voice and emphasis on the M's) "THE Big MInneapolis MOline!)

 

[dfkrug]

I'll pull the engine next week and get the pistons out. Anxious to see the condition of the rings.

Wow, Ray, that flathead looks pretty bad. For parts, you might try
Dave and Sue Steiner at Steiner Tractor Parts, Steiner Tractor Parts New Restoration Quality Parts for Antique Tractors.

 

[WilliamBos]

I will be following this too. And eventually, I will have a thread of my own too.

 

[flusher]

Wow, Ray, that flathead looks pretty bad. For parts, you might try
Dave and Sue Steiner at Steiner Tractor Parts, Steiner Tractor Parts New Restoration Quality Parts for Antique Tractors.

Thanks for the lead. Won't know how bad it is until I can pull the pistons and valves. Probably in early Aug.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Mornin Ray,
That looks to be a good project !

I was born in 51 also , Im hoping I dont look quite that bad inside !

Keep us posted on updates and of course pics too !

 

[flusher]

Good Mornin Ray,
That looks to be a good project !

I was born in 51 also , Im hoping I dont look quite that bad inside !

Keep us posted on updates and of course pics too !

OK. More photos.
Finally got finished with other chores (bale squeeze hydraulics, removing old farm fence) that wiped out July. So Aug is going to be devoted to the BF.

Need to get that engine pulled. First get the steering unit removed.

Then the engine. According to the BF I&T service manual, you're supposed to be able to remove the clutch bell housing by removing the drive shaft, unbolting the bell housing and sliding it backwards.

I couldn't get it separated very much and the clutch rod was trapped by the torque tube bracket.

So, need to remove the torque tube.

Now the engine comes out --no problem.

That gantry hoist is a 1-ton model from Harbor Freight. Trolley and chain hoist also HF.
I replaced the 5" plastic tire casters with 5" cast iron wheel casters from McMaster Carr so I could roll the gantry around safely. I also added four adjustable outriggers to stabilize the gantry front-to-back.

Next- remove the clutch, flywheel. Attach the block to the engine stand and tear that sucker down.

 

[bontai_Joe]

Looking good so far. Any surprises on the motor? Your earlier pics showed a block in decent condition.

 

[flusher]

Looking good so far. Any surprises on the motor? Your earlier pics showed a block in decent condition.

No engine surprises.
I removed the clutch yesterday.
I think I'll start a new thread on this topic and use thumbnails instead of these larger images. This thread is taking too long to load.

 

[dfkrug]

Rather than use PhotoBucket as an intermediary, you can upload JPG images
directly to TBN with less fuss. I find that you can upload fully detailed
images of as small as 80KB that fill a 17" screen. I could not do that
with PhotoStudio 5, which is freeware that comes with some scanners and
cameras. I have recently moved to Photoshop Elements 7 (about $50),
which makes cropping and shrinking easier, and also gives JPG compression
control for reduction of file sizes. It makes my picture posting easier. Easy
to use. Highly recommended.

I am looking FWD to more inside pix.