Tractor might be shot - now working on compression testing and have questions

[RayIN]

Sorry guys, shade tree mechanic over here...just went back and re-looked at the head and in fact the #2 exhaust valve seat is missing, this explains the metal, damage and lack of compression.

Whew, at least I know where the metal came from, now the question of whether or not the head can be re-used or if a new on is in order (regardless of head outcome, a new piston and rings will be ordered at a min).

Thank for the help so far.

I'd wait on ordering new parts until you are sure that cylinder liner does not need replacing or bored over-size.

 

[Williy]

A bad head gasket leaks water into the cylinder then when compression time water don't compress something has to give and its usually the piston or piston rod or both

willy

 

[dodge man]

I was talking about machining all the dings out of the middle of the head lowering compression.

 

[Omnipotent]

So in doing some research it appears that if the engine overheats it can drop the seat due to expansion. I do know that there was overheating, but I don't know if it was before the seat dropped or prior and yes, we did have coolant mixed with oil, but again not sure if the chicken or egg came first.

Regardless, went to remove the oil pan to get at the bottom end, but you can't remove the oil pan without splitting the tractor, so I'm back to that now. Unless someone can explain to me how to get at the center bolt on top of the axle above the propeller shaft, can't even get an open ended wrench on it as it sits and even if I could, not sure it would drop enough to clear to pull the pan out.

BTW, I hate engineers who sit on a damn computer and design this crap without thinking about the people who have to work on it. I get splitting tractors is something that has been done since tractor #1 was invented but to split a tractor to remove an oil plan is just ridiculous.

 

[WinterDeere]

Maybe it's easier to just jack up the front of the tractor and drop the front axle an inch or three? Might not even need to disconnect the steering hoses or linkage, if you're just looking to buy a few inches.

 

[Williy]

I never worked on a diesel engine and was wondering if the spring broke of lost its tension could this be the cause of the valve guide getting loose and did the damage?

willy

 

[Omnipotent]

I never worked on a diesel engine and was wondering if the spring broke of lost its tension could this be the cause of the valve guide getting loose and did the damage?

willy

Nope, retainer, spring and all other "top side" cylinder components were in place, just the valve seat itself fell into the chamber and that caused my issues.

 

[Carl_NH]

So it was the valve seat - IMO if you can clean up scarring on the top of the piston and get the head and valves in order /machined and in good shape, put in a new head gasket and give it a go before you split the tractor?

 

[Williy]

I have never put a sleeve on an engine but is it possible to
bore cylinder then sleeve it?

willy

 

[RayIN]

I was talking about machining all the dings out of the middle of the head lowering compression.

That might be a possibility with judicious use of a die grinder and the proper carbide cutting bits and grinding wheel bits. The "dings' wouldn't have to be removed, just smoothed up and eliminate sharp edges.