YM226D Project

[tc197]

Pulled the crankshaft out and with it came the intermediate main bearings/housings. Below is a video showing the condition of the bearings/housings.

After taking the intermediate bearings off I cleaned the crankshaft and set out to begin inspecting/measuring it to see how far out of tolerance it would be. I ran into a few issues that I'm hoping someone here might be able to help me clear up. Here is an image from my manual:

For the connecting rod bearing journals - everything seems ok. The manual specs make sense and I am getting measurements on the crankshaft of 1.7301-.17303. I will do a full work up checking size in several directions to make sure nothing seems off later, but for now this is the least of my worries.

For the crankshaft main bearing journals I am very confused.

1. For the OD of rear bearing journal, the imperial spec appears to have typos. The manual states 2.577-2.558 with a wear limit of 2.560. Those numbers don't make sense so I checked the metric specs listed and realized there appears to be a unit conversion issue. The metric specs when properly converted state 2.557-2.558 with a wear limit of 2.556. I am getting measurement readings from 2.5430-2.5575. These readings reinforce my theory that a unit conversion mistake was made, and it makes sense the range is so wide because I can see/feel ridges and my previous videos show how much slop there was between the crank and block.

2. For the OD of front and intermediate bearing journals, the spec appears to just be completely wrong. It is listed at 2.360-2.361 with a wear limit of 2.359. I am getting measurement readings in the range of 1.8470-1.8486. If the spec were correct it would imply that I wore this journal out by a half an inch. The driving factor for why I believe I didn't wear these journals out that bad is the fact that the rear bearing journal mentioned above is only wore out on the order of .015". I don't think it's possible to wear the intermediate journals .500" and the rear only .015", but maybe I'm wrong? The metric spec matches the imperial spec so there doesn't appear to be a unit conversion issue. Any thoughts on what's going on here?

Thanks for the help!

 

[bmaverick]

Pulled the crankshaft out and with it came the intermediate main bearings/housings. Below is a video showing the condition of the bearings/housings.

After taking the intermediate bearings off I cleaned the crankshaft and set out to begin inspecting/measuring it to see how far out of tolerance it would be. I ran into a few issues that I'm hoping someone here might be able to help me clear up. Here is an image from my manual:

View attachment 710324

For the connecting rod bearing journals - everything seems ok. The manual specs make sense and I am getting measurements on the crankshaft of 1.7301-.17303. I will do a full work up checking size in several directions to make sure nothing seems off later, but for now this is the least of my worries.

For the crankshaft main bearing journals I am very confused.

1. For the OD of rear bearing journal, the imperial spec appears to have typos. The manual states 2.577-2.558 with a wear limit of 2.560. Those numbers don't make sense so I checked the metric specs listed and realized there appears to be a unit conversion issue. The metric specs when properly converted state 2.557-2.558 with a wear limit of 2.556. I am getting measurement readings from 2.5430-2.5575. These readings reinforce my theory that a unit conversion mistake was made, and it makes sense the range is so wide because I can see/feel ridges and my previous videos show how much slop there was between the crank and block.

2. For the OD of front and intermediate bearing journals, the spec appears to just be completely wrong. It is listed at 2.360-2.361 with a wear limit of 2.359. I am getting measurement readings in the range of 1.8470-1.8486. If the spec were correct it would imply that I wore this journal out by a half an inch. The driving factor for why I believe I didn't wear these journals out that bad is the fact that the rear bearing journal mentioned above is only wore out on the order of .015". I don't think it's possible to wear the intermediate journals .500" and the rear only .015", but maybe I'm wrong? The metric spec matches the imperial spec so there doesn't appear to be a unit conversion issue. Any thoughts on what's going on here?

Thanks for the help!

YES, there are type-o's in the manuals. rScotty has made mention of this a few times in the forum here. Glad you have a good eye and a pocket calculate to either multiple 25.4 or to divide by 25.4 to get one direction or the other in the imperial system or metric system.

 

[tc197]

Spoke with a local machine shop today and determined the block and crankshaft are not worth fixing. All options moving forward appear very expensive and I'm not even sure how the rest of the tractor functions. It would suck to shell out 3k+ to get the parts and rebuild the engine just to find out I have more major issues with the tractor. Currently looking at 900 for a block, 600 for a crankshaft, 550 for the intermediate and rear bearing housings, 375 for a governor assembly, 200 for an oil pump and then a rebuild kit on top of that. I'm not sure where to go from here.

 

[California]

I've won more gambles like that than I've lost, across many examples, but you need to accept that you occasionally lose the bet, and need to bail out of the mess.

My worst case was an old Mercedes diesel sedan that a friend of a friend abandoned at the ranch when I was a teen. I had to go to the Mercedes dealer in San Francisco for the expensive torq-like driver to remove the pan bolts. Discovered the tempered-steel rollers in the timing chain (like bicycle chain) had disintegrated then the owner drove it another 75 miles back to civilization. Everything touched by motor oil had been scoured by tempered steel fragments. Lots of awful noises, not just the rods and mains knocking. I buttoned it back up and sold it for half the $100 I had paid for it.

My wins (My YM240 for example) exceed my lost bets. Gambling that something is repairable is worthwhile.

But really if you recognize that thing is unrepairable, then just put it on Craigslist 'As-Is For Parts' and save yourself from many nightmares. Better luck next time!

 

[ponytug]

Sorry about the bad news. Sometimes, I think helps to figure out whether you want a tractor, to make money on a deal, earn a living, or this particular tractor, and what makes economic sense.

If you spend $3k on another tractor, what are the hidden gotchas in that one? Nobody knows.

I sometimes buy old equipment and restore them, just because I like the equipment, and enjoy the process of bringing beautiful old machines back to life and service. (Mine aren't show pieces; they function, at specification, or better.) Most of them have no return on investment, but they aren't super expensive, and I didn't buy them to make money on them. I bought them to entertain me during the rebuild, and as a fringe benefit, I ended up with some useful, and interesting to me, tools. Sometimes, I get the covers off, and the news isn't good. I had an electric motor that was going to cost many hundreds for the repair, which didn't make sense to keep a period motor going, but figuring I had nothing to lose, I got way farther inside the wiring, learned something, and was able to repair it close to new. I had fun, and I wasn't depending on it to earn a living or maintain the ranch.

My prime ranch tractor can't be down for too many hours, and my service tools, stock parts, and repair timelines reflect that. I couldn't do what you have done on this tractor; I can't afford the down time. If this were a standby tractor, it would be a different story, for me.

There is an amusing (to me) YouTube channel, "Marty T", a former New Zealand forester, who seems to have a knack for obtaining old equipment for trailering costs and rebuilds them to "good enough for farm work" condition. He seems to have a good mechanical sense for how little should be done to see if the project is worth moving forward on. I get the feeling that there are a few that don't make the grade. (He also runs "Angry Ram", which is not about trucks.)

Again, sorry for the pricey bad news. I think you have done a great job working the issues, and I am sorry it didn't turn out to be a cheap fix.

All the best,

Peter

 

[tc197]

I've been searching all over for various options to keep this project moving forward and have found little as far as tractors/engines for sale go. I've been checking ebay, craigslist, tractor auction sites all over the country and then this just popped up for sale and is less than an hour from me.

It's the exact same tractor (ym226d) and visually is in way nicer condition than mine. I spoke to the guy selling it and the engine is currently being rebuilt but he has everything to complete the rebuild. The story is that the previous owner used starting fluid to get it going and cracked the rings. I was told the injectors and pump were just rebuilt and that he has the new pistons and rings to put in it. He said the cylinders were fine, although it doesn't seem like the sleeves are hard to replace, and as far as he knows everything else works. The tractor has 400ish hours on it and he is asking $4500.

Compared to spending over 3k in parts, this seems like a way better deal but I'd love some outside opinions if anyone has one. If I purchased this tractor my plan is to make my current tractor the parts tractor and get this new one running. I would move the hydraulics/loader over to this one and end up with a ton of spare parts to either keep on hand or sell to recoup some costs. I think I would come out ahead as far as being invested about 5k into a complete and running ym226d with loader and rops plus a parts tractor, but I'd love some feedback. Thanks!

 

[bmaverick]

I've been searching all over for various options to keep this project moving forward and have found little as far as tractors/engines for sale go. I've been checking ebay, craigslist, tractor auction sites all over the country and then this just popped up for sale and is less than an hour from me.

View attachment 712551
View attachment 712552
View attachment 712553

It's the exact same tractor (ym226d) and visually is in way nicer condition than mine. I spoke to the guy selling it and the engine is currently being rebuilt but he has everything to complete the rebuild. The story is that the previous owner used starting fluid to get it going and cracked the rings. I was told the injectors and pump were just rebuilt and that he has the new pistons and rings to put in it. He said the cylinders were fine, although it doesn't seem like the sleeves are hard to replace, and as far as he knows everything else works. The tractor has 400ish hours on it and he is asking $4500.

Compared to spending over 3k in parts, this seems like a way better deal but I'd love some outside opinions if anyone has one. If I purchased this tractor my plan is to make my current tractor the parts tractor and get this new one running. I would move the hydraulics/loader over to this one and end up with a ton of spare parts to either keep on hand or sell to recoup some costs. I think I would come out ahead as far as being invested about 5k into a complete and running ym226d with loader and rops plus a parts tractor, but I'd love some feedback. Thanks!

The sleeves are simple to replace with a hydraulic press and a good 48 hour chill down in a freezer. Ideally, the engine in a cold winter night and the sleeves pulled out for an early morning install is the perfect way to go.

I would believe you would be far ahead because there would still be a parts machine.

The key is to get at least 50hours on the rebuilt machine to know for certain its going to hold up.

 

[California]

... being invested about 5k into a complete and running ym226d with loader and rops plus a parts tractor, but I'd love some feedback.

I would do it. Those tractors are hard to find, especially as nice as your combo tractor will be.

 

[bmaverick]

I would do it. Those tractors are hard to find, especially as nice as your combo tractor will be.

At the present time, tractors have increased in value. Seems the tractor forums across the web and into other countries have people looking for a machine. Having both machines would be a sure win and even better should one sell both together years down the road. It's better than insurance, it's like a vault of gold.

 

[tc197]

Looks like I'll be pulling the trigger on this. Hope to have the new tractor by the end of the weekend. Thank you all for the feedback.