The Dark Wob

Hooli wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2023 9:28 pm Aye that looks quite well fucked.

Throwing new shells in to see what happens?

Probably and some very thick oil. Can't see me getting away with it though. I see a crankshaft regrind on the horizon. Hopefully no bearing debris has caused scoring in the cylinders.

DodgeRover wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2023 9:40 pm I think that crank might polish up ok especially if you can't feel anything, have seen far far worse shells.

On the positive side tractor bits are usually cheap!

I hope you're right. My hymac kept going until it spun a bearing, they were that bad.

Better wait and see what the other bearings look like

Update on the DB

I changed all the big end bearings. The middle two were in a bad way, as previously shown, whilst the outer two bearings were like new.
I wondered if the oil ways were blocked or something and will blow through with the air line.

It's impossible to get the main bearings out without lifting the engine. The bottom half of the casing is part of the tractor frame.

The middle main bearing can be got at if the oil pump is removed. This was a pain in itself and I had to make a pipe spanner from an old 13/16 ringer to get at one awkward nut.

Anyway, to cut a long story less long, I eventually got the middle main bearing cap off and was met with the unpleasant sight of spun bearings.

The shaft is in a bad way. I'll try and clean it up in situ although who knows how bad the outer mains are. Not much to lose by putting it back with new middle main bearings and seeing what happens.

Random photos below.




The bad news. I should only be looking at one shell but you can see they've spun.

Bits of bearing metal stuck to the crankshaft

I suppose failures like this are why you sometimes see old agricultural stuff in the middle of a crop, carefully cultivated around....

That looks quite well fucked there, good luck

Any engines coming up for auction you could rebuild and put in? Mind if that one starts ok when cold it might just be easier to split it and have the crank ground whilst replacing the clutch etc then at least you know what you are starting with.

DodgeRover wrote: ↑Wed Sep 06, 2023 11:26 am Any engines coming up for auction you could rebuild and put in? Mind if that one starts ok when cold it might just be easier to split it and have the crank ground whilst replacing the clutch etc then at least you know what you are starting with.

I will look into having the crankshaft ground or even replacing it as they're not terribly expensive.

It's the thought of splitting the tractor

Drum wrote: ↑Wed Sep 06, 2023 9:09 pm

DodgeRover wrote: ↑Wed Sep 06, 2023 11:26 am Any engines coming up for auction you could rebuild and put in? Mind if that one starts ok when cold it might just be easier to split it and have the crank ground whilst replacing the clutch etc then at least you know what you are starting with.

I will look into having the crankshaft ground or even replacing it as they're not terribly expensive.

It's the thought of splitting the tractor

I've only done a Leyland and a Ford with cabs, both times it took longer to think about it than do it.
Obviously Fergys are a doodle.
Decent jacks/ axle stands and a surface to work on where you can roll over half away from the other are pretty essential - a sheet of ply makes it easier to roll the jack.

At least if you replace the crankshaft (and oil pump to be safe) it'll be all on standard sized bearings which should be readily available

DodgeRover wrote: ↑Wed Sep 06, 2023 9:14 pm

Drum wrote: ↑Wed Sep 06, 2023 9:09 pm It's the thought of splitting the tractor

both times it took longer to think about it than do it.

Too much thinking Drum. Get the club round to make tea and point while youse get cracking.