L Gleaner engine into 185

02XLT4X4 · Aug 4, 2016

We have a 185 diesel with a bad engine. Salvage yard has a good running take out engine from an L Gleaner for about twice what they want for just a block. How much work is it to put the L engine into the tractor? Just the pump and manifolds or is there more to it than that?

Thanks,
Justin

DrAllis · Aug 4, 2016

The model "L" series was made from 1972 thru 1976. Models L-2 and L-3's are newer and go up until 1987(I think). There were two sizes of engines...the small block (301 cubes) and the big block (426 cubes). You have to use the small block for a 185 tractor. Even at that, there is a certain amount of teardown of the combine engine to even make it work in a tractor. There is no place for a hydraulic pump on a combine engine, so you have to tear off the front end of your engine and transfer over all the timing cover and probably oil pan and oil pump parts. This is an often asked question, and if you ain't an engine person, you'll need to find someone who is.

02XLT4X4 · Mar 16, 2017

For all intents and purposes it doesn't really fit.

In addition to the obvious stuff like manifolds:

Cylinder head is completely different. Combine has a massive thermostat housing bolted on the front of the head and a gaping hole in the front of the head.

All the timing stuff is different, front cover plate is different, injection pump is different.

Tractor engine had four bolts and two dowel pins for the flywheel, combine is later so it just has 6 bolts... had to drill out the holes.

Combine oil pan is too deep and the drain is against the tractor's axle wishbone. To swap the pan, you have to change the oil pump, to do that you have to swap the cam... that is our current hurdle.

Ours is a early 185, a later one might have more in common (like the oil pump) but otherwise IMO for someone else that stumbles upon this... just get a block and rebuild it.

L Gleaner engine into 185

02XLT4X4

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DrAllis

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02XLT4X4

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