Super M engine

Well it's raining here today so it's a work in shop day.

I have worked my way from the back of tractor up to bell housing with all new speedy bushings where needed, seals, gaskets some machine work, paint, etc. Now for the front half.

This tractor is new to me so Over the Summer I ran this tractor about 20 hrs bush hogging, disking ect. Gave it a really hard work out one day for about 2 hrs straight. Knowing I would be going through this tractor that I know nothing about its history. I was trying to identify a weak spot or future problem in this engine and was never able to even get a glance of white smoke out of it. It runs great. So I have decided to avoid the engine rebuild believing someone did a good job at some time in the past. What amazes me is it appears to be many years ago. The pan and cover gaskets look old as the tractor. So I'll simply replace all of them.

Just to confirm my decision I did compression test. All 4 cylinders are so close I can't tell a difference. #4 may be 5# less. I got 140+ psi on each one with all spark plugs out. About 130 with the other three of them in. I added oil to cylinders and no difference. In addition another thing that amazed me is I changed engine oil when I got it prior to those hard 20 hrs. The oil is still just as clean as when I put it in. I've never seen that before. You better have your eyes on to find it on dipstick.

So any advice about not rebuilding or anything else I should consider. I like to fix it right in a restoration. Put back like new but I can't convince myself to spend money on this engine. Sure wish they could tell their story.

The engine on my H was in good shape, so I fixed the leaks, painted and called it good.

I would really like to put in domed pistons, but that is for a later date.

Sounds like that engine is in great shape, you can't restore something that's not worn out, you'd just be replacing it.

If it ain't broke don't fix it....

Amen to that, highwayman!

If your Super M's engine has a dipstick it probably isn't an original engine. Those engines had two petcocks on the oil pan to check the oil.

It could be the original engine, but someone would have had to torn the engine down and drilled out the dipstick boss in the block. It's possible but unusual. More often you'll find dipsticks because the engine was replaced with a C281, or an engine out of a power unit.