Farmall M---care and feeding after overhaul

zooeyhall · Oct 17, 2013

Just got done doing a complete overhaul on my Farmall M engine--sleeves, pistons, valves, bearings.

I use my M to farm 160 acres. Was last overhauled in 1984. It's done a lot of fieldwork in the last 30 years!

I'm currently using it for hauling grain wagons in from combining. I figure this is good light work to break-in the engine for the heavy field work come next spring.

Two questions:

1) How soon should I change the oil and filter?
2) Do I need to re-torque the cylinder head, if it all?

Any other advice for the "care and feeding" of my re-juvenated M, after this major surgery? Thanks for any advice!

D Slater · Oct 17, 2013

Start up and get the engine to operating temp, cover radiator if needed and check for any problems during the period. Try for the shortest time. Operate at 3/4 throttle in 4th gear no load for 15 minutes. 45 minutes at 3/4 throttle on light work. Run it 2 hours full throttle on medium to heavy work. Check for leaks and check valve adjustment. May as well check the head bolt torque when doing the valves. With a victor type head gasket it may not change in 3 or 4 hours, but better safe than sorry. Put it to work and change the oil after 25 or so hours and the valves and head torque again. Tighten only the head nuts that are below torque and don't loosen any that are up to torque setting.
This is just a general guide and I'm sure you will get other opinions.
If the engine is rebuilt with everything in spec don't be afraid to go with it unless a problem is noticed. easy to break in to easy as it is to hard.

BigTone · Oct 18, 2013

Here"s some advice I was given and it worked great!

On break-in:
Run it at variable throttle up to 3/4 under no load for 15 minutes to assure full coolant flow and operation of systems. Then use it for light variable loads for 10 to 15 hours. Change the oil and then just use it as you would but limit full continuous loads to 10 minutes or so for another 10 hours. Then make it pay for itself.

I followed this and the tractor runs great! Also, once the 15 minute warm up period is over have a buddy help you torque the head (110 lbs i believe) and do a valve job. If there is a leak or problem, stop the tractor and at least torque the head bolts warm to get that out of the way then address the other issues. ~Anthony

Farmall M---care and feeding after overhaul

zooeyhall

Member

D Slater

Well-known Member

BigTone

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