to-20 engine rebuild

Morgan321

New User
I have a to-20 that is difficult to start and burns a lot of oil. Taking the oil filler cap off when the engine is running there is so much blow-by you can't pour oil into the engine! Other than the worn engine, the tractor is all original and in great shape.

The engine is original and has never been apart. Would it be better/easier/cheaper to remove the engine or rebuild it in the tractor?

Since the tractor is far away at my vacation home, I was considering finding a spare engine and building it at home, then installing it to make the process simpler and save time. Would it be better to build an original z120 or should I build a later model engine?

Never rebuilt a sleeved engine, can't be that hard? Any special tools required apart from normal engine tools? I obtained some sort of a factory manual, I believe it's a reprint, it is blue and about an inch thick. Thin paper, it's probably 300-400 pages. Tell me what I'm missing that I should know!
 
I agree with John. Take the engine out maybe get an inexpensive engine stand and do it right. This is actually a fairly easy engine to work on and there is plenty of help here when you need.
 
Can you take out the engine and bring it back to your home to rebuild? Why go to the expense of buying another engine, invest that money in your original engine rebuild.

Whilst I have no experience with the Continental engine, they are not rocket science and you don't really need any special tools, just a good manual, normal tools, some mechanical skills and common sense.

Bob in Oz
 
(quoted from post at 15:52:11 07/16/14) I have a to-20 that is difficult to start and burns a lot of oil. Taking the oil filler cap off when the engine is running there is so much blow-by you can't pour oil into the engine! Other than the worn engine, the tractor is all original and in great shape.

The engine is original and has never been apart. Would it be better/easier/cheaper to remove the engine or rebuild it in the tractor?

Since the tractor is far away at my vacation home, I was considering finding a spare engine and building it at home, then installing it to make the process simpler and save time. Would it be better to build an original z120 or should I build a later model engine?

Never rebuilt a sleeved engine, can't be that hard? Any special tools required apart from normal engine tools? I obtained some sort of a factory manual, I believe it's a reprint, it is blue and about an inch thick. Thin paper, it's probably 300-400 pages. Tell me what I'm missing that I should know!

The Z120 is a very simple engine to rebuild with good parts availability. I would pull the engine because if your luck is like mine and you didn't pull it to rebuild it,right after you got it back together and running good it would start pouring oil at the rear main seal and the only way to replace it is to split the tractor. Before you start get a copy of the original Ferguson shop manual. It's much more in depth that the I&T manuals. The I&T's only tell you enough to get you in trouble...lol. A copy of the parts manual comes in handy too if you forget how something went together.
 
Well... pouring oil in a running z120 engine is a good way to lose a left knuckle, and the timing gears and engine innards throwing oil can be a good thing too. Is the breather tube from the valve cover plugged?? Like mud wasps or a homeless mouse? Or what's left of a mouse?
My standard engine TEA20 has 2 breathers, one to the intake manifold, one into the top of the air filter, both are something you don't want to stand near unless hooked up properly.
Don't tear this thing all apart yet. Check out the simple things first.
 
I did the wife's TO-20 engine. She wound up with a Kevlar clutch. No more freezing in place due to non use.
 
if it were me I would try to upgrade horsepower and may by getting a z129 engine would work just to get started if you have the resources and funding available. As far as the rebuild, if you have any experience with engines and rebuilding them you will be just fine. Keep in mine that taking your time will make a better end result. Good luck and enjoy!
 
Morgan. Before you order parts for that Z120 engine, you must to inspect the block for cracks, relatively common in Continental engines.
 

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