Squeaking Z134

Hi,

resuscitating a half-dead to-35. I was warned the engine made 'noise".

I rebuilt the wiring today and cranked it. I hear a loud squeak that is once per revolution while cranking. It is present clutch in/clutch out. I have not heard this noise from a tractor before.

The water pump shaft has no play and spins freely with the belt off with little resistance and no whisper of noise. The noise is present when cranking with the belt off so not alternator not water pump.

If I had to say I would say its coming from the front. Cranking is not getting enough speed for oil pressure to come up or oil gage is DOA. PO claimed he was running it with the squeak.

I have not powered it up. Before I do that or before I pull the pan and look at the bearings, anything I should look at first or troubleshoot first?

thanks in advance.

Bill

First thing I would do is get a known good oil pressure gauge on it.

Then start it up, see if it gets oil pressure. If the PO said he has been running it with the squeak, one more time won't hurt.

With it running, you can do some careful listening, use the "screw driver to the ear" stethoscope method.

Let it run long enough to get up to temperature, observe the oil pressure. If it will idle with 5-10 PSI, the pressure is sufficient. Also observe the rest of the engine, steady idle, oil smoke, blow-by. All these things will help determine how deep to go into the engine.

You mentioned the clutch, did you check the freeplay at the top? There should be at least 3/4". If not, loosen the pedal pinch bolt, get enough play that you know the release bearing is not touching the release fingers.

If that doesn't change the noise, shut the engine off, pry forward and backward on the front pulley to check the crank thrust bearing. Should not be more than 1/16", could get by with maybe 1/8" but that is getting pretty loose.

You can also run it with the belt off to eliminate any accessory noise. If it has power steering, remove the pump for a test run.

If all that checks out, and the noise still seems to be coming from the front, I would go in the front before dropping the pan. That engine has a history of the governor ball cage coming apart. That could be related.

Take your large wrench and really make sure the nut in the front of the crank is tight, tight.

Thank you, that's pretty much my plan.

There doesn't seem to be much free play in the clutch.

Regarding the crank pulls I haven't been able to budge it fore or aft