Split - and more?

Got a hurting tractor. Backed our '65 out of barn, idling for a min, and find what looked like dark antifreeze mix running out of the joint at the starter & block. Pulled it back in barn, left a fat trail dripping along under it.

I hope it's one of the frost plugs on back of the block. CNH parts page says '65's plugs were screw-in plug - are those going to be a bear to get out? Chisel & split?

As for the engine-trans split to get at the frost plugs, can I just disconnect the hyd lines at the pump or should I pull it, too? And, since it's a gasser, am I also looking at also pulling the rear tin, steering wheel, etc.? We have a Ford shop manual but it's not clear about all that.

Am thinking about making up a set of jack stands to screw into the two-bolt bosses on each side of trans/bellhousing. Anyone know what size those threads are? I know, this can be done without fancy stands. But this might turn into the equivalent of the "it's only a little bathroom tile job...." - read on...

I hope, hope it's a frost plug. But the antifreeze in the radiator is milky looking, too. Rut roh. Haven't done a compression test yet. No sign of water in the oil, though. I don't think anyone has ever been into the block.

Well, will be the chance to put in a new clutch, bearing, bushings, seals front & rear...and if the engine has more wrong with it than the frost plug, then maybe look at a rebuild (and then those long-term heavy duty jackstands will beat having everything balanced on wood blocks for for awhile). Engine is on low-ish side of compression and has many thou hours on it, so it's tired too.

Thanks for any answers to my questions. Over the years, I think I've bookmarked every link in here regarding 2000/3000 splits (and about anything else that I didn't know - which is a lot), so have all that info already.

Might not require a split. There is a frost plug in the rear of the head as well as one in the block behind the flywheel. Both are screw in on a 65. Never heard of a screw in type fail - hard to believe. Before you tear it completely apart verify that it isn't the head gasket. Or even the intake manifold as that is a wet manifold.
Pull the center hood, rear cowel, air cleaner and firewall tin. Then pull the battery tray and inspect the head and frost plug in the rear of the head. If it is the one in the back of the head - which I doubt - pull the gas tank to get at it. If you do have to split it the only extra work you've done is pulled the fuel tank and battery tray.
I hate steel on steel for holding up a tractor.
Scary.
Go to Home Depot, and buy a 6X6 X 8' post and cut it into two 2' and three 16" lengths and crib it up with wood.
Safer, better, gooder!

Thanks for the advice of other possible causes of the problems, and what to look for, and how to look for it.

Also a good idea about cribbing. Have seen enough scary pix of single smallish 3-legged jack stands under the tranny, or a one-on-top-of-other pile of 6x6's that I wanted to stay away from that route. But a pile of cribbing won't rock out from underneath so easily. Looks like at least a couple of 4x6s laid on the flat in your picture - even more stable.

Thanks again.

(reply to post at 19:55:16 02/23/12)

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Could the float in the carb also have stuck and allowed the fuel to dilute the oil?

I would work on the typically simple items that can pop up suddenly before ripping it apart. Don't ask how I gained that perspective... :wink: