New guy with stupid ???

gnarlytoes · Feb 16, 2018

I've lurked here on and off for years and can usually find the answers I'm looking for, but not this time.

I have an old Ford 5000 diesel that was my grandfather's. The tractor is a 1972 built in England. Many years ago the head gasket blew. It sat for several months and my brother tore it down and replaced the head gasket. There was some pitting in the cylinder walls where it had sat with water in them. He put it back together and it runs good, but has a lot of blow-by and compression is low enough that it is hard to start and usually requires a small shot of ether even in warm weather when engine is cold.

I am trying to decide whether to try to fix it or just sell it. I recently bought a Ford 6600 and mainly use it now. I would only keep the 5000 for sentimental reasons because it was my grandfathers if it's not too much trouble to fix.

My question is does this engine have sleeves that can be replaced or must it be bored out? If I can just replace sleeves, I may do that depending upon the cost.

Bern · Feb 16, 2018

The 5000 uses an "automotive style" block with no sleeves. If the cylinder walls are truly worn, it would either need to be bored oversize
for bigger pistons, or bored and sleeved back down to standard.

That said, don't jump to conclusions. Minor pitting in the cylinder wall should not cause a major loss of compression, at least not bad
enough to cause hard starting.

There are MANY reasons for low compression/hard starting. Here are just a few:

Broken piston rings (ether addict)
Too thick of a head gasket (common issue on older 5000 tractors)
Excessive valve recession (common issue on high hour engines)
Weak injection pump

I'd start with a compression test myself. If I could not get 325-350ish on all cylinders, I'd open it back up and be looking at some of the
items I mentioned above. If compression is good, consider sending out the injection pump for a "cranking delivery test".

gnarlytoes · Feb 16, 2018

I appreciate the response. I only have an automotive compression tester and it doesn't go anywhere near 300+ psi. I have a friend who is a diesel mechanic and should have a tester that will handle that. I will try that first.

Mission Creek · Feb 16, 2018

I would say when you question if it has sentimental value in
the first place, that?s a good indicator it does. I can?t speak for
you but I was pretty upset when some of my grandfather?s
tractors were sold. Spent many years trying to get them back.
As mentioned, I?m sure it could be many other things causing
low compression. You may be surprised.

dannyidp · Feb 21, 2018

Bern is right But if you if you do end up having sleeves put in be prepared to spend some $$$. Ask how I know. But I will have to say it was totally worth it to me.

gnarlytoes · Apr 18, 2018

I decided to just sell the 5000. With all its problems, it would take way more work than I have time for and money I'm not willing to put into it. It needs engine rebuilt, injector pump rebuilt, front end bushings and tie rod ends, and PTO brake, plus a lot of other little things.

I pulled it up to the shop Tuesday morning and washed it. Then I pulled it out by the road and parked it. I took a couple of pictures and put an ad on craigslist asking $4000 and within 30 minutes had people calling about it. A few minutes later I had people stopping to look at it.

Even telling everyone about all its known problems, I wound up selling it in less than 5 hours. I guess I priced it too cheap.

With the money in hand, I ordered a new 7' tiller and am going to put some new rubber on the 6600.

New guy with stupid ???

gnarlytoes

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Bern

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gnarlytoes

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Mission Creek

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dannyidp

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gnarlytoes

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