Dexta - Opinions Needed

So I'm in the market for a little bigger tractor than my usual N series Fords.

I found this guy about an hour from me and would like some general opinions on the deal.

Tires seem fair, but the one and only pic leave more questions than answers. The blow by and roll starting are worrisome.

I went ahead and priced liners, rings, and pistons but I don't want a money pit. I want to get more pics, before I want to even think about going after it. If I can be in it for less than $2000 I think I'd be ok.

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JCinKY,
That is a Dexta, not a Super Dexta. Not like you said it was a Super. The Dexta was 144 per cyl, and the Super Dexta is 152. Takes different kits once converted. Some Dextas have been converted, some have not to 152 liners. These little engines have to have the liners machined peeled out and then epoxied in, and need bored/honed. They are not press out and press in liners for a field rebuild. While many do it with success, a majority of field rebuilds result in seizing pistons after rebuild from pressing in the liners. That is the purpose of boring/honing out the sleeves after pressing them in. Factor in some machine work. It is likely a bargain still. I bought one, similar or worse, and put $950 in block and head machining, plus rebuild kit, and it is the most amazing starting little diesels ever.
A friend walked by mine, and asked how long it had been since starting it. 8 months. Bet it won't start. Bet it will. Bump and it started. Not grind/grind/grind/grind start. Bump-start.
If it has not been started a lot with ether, put a key start starter on it (original was 2.3Kw, the key start is 2.9, and the gear reduction is 3.7kw). Even that tired engine may start right up. Do a search here and I have posted the PNs for starters.
Good luck with your decision.

Wayne
Salt lick Dexta

More than one Dexta owner thought they needed a rebuild and they really needed a good battery and starter.
If it roll starts, quickly, it likely is a candidate for a good starter. Blowby is not a bad thing until you have run away above 1600 RPMs.
Here is what I mean about blowby. The Dexta had a Pneumatic govenor. If it has been generously introduced to ether often, and in the later stages, the engine will run away when worked hard, because the rings are broken. If not, the blowby is within the bounds of normal, and you have a hard to start problem I covered in the first paragraph.
Go look at it, get it hot, work it a little. Might just be a starter.
Wayne

Wayne,

Thanks for the reply and I did pick up the little dexta. I traded an old ford truck to it so technically it was "free". But you know how that goes.

I really haven't had much time to look it over, but it did roll start pretty easily. I degreased it and power washed it so that now I can see the leaks. The guy must have the crank gas full of oil, top of the stick.

It is pushing oil out of every possible escape point. The blow by is very noticable.

My plan now is to get the starterms wired so that I can better guage the condition of the engine. The rod work the bend but the solenoid it toast. I put a better of the starter and it turned the motor very, very slowly.

I have located a rebuild kit for cheap pending what I find opening it up.

My email should be open. I would love more info on this machine.

JCinKY:
I bought a 59 Dexta that was similar. It is the only Dexta I have, I have 3 super dextas and a parts super, albiet now half parts Dexta.
My Dexta had been an ether baby, and after I used it a while became harder to start ( I never used ether), until I either pulled it off or used a propane torch in intake to start it with starter. I would run away if worked too hard before rebuild.
Rebuild the engine, and it is the best starting tractor I have.
Needed a transmission, bought one, but in 1960, they fazed in the bigger shaft tranny that is now with supers. Either I cobble up a split shaft or swap rear ends. I swapped rear ends for a hybrid. Now has locking diff, and still live PTO and leak free. What I like about supers is the easier to service axle shafts. Got that, albeit hybrid.
My wife claimed this tractor and insisted on the Dexta tin. I may take this hybrid all the way and put the Super Dexta tin on it. (She is soon hopefully to be former) Put the larger super radiator and I just have a pneumatic Super Dexta, or what the heck, put the super flywheel and injector pump and only block serial numbers will be the same. I converted from 144 to 152.
I am an amazing Fan of the Super Dexta. Once in good working order, almost bullit proof. Amazing power at right RPMs, very usable gears. Well balanced, great PTO speeds. Sips fuel. No wonder Massey Ferg almost copied it to the 35.
You got a good deal. Good luck with it.
Wayne