Massey Ferguson 175 A4.236

This message is a reply to an archived post by jogl on June 11, 2013 at 09:18:23.
The original subject was "Re: MF 175 Perkins 236 Headgasket Blowd Questions".

Dear sir,
I overhauled my MF175 tractor Perkins engine
A4.236. I replaced the headgasket, tightened the
headbolts according to the specs given to me by
the machine shop guy for the head bolts torque
specs(100 lbs). The tractor ran fine for a couple
of weeks. The head gasket blew again and had to
go back to the machine shop again to be redone.
No one can tell me about the head bolts specs.
The answers go from 75, 85, 100, 110 lbs. I can't
trust anyone of these guys. At least the
machinest should know, but he does not. I need to
know, for sure. I can't get straight answers for
the head bolts either-whether to replace the
headbolts and /or the washers that go with the
bolts. Do you have answers? Do you have the
headbolts and the washers if I have to go that
route? If so, how much do they cost? Please
answer as quickly as you can. I appreciate it.
Thanks!

Thankfully,
Resham

I will check the manual when I go to the shop and tell you what I torqued to.

I did not replace the studs or the nuts.

Did you re-torque after the first run? That is in the manual and is very important.

Good Day,
JP.

Hello Resham,
The Massey Ferguson figure that I have is 100 lb.ft for the Coopercor gasket when fitted with the A4.236 engine in the MF 168. This figure uses studs and nuts. The torque should be checked at 95 lb.ft when the engine is hot.

However the A4.236 engine fitted to the MF 565 shows bolts to secure the cylinder head. These should be tightened to 90lb.ft in three equal stages as should the stud type.

The engine should be started and run for at least 10 minutes at fast idle to achieve working temperature. and retightened to 90 lb.ft in the correct sequence.

The correct sequence is to start in the middle of the cylinder head (inside the cover area), number two will be dead centre in the injector line. From there work in an increasing circles to spread the tightening load equally.

Non genuine studs are available but my supplier has it listed as poa.
The studs are 3252 6311 12
3252 6312 8
Head gasket 3681 2338

I would certainly not expect a machine shop to know the torque figure with any certainty. The only place to find this with certainty is from a genuine MF workshop manual or from your MF dealer with confirmation.

Your head gasket failure could be due to the incorrect 'stand-down' figure for one or more liners in the block. When fully pressed into place the stand-down should be bewteen .004" and 010" below the block face.

Has the face of the cylinder head been skimmed? The head gasket should be fitted 'dry'.

Please let us know how you get on.

DavidP, South Wales