(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Perkins 4-270, 4.300, and 4.318

B

Bill Brox

Member
Hi,

Does anyone know anything about these engines ? I have tried to look up some info about the history of these engines but I find extremely little. The only thing I found was that the 270 engine were prone to crank failure if overreved. I did not find out if all three engines belong to the same family, but sort got an impression that the 270 had the same bore and stroke as the L4, and some feeling that the 270 was kind of a modernized L4.
The reason for the crank issue I guess was that the 270 has only 3 main Bearings from what I understood.

I will be greatful for any help and or links to some info.


Bill
 
The 4.270 was the L4 but with direct injection, and a distributor type injector pump (and yes they broke cranks when over revved due to the 3 main bearing design). The 4.300 was loosely based on the 4.270, but the 4.300 has a tractor specific block, it had dry sleeves instead of wet sleeves, 5 main bearing crankshaft, and a harmonic balancer, it was used in the MF Super 90. The 4.318 was basically the same as the 4.300, it was used in MF 1080, 1085, 285 tractors, and the MF 540 combine.
 
(quoted from post at 04:26:30 05/10/15) And the 318 had a head gasket issue. Cracks betwren #2 and #3 were not uncommon.
Click to expand...

Oh, I see. Does this mean the 318 had a bigger bore causing the head gasket to be too thin between the cylinders ?


Bill
 

Thank you, nice to get valuable information. Do you happen to know what kind of speed the 270 crank cracked at, I mean what kind of top speed did the engine have ?


Bill
 
Perkins L4 and 270 were used to convert the Fordson e27n to diesel here in the UK. They were a powerful in their day option to the TVO and even the Perkins P6 that was also used to convert. Even over here parts are getting scarce, I think I still have some parts including a block lying around. Knoked out about 60 hp if I remember correct. 270 was often difficult to start I think.
 
The Cockshutt 40 PD used the L4 as well as the Golden Eagle, and the 40 D4. The 560 first used the L4 then the 4-270 with the direct injection. It set a record at Nebraska for efficiency for tractors of 4 or more cylinders. The direct injection 560 was a good tractor, much better than the earlier ones with the L4. I owned one with a backhoe for about 20 years. They were all rated at 1650 full load rpm. I understand Perkins in England had a 560 at one time they used as a test bed. The earlier L4 - I have seen a few of them in Western Canada with holes in the block where they threw a rod. They were a pretty rough running engine though and I think the 318 that Massey used had a balancer built in which would help.
The direct injection ones where great to start in the winter. They were a heavy engine. The 560 front end weighed about 200 lbs more then the 570 with the 6 cylinder Hercules, which was rated at 63 hp ve the 560 which was rated at 50 hp. The 560 and all the 500 series are great tractors. The 40's with the L$, I would stay away from them.
Neil
 
I know the L4 was fitted to the Massey Harris 745 tractor and The 4-270 was fitted in The wonderful Claas Matador Standard combine ( and probably the Massey 788 combine? ) We ran 2 Matadors for many years and the only engine work ( Apart from routine maintenance) that we ever did on them was to replace ONE water pump on one engine. As for the 4/318, the head gasket eater, I know one farmer had the engine blow up on his MF 595 after 2000 hours but M-F replaced the engine free of charge!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

F
Massey Ferguson 135 Z145 Continental 4 cylinder gas
Replies
0
Views
390
Floydferguson
F
cpratt
Feature/Recurring threads
2
Replies
23
Views
640
cpratt
cpratt
R
Perkins 4-270, 4.300, and 4.318
Replies
3
Views
418
ptfarmer
ptfarmer
cpratt
I can't tell what I've already read?
2
Replies
32
Views
1K
Rich'sToys
R
1
Perkins 6.354
Replies
15
Views
784
1954Frank
1
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top