White/Hercules with broken crank

Ken Macfarlane

Well-known Member
Looked at a White 2-135 4wd series 2 that the owner says has a broken crank, it started making a knocking noise so he stopped, towed it back to the shop. Diesel mechanic came
over, owner started it up but mechanic said shut it down immediately. They pulled the engine, valve covers and the pan, checked everything over and found there was a few thou
play between the crank from one side of one bearing to the other when worked back and forth. Rods all were tight. No signs of hot bearings. Engine had been rebuilt by reputable
shop 800-1000 hours before this.

Its been sitting inside for 5 year, I went up and looked at it (pan is back on) and the crank smoothly turns by hand back and forth until compression builds, I didn't bump it over as
the injector lines are still on it.

I found a new mil surplus crank for 200$ but it seems really odd to break a crank. The owner openly says he's selling based on the engine being a core for rebuild. I see the
military had some trouble with the cast cranks and my understanding is the tractors all had cast cranks. Anyone run into this before?
 
Yup, seen it before on the neighbor's White. His broke while chisel plowing, sounded fine above 1500 rpm, but rumbled LOUD below that. He had the engine repaired with a good used military crank..
 
I know of 2 that did that. Both had military cranks installed. One is running yet today the other one I don't know as that was at least 15 years ago. The Military cranks are a better crank. Where are you located?
 
Cranks are known to break after reconditioning. Without knowing what was done to the engine at overhaul leads to a guessing game. Incorrect hardening, or wrong/poor radii on journals can lead to crank failure, as can poor alignment.

Once had a lowly diesel landrover crank break at a main bearing. Down to the above grinding faults and a replacement crank gave no further trouble. I would go for a good replacemnt crank, but carefully check the alignment at rebuild. Price has to reflect the uncertainty of extra costs for the rebuild. You are taking the risk. Crank and bearings will be rather more than that $200, although you may get away without removing the top end....
 
I've priced it out, the luckiest I can be would be 1000$ of parts. Since I can get a mil rebuild 0 hours for about 2500-5000$ I'm not going to spend more than that.
 
Let me know if you pass on the tractor. Would like to find a 4wd 2-135/155 to replace one of our 2wd's. Does not need to have a good engine, just needs to be cheap.
 
I would spend my money and install a cummins instead. May be al ittle more up front, but your fuel will pay for it. I do these on a regular basis and occasionally have take out engines. The cummins will give you upto 200 hp if you need that much. Been doing these for 22 yrs and never seems to let up. Want info, please call Ron @ 563 382 4530 M-F
 
A cummins swap would be nice but approaches 10,000$ cost by my figuring. It will be running a 540 pto discbine at the lower rpm.

It might do some snowblower work in the winter if it works well but I have two other tractors with loaders that get more hours.
 
I have a Hercules engine out of a 1984 White 2-135 series III . It washed a cylinder and started missing. We bought a military engine and replaced it. The core should be good if you need. Thanks Jeff
 

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