TO-35 Engine problems

redhorseshoe · Dec 1, 2014

I have a '54? TO-35 with the continental gas engine. A few months ago I was harrowing a field and it overheated after a couple hours or so. I didn't notice anything wrong until it started losing power so it ran hot for a while. As soon as I noticed I shut it down and let it sit a few hours. Started it back up and it was smoking like crazy and overheated again almost immediately. This is where it's currently at.

When the tractor runs there is a knocking sound at the front of the engine, white smoke comes out the tailpipe, and it still overheats quickly.

There is no coolant in the oil, or bubbling in the radiator. Before I start to tear into this thing I was hoping I could get some ideas on what else may be wrong.

Thanks!

David G · Dec 1, 2014

When you save overheated, did the temperature gauge go up?

redhorseshoe · Dec 1, 2014

It doesn't actually have a temp gauge. Just oil pressure and voltage. The oil pressure dropped from around 40lbs to less than 20 and lost a ton of power. It almost couldn't even pull the harrow I was using.

Steve@Advance · Dec 1, 2014

Whatever it is doesn't sound good.

The loss of oil pressure and knocking sound like a spun bearing.

The smoke, if it's oil smoke accompanied by excessive blow-by out the crankcase breather sound like a seized piston, stuck/burned rings.

If the smoke is water vapor accompanied by loss of coolant, that sounds like a blown head gasket.

Sounds like the engine may have multiple problems. Unless it was recently rebuilt, best to just get it out and start the autopsy, go from there.

old · Dec 2, 2014

Loss of power fits with overheating since that tends to cause more drag in the engine and so you lose power. As for the knock try taking the fan belt loose and start it. Do not run it long that way but if the knock goes away good chance your over heating problem is the water pump. If the knock stays then I would drain the oil and look for a silver tint it. It you see silver then time to drop the oil pan and check out the rod bearings

ASEguy · Dec 4, 2014

Ditto what old said. If it is a rod pulling a plug wire one at a time will help isolate the cylinder that has the bearing issue because the pulling of the wire removes the power stroke and therefore pressure. One word of caution. If it is hammering loud like loud knuckles on a wooden door you have a decision. Either teardown and inspect or continue with diagnosis and risk further damage like a hole in the block from a rod.

redhorseshoe · Dec 7, 2014

Thanks for the help everybody, this is what I've found so far: I've pulled the valve cover off and found a broken valve lash cap on cylinder #1 I'm certain the knocking I was hearing was the rocker arm striking the valve because of the large gap between them. Today I'm going to remove the rocker arm assembly and inspect the rest of it and go from there.

I do have another question though. Since I've already started to tear into the top end, I'm considering replacing the head gasket even though I'm not sure it needs one. Kind of like insurance just to make sure I can rule that out later on if this valve issue doesn't fix everything. Would you all replace it too or just fix the valve stuff first and then go from there?

redhorseshoe · Dec 7, 2014

Thanks for the help everybody, this is what I've found so far: I've pulled the valve cover off and found a broken valve lash cap on cylinder #1 I'm certain the knocking I was hearing was the rocker arm striking the valve because of the large gap between them. Today I'm going to remove the rocker arm assembly and inspect the rest of it and go from there.

I do have another question though. Since I've already started to tear into the top end, I'm considering replacing the head gasket even though I'm not sure it needs one. Kind of like insurance just to make sure I can rule that out later on if this valve issue doesn't fix everything. Would you all replace it too or just fix the valve stuff first and then go from there?

Steve@Advance · Dec 7, 2014

The broken lash cap would explain the noise, and maybe some loss of power, but it wouldn't explain loss of oil pressure, over heating, or smoke.

Just to say you did it, might replace the lash cap and see what happens, and put a working temp gauge on, you'll need that eventually.

Start it up, watch the oil pressure, give it a listen, work it a little if all goes well, then make a decision what to do next.

TO-35 Engine problems

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