Farmall A no oil.

So here's the deal, got a customers tractor in, restored as some would call it, needs a few things. Engine is not putting any oil up to the rockers, so I pulled the pan pick up screen was clean, disassembled oil pump, spring was broke, gears were in spec, pump cover was not mating up good, got new spring, got cover sealed up good, reassembled and changed filter, oil pressure got better but no oil up to rockers. Next, took rockers off hole was open and clean. Next took head off, port was open and clean, and to my surprise the head gasket was on correct so the hole in the gasket was lined up with the hole in the block and head. Cranked engine with head off still no oil coming out of port to the rockers. Next I pressurized the port with air and it sounds like it is just leaking into the crank case, doesn't wiggle the gauge. Took plug out of oil galley on side of block blew air in that, it then wiggles the gauge and blows through the pump, I can hear it churning the oil in the pan but still no oil or air comes out of port to the rockers. I guess my question is does anyone know if there is a oil galley plug inside the crank case that someone maybe didn't put back in? What else could it be? ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

center stud holding rockers is not correct. That stud is hollow on one end and bored half way thru then a hole is thru the side into center bore the oil comes up from the bottom and out thru the side hole into the tappet bracket into thee hollow shaft. YOU JUST NEED TO REMOVE THAT STUD AS IT JUST MITE BE INSTALLED UPSIDEE DOWN. If not easy to make one or I have some. That is a common mistake so don't feel bad.

No this one is like that. I'm not even getting any oil up through the port in the block. Oil is not even getting to the head.

What engine are we working on? Have you checked for an oil gallery plug on front of block? I have seen them behind cam gear that got left out.

It is a c123 non water pump engine. I wondered if there was a plug up front there somewhere.

There are no cam bearings in that engine thus the hole to the center cam journal (turns in the iron of the block) supplies a pulse of oil to the rockers when the cross drilled cam journal aligns with the hole to the top end. Using a wire, one can "feel" down the block hole while turning (by hand only and very slowly) for the hole alignment. If you cannot feel two different holes in the cam, that are not 180 apart, after 2 engine rotations, the cam to hole alignment is an issue. A plugged passage in the cam journal might be it. This is the best I have. Do not snip off a piece of wire by turning the engine with the wire in the cam hole!! Jim

Thanks janicholson, I will try that, and see what happens. I'm afraid this thing might have to be torn apart, I hope not though.

There is a plug and I've seen that, too. The machine shop, doing a great job of cleaning the block inside and out, left the plug out. Everybit of oil that the pump could pump got dumped right into the timing cover!

Gene, I have heard of people replacing the hollow stud with a solid stud. That will also keep the rockers from getting oil! A friend of mine last year worked on one like that...

I'm in the process of taking the front end off to get to that plug. Will I have to pull the cam or cam gear to access the plug?

Well finally figured it out. Whoever did this engine didn't put the two bolts in that hold the cam in the block. So the cam slung forward until it hit the front cover. That was enough distance that the hole or grove in the cam didn't line up with the hole in the block, therefore preventing any oil from getting pumped to the rockers. Learn something new every day, just took a lot of time.

Attached are a couple photos if you want to see the internals if helps with diagnosis. Not an expert as to which passage feeds what. This happens to be a 153 but the oiling system was same on my A. There is only one replaceable cam bearing at the front. The oil hole has to be aligned. You can see also the passage holes just above the gear teeth on the cam. By the way, the lifters are mushroom style so go in from bottom. No way I know to take out cam without flipping engine over on a stand. You can zoom in on the picture of the front of the engine and see where the plugs and holes are.