as i stated, when i start it up the pressure goes up to 40, after running a few it drops down. it doesnt heat up or make no noise. i have cleaned the line on both ends. same thing. do i need to do anything or just leave it alone, i just dont like the way it goes dow. when im using it it does the same. thanks bill

Like stated . First , check the guage . The one you have may be bad . Check to see if you have had a lot of Gasoline drain into the pan . The rod and main bearings can be checked with what they call " Plasti-guage " . It can be picked up at a auto supply store . You remove the pan . Then , one at a time , you pull the rod / main bearing cap off . You visually check to see if the bearing is in good shape . Now you put a piece of this plasti-guage on the journal , and replace the cap . You torque it down to spec.. Now you remove the cap , and measure the width of the plasti-guage . The amoune that it squishes out to indicates what your clearence is . If you find that the bearings are worn , and the crankshaft journals look good , then you can get new bearings . If you are going to replace bearings , you would measure the crank journal to determine if it is standard size , or under sized . You would buy replacement bearings accordingly . They come in sizes ranging from standard , to several thousands undersize , etc. , etc. . Check your oil pump . good luck

Your oil pressure relief valve either has too strong a spring or the valve is stuck shut. Normal oil pressure is 25-30 psi and min is 15 psi with the engine at operating temperature idling at 400 rpm. The drop you see are the clearnace opening up due to temperature, with no pressure relief from the oil pressure relief valve.

Check the relief valve or you are likely to to start the rear main leaking into the bell housing.

where is the relief valve?

It"s a part of the pump.It"s a little piston and a spring held in place by a cotter key and maybe shimmed with some washers.

thanks a bunch. im gonna put another gauge on it today i think. i done busted a rib messing with that thing or something. under my right arm hurts leck all get out/ dont know if i can do it or not. but i'll try. bill

it has never used a drop of oil bill

when i unhooked the line from the gauge and started it, oil came out. not real fast, not gushing but it was a stream. bill

More than likely you have worn bearings which can be checked by using "plastigauge" which is sold at parts stores but theres lots of other things to eliminate before dropping the pan such as swapping out the gauge.

how much trouble to put in bearings?

First order of business is to remove the oil pan by removing all the outer bolts, then untorque the center cap, place a 1 inch piece of plastigauge on the cap and retorque. Then take it back off and see how the squished pg measures up against the color coded measure on the packing. I think anything as wide as 3 to 6 thousandths is adequate.If they are not in tolerance then the undersize bearing will be marked on the backside of the bearing and providing none of them are scored or badly scratched then you order the same size. I personally feel you would be better off to do the split and take the motor and pump to a machine shop and let the people who have some history with engines do the work.Or better yet the whole tractor.Option 2 is not to operate the tractor after it drops off to 5 lbs.Put some 15w40 in it if your not in a cold climate or wait till warm weather to change.

ok thanks

my oil gauge has 80 on it, but it only goes to 40. wonder why? i will get another one and put it on and see what it does. bill