OK, Mr. J,,,I had searched hi and low for a good block at a reasonable price,,even looked at buying 3 complete engines thinking that was how I would have to proceed but they wound up WAY too expensive with NO guarantee for this guy that tends to be some "thrifty",,,,I finally decided I was gonna have to repair this block or start looking at a replacement engine from a different type of tractor,,,?
I was lucky that I met an older welder that had been in the business for 50 years and I took the block to him. I had already V'ed out the 9 crackes and after he studied the block he goes and brings a 10# box of "EUTECTIC CASTALIN" , Electrode 240 AC/DC 1/8. He tells me,,"You can weld it yourself with this rod" He suggested I run my Lincoln 240 (Tombstone) at AC and at 60 amps. I go home and set up the Lincoln as he suggested and then I practice on an old cast iron pump case,,,,,and,,,and,,,,I am friggin AMAZED at how this rod runs and ties into the parent metal,,,!!! After a few practice runs, on the old pump case,,,,,I try the Ferguson block and the only'ist thing I did not like is it tends to build up too much and makes for LOTS of grinding down,!! I finally order a 3" X 1/2" rough cutting grinding wheel with 3/8" arbor and I cut a 3/8" allthread to use on my drill and that works many wonderfulls for grinding down my poor weldong,,,BUT,,, The gouge outs are getting filled up and the rod is tying to the block really well,,!! And at these LOW settings of the welder,,there is hardly any heat generated on the block, fact is,,I can touch the weld right after running a 1/2" long bead on the webs. After getting the grinding done, I then made a sanding tool with 2 pieces if 3/4" plywood glued together and chucked on my lathe to 3 1/4" OD, then glued some 60 grit sandpaper on it and did the final grinding of the block with my drill. The whole project took a long time but the repairs look great!! I'm debating whether to rig up a "Test" of about 10-15 pounds,,? I read where the radiator cap is only 5#. Sorry for such a long post. Comments??