how bad a problem is pitting on the piston head?

I assume at some point of this project, I will not find any more have to fixes. I am later in my years and this tractor has become a hobby but I would like to enjoy my fixed tractor sometime. :).

After cleaning up the block, cyclinder, and piston head, I discovered pitting in the top of the 3rd piston. I have not cleaned up the head yet to see if there is something on the top of it that would cause this. I am sure this is not good but the question I have is how bad is it. Is this a fix it now or your engine will blow up or is this a in a few years, you will have to rebuild the lower half of the engine. The cylinder walls look pretty good there are a few vertical scratches in the first cylinder but they I can't really feel them when I rub my finger over them.

I plan to use this tractor just for brush hogging my 15 acres over the summers. I have a new tractor for doing all the other stuff on the property.

Thanks for your input.
mvphoto45963.jpg


mvphoto45964.jpg
 
that is not pitting. that is something that got past the air cleaner and sucked into that cyl. bounced around a few times then blown out the exhaust valve. don't look serious , just put some emery on a flat surface and rub top flat. I am sure it will be fine. the top of that block still needs a better clean up. is that diesel engine?
 
Yes it is Ford 2310 with the 158 ci Diesel engine. I decided it put in new injectors, valves and all but didn't want to take on trying to restore the lower bits they year.

Thanks for your input.
 

It would appear to me the indentations (rather than pits) were caused by debris in the camber. It could have been one particle that caused all the dents. The head is cast iron and may not show damage like the softer aluminum piston. However, clean up the head and look for corresponding marks. To be caused by debris the marks on the piston have to line up with close clearance areas to the head.

The biggest concern I would have is for the indentations at the outer diameter of the piston. In the worse case the indentations could close the top ring gap....pinching the ring in that area. Just looking at the picture I would tend to put it back together and go.

Note: The shiny areas around the indentations tell me there is raised metal there. Pitting (corrosion) removes the metal and there is no raised material.
 
(quoted from post at 14:02:29 11/30/19)
It would appear to me the indentations (rather than pits) were caused by debris in the camber. It could have been one particle that caused all the dents. The head is cast iron and may not show damage like the softer aluminum piston. However, clean up the head and look for corresponding marks. To be caused by debris the marks on the piston have to line up with close clearance areas to the head.

The biggest concern I would have is for the indentations at the outer diameter of the piston. In the worse case the indentations could close the top ring gap....pinching the ring in that area. Just looking at the picture I would tend to put it back together and go.

Note: The shiny areas around the indentations tell me there is raised metal there. Pitting (corrosion) removes the metal and there is no raised material.


VERY good comments, Indiana Ken!
 
I agree with the others. Make sure the rings are free in grooves and you just do not want sharp edges on that piston,the dings will be fine(IMO)any sharp edges can cause pre ignition,just sand them down till they are not sharp.
 
Boy,

You guys are on the ball. I was going to say those are craters, not pitting. Then I saw everyone else had already chimed in.

I wonder if the head suffered any damage. That had to have been some hard particles,
 
This is the head side of the 3rd cylinder and it seems to have the same pattern of dents. They are not raised like they were on the piston.

I also found what looks like a crack in what I think is a water jacket near the first cylinder. It doesn't feel like a scratch to the touch. Probably hard to say but if this is a crack and I put this back together, is it going to become a big problem.

mvphoto46013.jpg


mvphoto46014.jpg


mvphoto46015.jpg
 
That looks like a scratch. A crack would not be so linear.

A magnagflux test would prove it, but a magnfying glass might be better.There are some fluorescent penetrating dyes that can also be used to determine whether it is a crack. I don't think skimming the head would hurt.

Those particles must have been some kind of hard metal in order to put those carters in the cast iron.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top