A 3010-3020 question about engine balancer.

Have any of you guys ever had an engine balancer come apart on one of the 10-20 series Deere's ? What did it sound like at the beginning and then at the end as it is breaking ? Mine has made me think of a rod bearing knocking and trying to seize and blowing white smoke from the engine breather tube but it would stop doing that after I shut it down and let it cool for a while, even though the engine wasn't hot. I backed it up to the shop so I could do whatever has to be done and forgot about it for a few days, I thought all along it was a rod bearing but when I went to start it again it sounded like the whole engine was going to bang itself into small pieces. Sound will travel and while I thought it was at the rear of the engine my buddy believed it was more at the front and neither of us had ever heard an engine destroy itself like this is trying to do.

Any ideas, this 3020 diesel was overhauled maybe 30 years ago and a lot of the finer details of that repair have been lost to my memory. I don't know any of the old mechanics who are left that worked on these things that are still above ground, I think it will take somebody experienced in all of the ways these tractors can get in your pocket. The younger mechanics at the Deere dealerships are spending most of their shop time on newer things and aren't drawn into antique fixes very often.

At any rate I can use some ideas before the repair is started. This balancer seems like it will be heavy and I'm not sure I can put a new one in place. If the repair is deeper in the engine then I will pull the motor and can work on the table but that is a middle of summer job when there is more time to devote to it.

Thanks, Richard

First thing I would do before doing anything real radical, is I would put a mechanical gauge on the engine and check the oil pressure. After doing that I would start by draining the oil and pull and inspect the oil filter.. I hate to say it but see how many sparkles you have.. . then let us know... fyi I have seen a balancer lock a 3020 diesel up tight. good luck keep us posted

I would not start it up anymore. I would of not even restarted it after the first go around. Something is likely to come all the way apart and ruin the block which is made of unobtanium.
Drop the oil pan for a look.

I agree with Mike. Remove engine oil pan & determine what's making the noise.

It sounds like you ran it to long already. I would not restart it as if you ruin the block a replacement is very hard to find and expensive if you do. When overhauling a 3020 diesel I like to replace the balencer shafts and the bushings. Tom