445 Questions (FFA Project)

Our FFA chapter has recently had a Moline 445 donated. It was locked up, we have got everything freed up and all looks pretty good. We're going to be in need of some items, if you all could point me in the right direction as to where to get the following things, it would be greatly appreciated.

Rod Bearings - .010 undersized
Piston Rings - (Not sure on bore yet STD, .010, .020, or .030)
Gasket Kit - In Frame Kit (VC, Head, side cover, manifold, etc...)
Front Main Seal - ??

Other questions - This is a gas motor, is it 206 cid? What other Moline tractors share the same motor? I'm getting an I&T manual, and we're getting some matched rear rubber this week. Can the front main seal be changed in frame? Can the crank be removed while in frame? This is the first Moline that we have EVER worked on, and so far, it seems even easier than the Farmall H's and M's that are common in our area. Right now, pistons, rods, cam, heads and Valvetrain are removed and getting cleaned. The rod bearings were a little scorched, so we are replacing them.

I'm excited to get this tractor running again, it has a 3 pt hitch and will make a really nice tractor. I'll probably be able to answer some of these questions on my own after I get the I&T manual.
Thanks for any help you can provide!

Jared Jeffries
Jasper FFA Advisor

• Jasper FFA Homepage

Thanks for your help,
Jared Jeffries

Link

The motor wasn't locked up too bad at all, we soaked the cylinders in good ol' Coca-Cola for about a week, then started bumping it back and forth until we saw some movement. In fact, we think it was only stuck on 1 or 2 cylinders. The blocks look good, no scratches, ring groove, or pitting. So, we're going to reuse the pistons and cylinders. We're probably going to order parts from Welters, they are about an hour drive away.

Thanks guys, I'll be asking a lot of questions, and your help is greatly appreciated..

Jared Jeffries
Jasper FFA Advisor

The engine in a 445 was originally 206 CuIn.
Other Molines that used the same or similar engine are 4 Star, Jet Star, Jet Star 2, Jet Star 3, Big MO 400, 500, 600 and the Brown Mule Uni Tractor. The later ones used some different parts in the starter/crancase/flywheel are but internals are the same or will work. The 335 (165 CuIn) with 4 inch stroke instead of 5 inch has all the same parts except the crank, rods and heads. The U302 also shares some common parts.

The front main seal can not be changed without removing (or at least moving it ahead) the front casting because the front pulley hits on the front casting.

The engine will have to be removed in order to remove the crankshaft. The oil pump (distributor)drive shaft needs to be removed. After removing all the main caps, the flywheel and rear seal, the crank is slid rearward and the rear casting is removed. It is usually necessary to grind a 45 degree portion of the outside of one of the dowel pins off in order to get the rear bearing casting off the crank without removing a dowel pin. Then the crank comes out the side. Since the engine was stuck, I'm suprised that you aren't looking for oversize pistons or other blocks, as well as the parts you mention.

John

Good luck and have fun.