Continental Cracked Block

Chris(WA) · May 26, 2009

Looked at a friends Massey- Harris 33 Contental engine this weekend. Block is cracked between 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 sleeves at the head mating surface of the block. Has anyone had any experience with repairing these? In some A-C's you could just reinforce across the block and not be too concerned. Will a fix like this work on a Continental as well?
Anyone know what other machines used the same engine? I would like to find a donor engine if possible and just swap them out.

Tramway Guy · May 26, 2009

As long as the cracks are only in the top surface of the block, the consensus seems to be that it is not a problem....the head gasket will seal it, and the head bolts hold everything together.
At least that is true of Allis Chalmers and Oliver/Waukesha engines.

Bill(Wis) · May 26, 2009

Are you sure that's a Continental engine? If it's a model 33 Massey, then shouldn't it have a Massey Harris 201 cu in engine? The 30 had a 162.4 cu in Continental. Whether they are a bolt in trade I don't know but I suspect they probably are.

Jerry/MT · May 26, 2009

That's a pretty common problem on the Continental Z120 and Z129 blocks especially if they are overheated. As long as the cracks don't propagate downward to the bottom around the o-ring seals, I've seen tension rod repairs(small threaded rods put in drilled holes throught the water jacket with double nuts to pull the sides together) that seemed to work well. The other fix is a furnace braze repair. Most of the remnaufactured blocks have these.

Chris(WA) · May 27, 2009

Bill I have no idea. The owner was pretty confident it was a Continental. It is an OHV 4 cyl. There is a casting number beginning with E400.

Anonymous-0 · May 27, 2009

Ive repaired alot of these style continental blocks in the little fergusons, the z 120's and 129's. Cracks on the top of the block ive never had a problem with since the head gasket seals it. If the block is cracked between the cylinders on the bottom I repair it by pulling all the sleeves out, and cleaning the surface well, then welding up the cracks with a MIG, then grinding it back smooth with a die grinder. When re-installing the sleeve's I used new sealing rings and put a little jb weld on the spot where it was welded and knock in the sleeve. I have yet to have one leak, I cant say much for the poor fellow who tries to pull the sleeve back out on the next rebuild.

Crem · May 27, 2009

Two-cyl sledder, I am interested in your block crack repair. Did you use the regular MiG wire that you use for the normal steel repairs? If so how did it flow in the cast iron? Did you weld just short areas at a time and then do any peening? Another question is if you clamped on the outside of the block to try and bring the crack together and then veed it out before welding.

Bill(Wis) · May 27, 2009

Chris: To bring you up to date since my last post. I'm quoting from my CH Wendel "Nebraska Tractor Test" book. "The 33 RT was equipped with the company's own four cylinder I head engine. Rated at 1,500 RPM, it developed its maximum torque of 258.1 foot-pounds with an engine speed of 924 RPM. The 201 cubic inch engine used a 3 5/8 X 4 7/8 inch bore and stroke." That was Test #509, October 10 to October 24, 1953. As for the earlier Massey Harris 30, that tractor used a Continental Red Seal four cylinder, L head engine and is described in Nebraska Test #409 of May 12 to May 25, 1949.

Bill(Wis) · May 27, 2009

I didn't pick up on the remark about overhead valves 'til just this minute. That would mean an I head. The continental used an L head. The 33 evidently had a completely different engine from the 30 and not just a Massey Harris knock-off although they still might be a bolt-in trade. Better find out.

Jerry/MT · May 27, 2009

The Continental Z120 and the Z129 are "I" head engines not "L" head. I presume one of those is the engine referred to in the originator's post as they are notorious fro crackingthe block between the cylinders.

george md · May 27, 2009

Chris,

The 33 is neither an F engine ( flat head)
nor is it a Z engine ( overhead valve ) like
the fergusons. It is an E series engine and
is used in the 33 and 333 both E (gas) and
ED (diesel).
The deck is repairable by installing cross
bolts to draw it back together and then welding.
I have the big brother to the E series engine
which is the J series and also similar is the
G and H series. G was used in case 300 tractor,
the terratrac DT 34 crawler, and the 300
farmall , all those were diesel. The H series
were in the 44 massey both gas and diesel and
the 800 case crawler (diesel). J series were
in the 55 massey both gas & diesel and 1000
case crawler (diesel).
I have repaired several of the J series ,
if you want to chat about how to do it , send
me an email.

george

Bill(Wis) · May 27, 2009

"The engine referred to in the originators post" is the engine in the Massey Harris 33 which, when placed there by the manufacturer, was a Massey Harris 201 cu in I head engine. Massey discontinued the use of Continental engines for the model 33.

msb · May 27, 2009

Hey George does some fantastic work. I would give him a shot. bob

Chris(WA) · May 28, 2009

I had a good chat with him last evening! Seemed like a good fella and great info! Thanks George!!

Continental Cracked Block

Chris(WA)

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Bill(Wis)

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Jerry/MT

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Chris(WA)

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Anonymous-0

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Crem

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