Farmall 130 compression

Hugh MacKay · Oct 20, 2008

I should know this, however the memory upstairs is not with it. What is considered good usable compression for a C-123 in a Farmall 130. I know this tractor is down in all cylinders, however lately I'm getting fouling with oil on number 2 plug. I've got the plugs out this morning, thought I might check compression before I go at the real reason I have it in the shop. I put it in to replace front crank seal. Don't need help with crank seal, I have the tools and this is my 3rd one.

If that compression is bad enough I may just go for a rebuild. Don't really want to do that this fall, my snowblade push frame is on the tractor, we may be close to snow and I really don't need the exercise of removing cultivators from 140 then changing snow blade from 130 to 140.

El Toro · Oct 20, 2008

Hi Hugh, Do a compression check and compare the readings, should be close to one another. I would stall off an engine rebuild until Spring.
We received our first freezing temp 28 F (-2.2C)and heavy frost this morning. I finished plowing the garden on Sunday and planted barley. Hal

Bob M · Oct 20, 2008

G'morning Hugh!

I'm going from memory here. But as I recall compression for a healthy C123 should be 80 - 85 psi or so.

What's more important however is CONSISTENT compression readings cylinder to cylinder. If compression on #2 is about 10% or more less than the average of the other 3 cylinders there's a problem. But it could be as simple as incorrect valve lash on the problem cylinder.

Were the tractor mine, and if the engine otherwise starts/runs OK I'd check the valve lash, put the hottest plugs I can find (Champion D23, Autolite 388 or similar) and go ahead and use it "as is" thru the winter.

...Bob

CNKS · Oct 20, 2008

Hugh -- Go to Justin Webers site and look at most of the C123's, the numbers differ greatly depending on your particular engine -- as high as 160.
Compression

Hugh MacKay · Oct 21, 2008

Hal: I had planned on dealing with this early in the summer. I planted too much garden, did too much trucking down at the cabbage farm and had to go on a couple of unexpected journeys. First full year of retirement and I'm bussier than ever.

We've had only about 4 morning frosts yet, really none of them killed my tomatoes until yesterday. I was about 60 miles north of here today and struck snow flurries. Winter is not far off.

Hugh MacKay · Oct 21, 2008

Bob: The tractor starts and runs just fine, in fact as the weather has turned colder it fires up faster than SA or 140. It has been a bit lacking on power the past couple of seasons. Every time I check spark plugs, number 2 is carboned up to a point where it starts missing. I clean the carbon off and it works fine again even with the same plug. The cylinders seem close just holding my finger in plug hole. I think you are a bit low on psi, I know 130 was between 100 and 110, 15 years ago. My thoughts, high for these little offsets is around 125 psi. I see CNKS is suggesting 160 psi.

I think I'll check it before I put the plugs back, thought I was going to do that yesterday, at least until the telephone rang. Some of these young lads around here have no respect for retirement. Maybe I should just go south for the winter, then the telephone could ring all winter and 130 could easily handle all snow plowing.

Hugh MacKay · Oct 22, 2008

CNKS: Thanks for the info, I book marked that site. I was surprised at the range depending on pistons as well as model.

Farmall 130 compression

Hugh MacKay

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El Toro

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Bob M

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CNKS

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Hugh MacKay

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Hugh MacKay

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Hugh MacKay

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