Super MD head?

tractorsam · Jan 24, 2009

Hello all, back in the fall I bought a non-running Super MD. After getting it running I discovered that the head was cracked which didn't really surprise me. I am currently getting the head repaired and what I'm wondering is with a fresh head is the bottom end of the motor likely to stand up to it? It's a bit worn but there's not much that I can feel in the way of a ring ridge. Also where are the best places to find parts for these engines apart from CaseIH themselves? Thanks, Sam

the tractor vet · Jan 24, 2009

Case I H or some one that has new old stock . The bearing for that engine are the problem . What is left out there is what is left. and if the thrust is bad on your crank you are shut out of luck . Was thinking about the old gas start engines this morning and got to wondering about just what our government had hidden away in it's old stock piles as they did have a ton of old TD6 on up dozers and gas stat I H diesels for power units and if they had them they had lots of spare parts to fix them . Now just how would one go about looking for there stash . Someone may have a in and i am sure that they will never ever use any of that stuff they have socked away in some forgotten old warehouse.

tractorsam · Jan 24, 2009

Do I take your comment about the thrust to mean that there are no more thrust bearings available? I bought this tractor figuring it would be very expensive to restore/repair, although I think I underestimated just how expensive. I priced the parts I need to return this head to service with a resonable margin of safety and it worked out to very nearly $1200.00 CND (this doesn't include the machining and the parts that don't come from CaseIH). After that I did my sums and worked out that if I do a decent job of restoring it I'd be into it for around $15,000.00 . I'm now trying to decide if I'm just going to do the head to try and make it runnable for a while, take three years and restore the thing, or find an inconvenient corner in a barn and install it there until I win the lottery. I like it a lot but as usual I just don't know what to do with it. Sam

MN Scott · Jan 24, 2009

The Vet was refering to the trust surface on the crankshaft itself. If it is worn to much, oversize trust bearings are not avaiable and you have to find a good replacement crank.

tractorsam · Jan 24, 2009

OK, cool. Do you know if the crank for a straight MD is the same as for a Super? Thanks, Sam

John M · Jan 24, 2009

People have been rebuilding heads for years with no problems, but if the lower half of the engine is in bad shape, a fresh head can cause damage. New parts are out there if you can find them. Someone told me that they are being made, just not by IH.

tractorsam · Jan 24, 2009

Since I've had this tractor I've only had it running long enough (15 mins maybe) to discover that the head was cracked. It carried oil pressure (decent but not incredible) although as it was cold that's not much of an indicator. Perhaps my best bet is to pull a cap off a rod and main or two and see what they say. It appear that this engine has sucked valves on at least two cylinders as #2&3 pistons have damage (visible but I don't think it will affect their structural integrity). There is nothing noticeable in terms of a ring ridge in the liners. Do these engines have much of a tolerance for bore wear? Thanks, Sam

tractorsam · Jan 24, 2009

Thanks for the information. It does rather make me more optimistic about actually getting this project done. Part of my problem is that I'm in Canada and so anything that doesn't come from the IH dealer I have to factor in the exchange rate, shipping, and customs which usually seems to kill most of the price advantage. The guy who I've left my head with seems reasonably confident that he can pin the crack (unless he finds others etc) which is between the intake and exhaust valves on the #4 cylinder. I'm a little doubtful about the effectiveness of pining it but he says he'll warrant it. Sam

Farmall wrangler · Jan 25, 2009

tractorsam,
Any parts you need are defenitly still available just my take some time and more money than average to get them. I am in the process of rebuilding my grandsons now and for a complete overhaul (cook block,new sleeves,pistons, rings,bearings,complete gasket kit,remanufactured head with all new valves, carb rebuild,ect.) I presently have $5875 invested. They are an enginnering marvel and a lot of fun to play with.

tractorsam · Jan 25, 2009

I agree with them being an engineering marvel. It seems that by the 40's and 50's they had the gas engine down to a fine art but diesels still had a long way to come. I reckon that when I get this done if I take it to a show I can pretty well count on it being the only one there

Mostly though I'm trying to decide what to do with it for the time being as I cannot afford to totally restore it at the moment. Mostly I would like to get it running and then save for a couple of years and then go through it from front to back. Sam

Super MD head?

tractorsam

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the tractor vet

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tractorsam

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MN Scott

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tractorsam

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John M

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tractorsam

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tractorsam

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Farmall wrangler

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tractorsam

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