47 M Head and Pistons

keithg · Jul 21, 2013

My project is a 47 M I am going through, disassembling, inspecting, fixing before painting in the future. It will have very light duty......no more than an hour of plowing per year, tractor rides, parades, etc. It ran when i got it and there was no evidence of water in the oil or vice versa. It did not appear to be smoking as if it were burning oil.

I removed the head and pistons to look them over. When cleaning the head I found 6 or 7 small cracks on the head gasket surface. The head P/N is 8574DB (gas) with 1953 casting code so it has been replaced at least once.

The pistons are 4" aluminum step head aftermarket similar to Fire Craters. There is some scuffing on the skirts.

What would you recommend doing with the head and these pistons? Can these be reused as is?

I am attempting to attach pictures of both head and pistons.

Thanks

Janicholson · Jul 21, 2013

Unless a crack is stopped (Welding, Pinning, stitching, or other method, they will continue. These are repairable, but the head is easier to replace with a good one than the expense of a repair. The pistons have been run in a dirty environment. As a puller with no aircleaner, or with a broken intake hose. I think they might be usable if they measure well in the sleeves. I would clean them well to assure embedded dirt is gone to avoid ruining the walls, but they are on the skuffed side of best. Jim

teddy52food · Jul 21, 2013

That engine was run hot at one time which started the cracks and scuffed the skirts.

rustred · Jul 22, 2013

yep , run hot.

keithg · Jul 22, 2013

Now that you say it, I remember the previous owner telling me that about 15 years ago he discovered his renter had started and run the M not knowing that the coolant had been drained from the radiator. I know it was not working hard but I don't know how long it ran without coolant before the owner discovered it and shut it off.

Owen Aaland · Jul 22, 2013

At the very least the head needs to be pressure checked for leaks to be sure it is flat.

The pistons most likely are serviceable as the scoring doesn't look to be too deep. The greater problem is going to be the sleeves. If they are scored like the pistons you will not be able to stop it from leaking oil up and compression down. It is not going to be critical for a tractor that isn't going to be used for heavy work but it wont run like a new one.

47 M Head and Pistons

keithg

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Janicholson

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teddy52food

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rustred

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keithg

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Owen Aaland

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