Well the head gasket wasn't bad.

unioncreek · Feb 6, 2015

Checked which cylinder was leaking coolant by cranking it after leaving sit over night and it was number 3 cylinder. Pulled the head hoping it was the gasket and it was OK. My uncle thought my Dad had never overhauled it. Cylinder diameter is 4 inch, I'm not familiar with the shape of the piston. The head is not flat the center has a gap of about .017. Is that more than is acceptable? To me it is, but this is the first time I've worked on a Farmall. Could the warped head be the reason that I was getting coolant in only number 3 cylinder? I've included some picts. If the head is cracked on the #3 cylinder is there anyplace that is more likely? The first pict is of the Pistons, number 3 is on the right.

Bob

IAtractorKid · Feb 6, 2015

In your picture of the head, they usually crack in the top corners (sharper corners) of the combustion chamber. I pulled an M head this summer that had 11 cracks including every one of those corners.

unioncreek · Feb 6, 2015

Are the cracks visible with a naked eye?

Bob

IAtractorKid · Feb 6, 2015

They can be but aren't always. Try cleaning up that combustion chamber and see.

old · Feb 6, 2015

Is this a wet sleeve engine you are working on?? Common to have a seal seal go bad and cause that BTDT on more then one engine

unioncreek · Feb 6, 2015

I thought they were dry sleeve. Are the seals at the top of the sleeve between the block and sleeve? If so, I don't see any.

Bob

D Slater · Feb 6, 2015

.017 is two much warp. Looks like fire crater pistons. If you clean the flat area on the top there's probably a piston number. If the head is bad and unless you want it original you may want to find a gasoline head while your at it. That's a low compression head in picture.
Won't know for sure the condition of the head unless valves are removed and head cleaned. Then magnafluxed and pressure tested unless you see problems with the naked eye after cleaning.
It was rebuilt sometime. Those pistons weren't made before M production had ended.

Janicholson · Feb 6, 2015

Farmall M Dry sleeves. Jim

unioncreek · Feb 6, 2015

The picts of the pistons is not very good, but are those Fire Crater pistons.

Bob

Zachary Hoyt · Feb 7, 2015

In the wet sleeve engines I have been in the O ring seal is toward the lower end of the sleeve. However the point is moot in this case since as has been stated this is a dry sleeve engine.
Zach

rustred · Feb 7, 2015

yes, .017 is too much warpage. needs to be planed probably .020 to come off if your measure ments are good. gaskets will only accept about .010 max. warpage.
I would be pulling piston also and inspect sleeve also once you are into it this far.

Well the head gasket wasn't bad.

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