TO 30 troubles

bjhstetson · Jun 8, 2017

I purchased a 1951 TO30, as a first tractor project. I paid to have the block and head machined to fix the oil/water mixing problem. They installed the new sleeves. Total engine rebuild. New sleeves, pistons, rings. Engine runs good, but still mixes oil and water. Low compression on two cylinders. And positive crankcase pressure. Engine sat for several months without coolant level dropping. Pulled head, found cracks in compression area of head. Head was not flat at all. Could this cause my problems?

Steve@Advance · Jun 8, 2017

Welcome bjhstetson!

Yes, a cracked head or leaking head gasket will let coolant into the oil.

There are also oring seals around the bottom of the sleeves.

Since the shop that worked on it didn't catch the cracked head, they may have taken other shortcuts. While the head is off, be a good time to pull the pistons, sleeves, check everything against specs.

The seat area at the bottom of the block must be scraped and sanded clean to bare metal in order for the sleeves to sit properly and the orings seal. If the sleeves don't seat fully, the head gasket won't seal.

You should be able to find a good head, that's a popular engine. Ebay is a good source for used parts, this site has new aftermarket parts.

A shop manual will be a good investment. It will pay for itself many times over in mistakes not made!

ErnieD · Jun 8, 2017

An unflat head will leak coolant into the oil; first hand experience. Cracked head and warped is indicative of an overheat episode in previous life. I am unsure of these being a wet sleeve engine; I would question the shop closely. Good advice to shop for a new head. The nuts by the spark plugs will make accurate torque measurement a chore; but take your time and retorque after first run and then set the final valve lash. Dad's ran a long time with 3-5# of oil pressure; and broke/missing thrust washer! Tractor really shone on belt work; many a night unloading chopped corn with the 30 on the blower wide open; exhaust manifold glowing red and spitting sparks.

770jdman · Jun 8, 2017

If the tractor was in a cold area check the
block between the cylinders. They were
notorius for cracking there. We junked alot
of ferguson 20 and 30 from the blocks being
frozen. By the way none were ever pushed out
the side.
Had one in ffa boy that's been awhile,
same problem. They ended up jb welded it,put
it back together. They used and it didn't
fail them as far as i know. They also
cracked at bottom between cylinders. Give
it a good thorough look. Some cracks are
tough to see.

TO 30 troubles

bjhstetson

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Steve@Advance

Well-known Member

ErnieD

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770jdman

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