Oh boy, I done it now

Boy, just when you think it's safe to test out your "just fixed" tractor...bang!! All kinds of craziness breaks loose. I've had my JD R in the shop since back in January because of problems with the pony motor. I spent the better part of that time looking for a used governor. I finally broke down and bought one from Polk's and was satisfied with it. It turned out good, just pricey. But with hay season fast approaching I needed to get done. So, I finished putting it all back together today and it worked great. Well, my neighbor came to disk our soybean field before planting it. I thought I'd give a hand and help disk with the R. I got started and made a couple rounds when it suddenly started lugging down REAL hard and quit. I thought it might have ditched all the oil and locked but it was still full of oil. So, I started it again and just sat in one place and it did the same thing. I ended up having to be a burden to the neighbor and get him to pull me to the shop when I had intended on making things a little easier for him. My question is this: what on earth is wrong with the R? It also had a leak that just appeared around the flywheel and was blowing oil back through the pony motor breather. I have theories but want to hear some of you all's. Also, if this is a big job I wonder if I should just go ahead and tear it all the way down and do the restoration that I've thought of doing for a long time. Any thoughts are appreciated. God bless.

--old fashioned farmer

I haven't dug into it yet but what you said sure does sound about like what would be up. Especially the way it would lug down and stop for no apparent reason. Also, the engine was really hot to the touch after just a little bit of running so that really makes sense. I'm going to dig into it soon. Is it a big tear down? Just curious since it would be the deciding factor on going all the way with a restoration right now. Thanks. God bless.

--old fashioned farmer

Well I'll be doggoned. That old tractor just confounded me today. Dad wanted me to let him listen to her run and see what it was doing. I had already taken off the valve cover to look a bit at the valves last night so I had to put that back on. Anyway, Started it up and it ran on one cylinder for a little while and then kicked right in on both. It never blew a bit of blue smoke (it was just smokin like crazy last night prior to the in-field episode and shootin soot too). It ran just fine today and never once showed a hint of last night's problem. Now, I did find out that it was really low on water so that explained the heating of the block and valve cover. The oil from the flywheel was actually runoff from the blowback on the pony breather, and the pony breather was doing that because at the oil change I made back in Jan. I had over-filled the cup. So, once I get the JD 420 hittin on both cylinders (in case I need a tug) I'll take the R to the corn field with the disk and take another test run and see what it does. I appreciate the help. I'll just have to see how she pulls on another test run to see if anything is up at all. Who knows, could have just been from sitting so long. I am cornfused at this point. I just told dad that the good Lord had healed up the old girl. ha ha. It works for me and I thank him for it. God bless ya buddy. I'll post again on the subject when I get a chance to check it later in the week.

--old fashioned farmer