Posted by WA-Hal on October 27, 2009 at 18:33:32 from (208.81.157.90):
In Reply to: 801 Diesel posted by AGR 538 on October 26, 2009 at 19:22:28:
The diesel engines are much more expensive to rebuild than a similar gas engine. Doing the short block costs about twice as much. The injector pump can get very expensive to rebuild, and in my opinion, that almost has to be done by a professional with experience.
If the tractor is an 8X1, at least the engine rebuilding is pretty well supported. You can get a fairly complete rebuild kit for a 172 diesel engine. As far as I have been able to determine, no one currently sells a rebuild kit for the 144 cubic inch engine that came in the 6X1 diesels. While the two engines have some parts in common, the blocks, connecting rods, pistons, wrist pins and some other parts are different. The 8X1 tractor also had larger components in the rear end, presumably for more durability with the larger engine.
I have a 641D with lots of hours on it. The 144 diesel engine runs pretty well and starts reliably. The diesels don't start well at all in cold weather unless they have engine heaters or the glow plugs are used. Using the glow plugs uses a whole lot of battery power, so it seems more practical to me to plug in the lower radiator hose heater. In really cold weather, it is necessary to add diesel fuel additive to prevent fuel gelling.
I have a 172 diesel engine I bought several years ago. I have planned on installing it in my 641D when the original engine quits working well, but so far the old engine has kept starting and running OK. I bought the replacement engine for about what I thought I would need to pay for a core to rebuild, but would first try to get it running, as it may be good to go as is. I gave up on trying to rebuild my 144--if the rebuild parts are out there, I can't find them. I do hope the smaller rear end parts in the 641D will handle the power of the larger engine OK. I have been known to use all the power the tractor is capable of delivering quite often.
As far as what can go wrong on the diesel, I have heard of the cranks breaking occasionally. The diesel cranks are supposed to be made of forged steel, and a lot more durable than the cast cranks in the gas engines. But the nature of how a diesel works requires a higher quality crank. It has been my experience with my 641D that the diesel engine can last a huge number of hours. But the diesel fuel injection system will probably need attention a couple of times during that lifetime, and that can be very expensive. A good running diesel uses a whole lot less fuel than a similar gas tractor to do the same job. But most anyone can clean and rebuild a tractor carburetor for not much money, and I would be really cautious about trying to rebuild an injector pump myself--it could get screwed up and be even more expensive.
The diesels are less common than the similar gas models, but are not really rare. I would guess that a diesel that needs rebuilding is worth some less than the exact same gas tractor that needs rebuilding, since the gas tractors are so much less expensive to rebuild.
The factory type auxiliary valve in single form is probably worth at least $100 if it is complete and working OK. A double valve is worth a bunch more, as they are much less common.
A non-running tractor is worth a lot less than a running tractor, since it is just about impossible to determine what might be wrong with the engine and also with the rest of the tractor. I would suggest looking at the tractor more carefully to see if it is complete, how the tires look, what the fluid levels look like and the general condition.
I would also ask the owner why the tractor is not running. It could be as simple as putting in a new battery to get it going. Or it could be that the engine broke or froze, and that might require another engine.
I guess I would see what I could buy the tractor for and go from there. Rebuilding the diesel engine will be expensive if that is what the tractor needs, but it may not require that much to get it going. I wouldn't pay too much for it if they can't get it to run.
It would be helpful to know for sure what the tractor is. I haven't had much luck finding serial numbers on the diesels, since the battery drips on that surface. The engines can be identified by the block casting numbers. If you go to the archives, the block numbers have been discussed. If the tractor has a 144 diesel, it is worth less than if it has the 172, because of the parts problem.
Would I buy another diesel hundred series Ford? Sure I would, if the price was right, running or not. Running, they are neat and capable, economical workhorses. Not running, it would give me another challenge to fix it or to part it out. I wish you luck with your decisions!
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