850 Copper shavings in oil pan

[DBHouston]

I'm chasing a low compression issue. Dropped the oil pan to get at the pistons and found some pretty sizable
copper shavings (some over 1 long). Definitely not the rod bearings, they look great and are steel; I assume
the crank bearings are also steel but this is my first and only Ford tractor project ;-)

The engine is a rebuild. I had it replaced about 20 years ago when I was working full time. Shortly after
install, the tractor developed a sizeable crack in the center housing so we parked it until I retired last
year. Now that I have the time to work on it, I've replaced the center housing and got the tractor running
again. But the compression is low (90 in each cylinder) so I've pulled head, cleaned & lapped valves and going
to replace head gasket but I figured I'd inspect pistons while I had the head off ... and that's when I
discovered this copper in oil pan.

At any rate, any ideas what this copper may be from?

Thanks for any help.

 

[rmg]

The last time I saw copper ( actually brass) in an oil pan was a 391 in a 2 ton ford truck and the brass bushings in the rods where the wrist pins ride were coming apart.

 

[DBHouston]

Thanks for the reply. This very much looks like thin copper though.

 

[used red MN]

Bushings like are in the small end of the rod can have layers to them. A thin layer may be the layer that wears against the wrist pin. Camshaft bearings and crankshaft main bearings and rod bearings may all be made this way. By thin shavings do you mean like Bert can thin? It would be best if you could post a picture of what you are seeing. Here is a quick rundown of how to post pictures here. Pictures post through the ..Browse or Choose files.. button just below where it says ..Upload Photos/Videos.. down lower in the ..New post and reply windows, see picture of button on a iPhone. Clicking that will give you a choice to select the file or folder the pictures are stored in on your PC or phone. Then select the photo from the file and ..Add.. it. They cannot be pasted into the text area as a file.
<img src=https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto157474.jpg>

This post was edited by used red MN on 06/29/2023 at 10:30 pm.

 

[DBHouston]

Thanks for your reply.

I dug around in the oil pan a little more and found some even larger pieces; attached is a photo. The pieces are about paper thin.

Thanks again.

 

[Hemmjo]

Could be parts of a head gasket.

 

[DBHouston]

My thanks to those who replied.

I figured it out. Should have waited until I had the last piston out. Definitely a failed rod bearing (bonded, not steel - sheesh!).

This is why I am an amateur mechanic ;-)

 

[Fritz Maurer]

If the failed bearing is wound around the crank, that is better. But if the bearing is still in the rod with the crank turning inside of it , then you have to pull the motor if the crank wont clean up.

 

[DBHouston]

Thankfully I can get at the rod bearings; and the rods and crank journals all look good and measure true so this should be an easy repair.

Thanks

 

[Hemmjo]

You have to ask the question, and seek a probable answer, "Why did this bearing fail?"