Someone please tell me I'm not the only one.....

[Clint Skarovsky]

So I had a mixed bag last weekend. I got my 13 yr old to tractor pull for the first time on my recently purchased '51 JD A and he loved it. The bad - while the tractor was idling at the pull it dropped a valve. The results are almost the worst possible - broke the valve, damaged the guide, ruined the seat, broken valvespring and I've got a nasty little divot in the cylinder wall.
So I'm about to bore it .125", fix the head, and put it back together. I just bought the tractor for $1200 and now I'm going to spend $1200 on it to get it going again...........damn hot rodding. Someone please tell me that I'm normal. Thanks
 

[Ray Tellin]

Welcome to pulling!
 

[Clint Skarovsky]

I know but it's the reason that I've been doing the antique pulling instead of drag racing - nothing is supposed to break if treated properly. Oh well, bigger, stronger, faster.
 

[emtiv1099]

That stuff happens but it's all apart of it. Just be glad you it didn't get the whole engine along with the head.
 

[BenAlbert]

Already bought my son a tractor, and he's only 7. Worst part is his sister is making like she wants one too. Thats gonna take another tractor, and a bigger truck and trailer. There's no way I'm just going to be pit crew and let them run mine! At least I have some time to worry about it.
 

[north puller]

That problem was going to surface no mater what you are doing. Its not your fault or pulling's fault.

Ever been plowing along at a good clip and hooked a boulder?

Ever stuffed a big waud in a silo blower or a snow blower and killed her dead?

Ever had a wagon overloaded push you down a hill and wind the motor up a little faster than it should?

Ever tried to show off and pull a plow to big or too fast and beat the sh!t out of your tractor.

Point is, farming can be and often is harder on a tractor than pulling.

I would say that if the motor is within 150% of factory horsepower, and within 120% of factory rpm, and all in good mechanical repair, you can pull all day long and not hurt anything.

Good luck and don't give up.
 

[mark us]

i think i detected your problem in the last part your fist sentence
 

[mm585]

Thats tractor pulling!!!!Aint it great???Always remember golf clubs arent cheap eather, and they dont even make any noise!!
 

[Clint Skarovsky]

Thanks guys, I just needed to feel better....the bad thing is if it was my '45 A with a power block (which I over-rev regularly) I wouldn't have been that surprised and may have just parted out the tractor. This is my bone-stock puller for the kids...oh well, I'll keep everyone posted when I actually put it back together. I've got to pull the block in the coming days for its sleeve project.
 

[mightymolinekid]

Nope it happens. Last year I put together a brand new engine, got it broke in, hooked twice and took it to a dyno. There we seized it tight, scoring 2 pistons and spun the rear main bearing. I waited 10 months and had to raise the roof at the machine shop for a boat anchor. He tells me bring it back they messed up. Waited another 5 months got it this spring, put together, got it running only to find they installed the wrong front cam bushing. I lose oil to my front valves when it gets to temperature. Both times I got the engine back from them complete, all I had to do was proper torque on the heads and do the light assembly, valve train, etc. So....it happens.......
 

[mm fan]

Clint,

I've got a power block that will go in that A, with the pistons. I can bring it to Cuero this weekend. My email's open
 

[730-LP]

Bore it .0125 over and put a set of standard bore G pistons in it,with a good head it will make 60 HP.I have a new set of G pistons that has been machined for a power block,if you are interested my e-mail is open