1937 JD Model B Oil Pressure Problem

[Matt Ammentorp]

I am restoring a 1937 Model B. I've completely rebuilt the engine and the good news is I got it back together and it actually runs! The problem I have is I can't get oil pressure to register on the pressure guage (a new evergreen restorations guage). When I take the guage off with the engine running, oil pours out like crazy, so I know oil is being pumped. I've screwed down the pressure adjustment A LOT, and it doesn't seem to have an impact. The engine runs pretty smoothly, so I believe the crank and mains are getting oil. I do NOT have any oil coming out of the line to the tappet cover. When I rebuilt the engine, the oil pump appeared to be in good condition. I replaced the oil pump gaskets with replacements from the nnalert gasket kit, which I assume would be correct. The crankcase vent is clean and in good shape. I do not have the vent line installed from the governor case to the air cleaner, but the hole is uncovered and open. I'm stumped and would appreciate any ideas!

 

[Anonymous-0]

If you had the block out some tractors have an oil line connected to the back of the block , thats how the oil gets to the tappet line, second think is put a "low pressure oil gauge" on and get a true oil pressure reading, you want no more than 15 lbs. ,I dont know of any other gauge to read correctly other than john deere ,all other gauges Ive found will not read the right oil pressure.Must be john deere!!!! also you can take the oil line off the top of tractor where it screws into block and blow back threw it to see if something has gotton it clogged up. be sure to find out your exact oil pressure you need!!!! good luck

 

[PBrowning]

Matt – See the URL listed below – may shed some light on your problem.

One thing that comes immediately to mind is that gasket B246R (pump gasket) is too thick allowing oil to “slip by” the gears in the pump, thus reducing output pressure. Be Blessed. (PatB)
Oil Pressure Issues

 

[Anonymous-0]

One other thing that I can think of would be there might be a problem in the oil filter body head, somethimes they get pulled down from being put on to tight. Thats all my thoughts. oil filters should only be put on thight enough not to leak.

 

[DanL-B36320]

I had [u:f57250c4fa][b:f57250c4fa]exactly[/b:f57250c4fa][/u:f57250c4fa] the same problem on my 37 B. Assumed the old gauge was bad because it read zero, even though oil poured out when the gauge was unscrewed. So I put a new gauge on, still no OP.

I took the top cover and oil filter out and had a look around inside. What I found was a nut on one of the copper oil lines was completely unscrewed so the compression fitting was leaking pretty badly. I slid the nut up to the top of the pipe, tightened it down, filled it up with oil and fired it up. Voila! OP is now very good.

I know you said you have been through the engine but you might want to double-check the fittings on all the oil lines inside.

 

[greenmech]

If you are not getting oil to your tappets ,there is a small hole directly behind the gauge that needs to be poked out. This will spray oil in the governor housing. As to your lack of pressure, could be a spring loaded valve broken in the filter head. A relief valve or the adjusting spring leaf. Ron Mn.

 

[Matt Ammentorp]

All excellent suggestions - I appreciate the help! One thing I haven't done is taken the filter body off - maybe need to inspect that more closely. Also, I will check all internal oil lines again just to be sure. Not sure when I'll get this all done, but I will report back.

 

[DanL-B36320]

Good luck.

As you probably know, it's not a huge job to open things up and look around in there. I think I did mine, start to finish, in a couple hours and that included making a new gasket for the top cover.