1950 JD Model A question

[ErnieJ]

A friend and I are working on someone else's JD Model A. Neither one of us are a stranger to turning a wrench and busting knuckles, just not knowledgeable with the A . The tractor has been running but we just discovered about 2 gallons of water in the crank case. My friend did some web searching and everything seemed to point to push rod tubes so we pulled the head and much to our surprise there were no tubes, just a cast iron head. Also surprising was an almost new head gasket.

Soooo.... the question is did the JD model A have push rod tubes in 1950? If so is there a newer/different head that wold fit that someone would have swapped in?

The head has been taken into a machine shop to have it checked over for cracks and warping. The head gasket did show some areas that looked like it was not compressed.

We have also learned that there is a plate at the back of the engine that can be removed to inspect the inside of the engine. When we removed that plate is sure looked like the gasket may not have been doing its job. The tractor did sit outside in snow and rain. Also it looks like a couple of wires that run along side of that plate may have been slightly under it which may case a lack of seal with the gasket.

We really appreciate any and all input on solving this water in the oil issue.

 

[Rodney51Cub]

No the 1950 JD A does not have push rod tubes. If the wires were under the gasket for the cover yes it will get water in the crankcase.

 

[bob p mn]

Is it water or anti freeze? If it sat outside for an extended period of time could be a combination of rain water and condensation if you are in a area that see's cold weather. I'm in N. Mn. and I've owned several A's and they used to be parked outside and it was not unusual to find quite a bit of water in crankcases. Especially if it wasn't drained off occasionally.

 

[JIM MN]

The plate is the crankcase cover. The wires are from the dash light switch to the two head lights.. These wires need to be in the cover groove. If you have water in your crankcase, its from this cover not sealing?? If anti-freeze from the cooling system, then a head gasket not sealing- cracked head- cracked cylinder in block.. While crankcase cover is off, drain oil and clean crankcase.

 

[ErnieJ]

Thanks... Not sure how my buddy got the idea that the head had push rod tubes.

Hard to know if it's water or antifreeze as it just comes out looking like coffee that someone put too much creamer in.

Of course we'll be draining and flushing the crank case. We don't know when the last oil change was done.

The head gasket didn't show any signs of having not sealed in any area but the head is being checked by the machine shop
.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

Only the Bs had pushrod tubes and they were in the block, not the head. The wires should run in a groove under the crankcase cover. There should be a couple of clips rivetted to the main case to keep the wires in place. If it had that much water it could have frozen once and if started has broken the oil pump drive coupling. Check that when it's cleaned out. The pump shaft should turn when you roll the crank.

 

[Mark-Ia]

Only the Bs had pushrod tubes and they were in the block, not the head. The wires should run in a groove under the crankcase cover. There should be a couple of clips rivetted to the main case to keep the wires in place. If it had that much water it could have frozen once and if started has broken the oil pump drive coupling. Check that when it's cleaned out. The pump shaft should turn when you roll the crank.

The early A's had pushrod tubes also.

 

[NoDakInMN]

If it sits for a while, the water will settle to the bottom and will drain first with the plug removed. This will allow you determine if it is anti freeze or not. You can also get water in the cases through condensation which occurs naturally and quite often.

 

[Pete in MD]

Only the Bs had pushrod tubes and they were in the block, not the head. The wires should run in a groove under the crankcase cover. There should be a couple of clips rivetted to the main case to keep the wires in place. If it had that much water it could have frozen once and if started has broken the oil pump drive coupling. Check that when it's cleaned out. The pump shaft should turn when you roll the crank.

Mike,
Think you got yourself turned around, pushrod tubes are in the head.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

Only the Bs had pushrod tubes and they were in the block, not the head. The wires should run in a groove under the crankcase cover. There should be a couple of clips rivetted to the main case to keep the wires in place. If it had that much water it could have frozen once and if started has broken the oil pump drive coupling. Check that when it's cleaned out. The pump shaft should turn when you roll the crank.

Mea culpa