1953 Super MD

[Russell Moore]

Hey guys I am the new owner of a 1953 Super MD
I will be needing some engine parts like rings and maybe a few pistons
Does anyone have recommendations on where to look for parts
Thanks for any help

 

[fastfarmall]

I highly suggest you watch a You Tube video, of a few acres farm, he has completly over hauled his MD, he tells where he got the parts also! Good Luck! I wished i had one.

 

[Russell Moore]

Thanks Ill check that video out
From what I have found it seems the Super MDs are a little rare

 

[Ellis Kinney]

Just a few acres farm, md. This is a video on You Tube. He has bought a lot of stuff from Bates Corp. Also YT and Steiner's. Ellis

 

[50supera]

Congratulations. You have just started into the most expensive antique tractor engine rebuild ever. Ask me how I know. Bates and Weber's are about your only
options. Don't go too far w/o having your head magnafluxed!

Good luck. I too highly recommend just a few acres youtube channel. Very good info!

 

[Janicholson]

I hope you understood that 50supera meant the cylinder head not your brain. Be sitting down when you call about parts and
gaskets. (former MD owner (I got a good price!)) Jim

 

[used red MN]

Yep they are expensive to work on, do not know if I would
say the most expensive antique tractor engine you will ever
work on though. A company called jen sales ..put that
together as one word.. has cylinder kits for a scratch under
$650, now that is per hole mind you. I do not know what
Bates gets, I cannot seem to navigate their knot-headed
website. Best of luck!

 

[3LFarms]

Pete got his MD running in the video he posted today. He also says that he thinks he has about $13k in overhauling everything forward of the bell housing. He knew it would be $10k in the engine alone. And that is with doing all the work he could himself.

 

[Russell Moore]

 

[Russell Moore]

 

[Russell Moore]

 

[used red MN]

At Bates I cannot find a sleeve and piston sets. They show a 277076R1 4 1/8 in. sleeve which IH shows as correct for $408. They are showing a 4 in. piston 364320R3 which may be for a MD at $288. And that is no rings. They must have kits since that is what they appeared to send the Few Acres guy, I think his name is Pete. I will attach a link to the CHNI parts site for the Super M, which includes the diesel. When getting parts for these old Farmalls I feel it is helpful to have the IH part numbers.
CNHI Super M parts diagrams

 

[Russell Moore]

Are these pistons salvageable

 

[Russell Moore]

 

[Fritz Maurer]

Clean them up with a 2 inch scotch bright pad and see whats left. Those little dents wont affect anything.

 

[used red MN]

Here are two sides of a story. In my training in metallurgy for my current field of work, Non-destructive Evaluation I have
learned this. Everyone of those areas of damage is a stress riser from which a break, flaw or crack could propagate.This
could lead to failure of the part. After you clean them up as suggested, if they are a metal that a magnet can stick to you
could have them ..magnet particle tested or another name is Magnafluxed.. If they are aluminum or the like that is not
magnetic you can have them ..dye penetrant.. checked. Side two... if I had that tractor, my repair approach would be on
the very cheap! I would apply the test stated above because I have access to them. Then if no severe flaws were found
and everything else seemed nearly in spec like diameter and ring lands, I would put them in and run them VS $288 a
piece for new. My two cents, which is only worth what you are paying.

 

[the tractor vet]

Yea if you knock off the high points as something went thru that engine at one time . Here is what you need to worry about with them . Heads are prone to cracking and yep ya can have it magnfluxed ya can have it pressure tested and all may seam good till she gets some heat and then you will find the problem . NO ONE does a hot pressure test anymore . Next thing to worry about is the crank and the thrust faces if you have excess clearance on the crank thrust you are S O L . I am not totally sure just when they stopped servicing parts for these old gas switch to diesel 's but it has been a LONG time . I had a 450 D back in the late 60's into the early 70's and loved it . Now fast forward to today Nah only because of the cost and how had it is to find parts . The other place they will crack is between #2 and #3 cylinder , that is and easy fix with a thick wall repair sleeve and a double bore .

 

[Russell Moore]

Thanks for all the feedback guys
If I can get the tractor running it will not be used much here on our farm
I may pull a trailer or Tedder and rake some hay with it
For now Im going to clean the pistons up and see how they look I may have a machine shop check them out then Im going to hone the sleeves and see how good they clean up
If I find any major problems Ill reevaluate my direction