44 Massey Engine question

[Mike in Mn.]

Just want to throw something out there for comment. Picked up a 1950 44 gas from a scrapper last spring for cheap, needed very little to make it run, had to change gas tank and a little tlc and had er going. Used it to pull wagons and stuff this summer, off idle it smoked like a chimney and after that it cleaned out and pulled like a champ with very little blow by. It sounded like the bottom end was a little loose so I decided to pull er down and go through it, turn crank and see why it smoked so bad. Did a comp. check, it had 80 psi right down the line and would lug like crazy. A 44 gas should have 120 lbs. of comp. Now I have it apart, it has 4" sleeves in it and I don't think it has a 1000 hours on a OH, just barely broken in, the head looks like a rebuilt but the exhaust guides must be fit too loose cause it has liquid oil in the ports and lots of carbon. The pistons come up even with the deck and the valves are good, my question is why would this engine have such low comp?? Could it be a factory kerosene burner?? On one of those would the head be different?? It has a different carb.# than my other 44's and 44sp which is 10444, this one is different. I know on the 44 gas and 44 lp the difference in the comp is made with the pistons. The last 44 sp I did the engine has 130 lbs of comp and it's all stock, what are your thoughts? Sorry for the long post. Oh the ser # is 18274, model 44GR Thanks.

 

[Oelke]

Hi, I had a 44 like that once a few years ago. the owner had overhauled it himself. the engine been resleeved with 4 inch sleevs and pistons and then run for several years. When he went to rering it he purchased original rings [3 7/8] and that is how I come to get it, engine was in great shape except for the wrong rings. Your problem sounds much the same.--------Harold

 

[Mike in Mn.]

Thanks for the reply Harold, that is something I never thought of, one of the first things I'm going to check, thanks again.