444 Bell Housing

[Allen Goodman]

Needing help. After 82 years of farm equipment and salvage business in Southeast Colorado, we sold the properties and closed the gates for the last time on December 18th 2020 and moved to Sierra Vista, AZ. Thought I was going to take it easy and do a little traveling until I seen a Estate Sales ad that listed a 444 diesel with loader, grader blade, and 6 ft rotary mower. I can't pass up the color red. Called the widow, got her address and the wife went to look at it. The widow stated that nearly 2 years ago her late husband hired a local man to replace the clutch but he never came back to finished the job. When we opened the machine shed, the tractor was split sitting on jack stands. It was nearly put together. I asked the widow why wasn't the tractor finished. She stated the the guy got frustrated trying to slide it together ended up breaking 2 bolts off in the bell housing and breaking the belling housing around the starter. I searched the shop and couldn't find the broken piece. We bought the tractor and attachments along with a couple trailer loads of shop tools, mowers, garden tractors and miscellaneous items.

After taking everything else home, we began to work on the tractor. We split the tractor all the way again to verify in fact a new clutch was installed. Upon inspection I noted clutch housing was cracked in several places indicating the clutch was not aligned before trying to slide it together. I took the clutch and seen there was a new 4 button clutch plate installed. The old clutch plate was on the work bench and it was the normal Lucas plate. Now I figured out why the bolts and bell housing was broke. They tried to slide it together by tightening the bolts failing to align the clutch. I've contacted several salvage yards trying to get the piece of the block. I have the tractor at a machinist at this time. He thought he would be able fabricate a spacer but decided the best thing be to try and get the casting. So if anyone can help locate a un-serviceable BD154 (British built) block, casting number 3040912R4 I would appreciate it. Thanks guys!

 

[wore out]

The engine block is a structural component of the tractor's frame, the engine mounting flange COULD have been cracked from abuse even before the hack ralphed on the bolts.

I would replace the block, if you are not going to do that and want to repair it there's no reason a replacement for the missing part of the casting can't be cut out of steel plate and welded in place, probably would be no better or no worse than a piece cut off another block.

Perhaps if you don't get too rough on the finished tractor it might even last.

However, if the hack REALLY got that rough the crankshaft and/or crankshaft thrust bearing could have been bent or damaged, and what about the poor transmission input shaft pilot bearing and the rear bearing and bearing holder at the back of the transmission top shaft?

 

[Allen Goodman]

Chance I'm going to take that everything else is ok. Just need to get that cast piece.

 

[Fritz Maurer]

Why dont you try that salvage yard in south east Colorado? The name escapes me right now but I hear they were there a long time

 

[Allen Goodman]

Thanks, but no thanks. Nearly a million tons left the 40 acres, probably went to China. The new owners have plowed up and planted alfalfa.

 

[used red MN]

Here is a suggestion, the cast part that is missing could just be replaced by a proper thickness of flat steel. If you or a friend has a mill someone could machine you out a piece. Even someone with a good torch or heavy duty plasma cutter could get you close enough. In my sketch on your photo I show how you could tap the block web ..maybe 3/8 in. bolts.. and add a support on that would weld on to the proposed spacer above to help replace some of the lost support from that broke off corner. On second thought maybe just a triangular gusseted piece that would bolt up to the proposed tapped web from the bottom. And also to a row of three 5/16 in. bolts tapped in that bottom lip of the housing where you see one bolt hole already for the flywheel cover. If that is a bolt for the starter that is broke through in the middle I think between that and the good inner hole you could get the starter bolted on there well enough to get it to start and test out the other possible ailments before you go any further. Obviously not a tractor you would want to mount a loader on.

 

[Allen Goodman]

The machinist that I have the tractor at thought he could fab a piece, but decided to see if I could come up with an original casting. I think his give a sh1t level isn't high enough. The broken off bolts are the ones above the starter and last one below. If I can't find the cast piece I may have to take to another shop. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[derwen1959]

There doesn't look to be a chunk out of bell housing but out of engine also the starter doesn't need removing to split tractor

 

[Janicholson]

Make an L shaped plate that bolts to the 4 holes in the flat below the starter bulge.
Make a 3/8 thick by 1-1/2 in wide by 1 foot long strip to drill and tap into the block above the oil pan. Weld a bracket to this that can mate to the L mentioned above, and under the starter. leave a small gap to allow it to be bolted to the L bracket. Use grease on the drill and tap to limit the flakes of Iron getting into the crank case. Use Permatex on the bolts. Shim the starter as needed. Jim

 

[Allen Goodman]

Well, it was done that way when I got it.

 

[Allen Goodman]

Thanks Jim. I printed your response and going to give to the machinist. Way it's looking, I'm not going to be able to find the cast piece.

 

[Allen Goodman]

Thanks for the suggestion. We were looking at doing the same thing, but was hoping for a cast piece first.