8N problem

[Ken in IND]

My cousin just called me to ask why his 8N would have water in the carberator. He was brush hogging trails in a grown up wood lot about 3/4 mile from his house. he said that the tractor all of a sudden was running wide open and he couldn;t get it to idle down. He got to looking and finally found a large stick had unhooked the linkage to the governor. He hooked it back up but then noticed the radiator was puffing steam so he headed to the house with the tractor. He got there with it running just fine and shut it down. He checked the water and it needed about a gallon which he added then checked the oil to find it was full and not even dark. He then tried to start it and it would not start until he ran the battery down cranking it. He noticed the bowl on the carberator was full of water and he drained it out until fuel ran free. Thinking there may be water in the gas he bought some water dry and added it to the gas tank and tried to start it this morning after charging the battery. He states that it won't start and won't turn over but only clicks like it is bound up. He also said that he had to add more water and it was in the carberator again. What could be the cause of wter in the carberator? This motor was completely rebuilt about 5 years ago and probably doesn't have close to 100 hours on it.

 

[jackinok]

head gasket leaking,or one of the manifold bolt which goes into wter jacket.either though would fill up hose to air filter before filling bowl of carb..if not you most definitly have water in the fuel.all it takes is a drop or two because all the gas is sucked out of bottom of carb to keep one from starting.tell him to take tractor out of gear,shut off key,and turn turn engine over with fan blade.starter is likely stuck in flywheel.

 

[elmersooner]

could be hydrolocked----cylinder full of fluid caused by leaking headgasket--caused by overheating.

how much water in carb?

have him remove the plugs and try to turn over--preferably by hand to start with. if it won't turn, the starter may be stuck to flywheel.

check the oil again--does it look like chocolate milk or way way overful? if it does most likely headgasket leak or crack in block (hopefully not)

 

[Ken in IND]

I went over and looked at the tractor Friday. My cousin said that he had added more water to the radiator and when he looked it was low again. I opened the drain on the carb and water ran out of it for quite some time before gas started to drain. I then checked the oil, sure enough looked like chocolate milk and was above the full mark. My cousin said that it wasn't like that until it had sat there a couple of days. I drained the water/antifreeze and the oil pan to get the water out and keep it out. Where do you suggest I startchecking for the problem? I sure would rather merely pull the head but that's gonna have to be done regardless. How will I be able to tell what the problem is as I'm thinking it could be a head gasket, cracked or warped head or cracked block. I'm thinking more of the problem being in the top end due to the water being in the carb. I think it has leaked into the pan because the oil originally had no water in it nor was it past the full mark until the tractor sat for a couple of days.

 

[elmersooner]

since it overheated after overrevving, I would start by pulling the head-most times it will be pretty obvious where it occurred. when the head is off check it on a perfectly flat surface. anything more than .04 out of flat might be an issue. if you shave the head be real careful of clearance with piston. most times though they clean up replace gasket and you are good to go. if no obvious head gasket issue--visually inspect around valve seats as that is common place for cracks---not an expert, but have turned a wrench a time or two. good luck