expansion plug on engine

[hawk man]

well i've had my 1948 8n's engine rebuilt. i've had no trouble since. well it snowed yesterday and last night. so this morning i went out and knocked the snow off and was going to scrape the driveway and roads. she fired right up which was a surprise 'cause she'd been sitting for over a month. but like i said she fired up and after a few minutes of setting there warming up she was purring like a kitten. so i proceeded to go up the driveway. i made a couple of quick passes and as i backed up and was starting to pull forward again i noticed a small cloud coming from the left side of the engine. so i immediately pulled the tractor down to the building and shut it down. i climbed off and started investigating. there was no expansion plug in the side of the engine. just some steam coming out. what would cause this to happen??? could it just be the cold weather we've been having and the plug had drawn up a little and blown out when i fired it up? i know these little plugs are pretty cheap but i don't want to put one in and it blow right back out. just wanted to someone elses opinion about what could cause this.

 

[Bob]

Whoever did the rebuild simply did not flatten the convex face of the plug enough to expand it and lock it tightly in place. I use a smear of Loctite, as well.

 

[hawk man]

ok thanks man. i'll give it a try.

 

[Den N Ms]

Hawk Man,A fix that I have done one Sunday afternoon ,and will last for many years to come.
welsh plug