JD 4230 Compression Tester

[JD4230alwaysfixin]

I found a JD (JT01674A) compression tester but I am wondering does anyone have a less expensive choice of a tester. I expect I'll only need it once to verify that I need to rebuild my motor but wow $500 is a steep price for a confirmation

 

[tomstractorsandtoys]

I always looked at the amount of blowby out the breather pipe and the amount of oil a diesel would burn when working as well as how it starts to determine if an engine needs an overhaul. Tom

 

[tim s]

I'm with Tom,, a compression tester is not really needed...

 

[buickanddeere]

(quoted from post at 18:45:01 07/26/17) I found a JD (JT01674A) compression tester but I am wondering does anyone have a less expensive choice of a tester. I expect I'll only need it once to verify that I need to rebuild my motor but wow $500 is a steep price for a confirmation

An old injector or spark plug re-worked to accept an shop air fitting will reveal leaks. just listen at the intake, exhaust and crankcase filler. be careful the engine doesn't kick over.

 

[Mike M]

Harbor freight sell them but may not have the correct adapters ?

 

[2002sliverado]

I would have to agree with Tim and Tom on this one. The last engine overhaul we did was on a 4640. It started hard when cold and it was to the point that if the temperature was going to drop below 40, you better plug it in. The last fall before the overhaul, it was put on a 520 High Speed Flail Shredder, which put more of a load on the engine than pretty much anything else we had done with it prior. It had an appetite for oil and there was excessive blowby out the breather pipe. We had the engine torn down and it was rather apparent it was in need of serious attention. If you think you are in need of an overhaul based only on cold weather starting, please know the 4230's were a bit on the cold blooded side. We purchased one about 10 years ago with 1600 hours on a fresh engine overhaul. It was not a great starting tractor in the cold. Shortly after purchasing it, a leak started at the head gasket. The head was pulled, then planed, and apparently the valves were in decent shape. In looking down into the cylinders, it was obvious of the fresh overhaul. The pump and injectors were worked on either right before or right after the head gasket. That tractor will start easily down to 30 degrees now without the need for ether or plugging in the block heater. Typically when it does start to get that cold, we plug the block heater in anyway to aid in starting and warming up the engine when we plan on using it, but on occasion, a cold start at 25 to 30 degrees has been necessary when the tractor has been needed for something unplanned. It has not been tried at any temperature colder, so I do not know what it is capable of. It also does have a Nippendenso starter, too.