Lead Washers

[Retro80]

Can any one tell me the purpose of lead washers for the head assembly? I need to torque the head on to the block with the block removed from the tractor so I can look down the bore for a leak. Do I need to use lead washers or should I buy some extra lead washers for this test. Its on an A

 

[Zeke67]

They were used to prevent the nut from gouging the metal on the head.
Unless you specify lead washers when ordering, Deere supplies regular flat washers.

 

[old popper]

I always thought that the lead washers on the studs made a water seal to the cooling system where the studs come through. Please tell me if I am wrong, as this is how rumors and misinformation get their start.

 

[Zeke67]

Old Popper, I was told the same thing years ago. Green Magazine had an article that mentioned what the washers did a few years back. Think about it. If coolant is getting all the way to the studs, then the gasket really isn't working, is it?

 

[johns48jdb]

the washers are to seal the gap between the bolts and the block/head. looking for a crack want get it done. you need to carry it to a machine shop and have it magnafluxed. have the surfaces ground flat if they check out ok. also carry the intake manifold and have all the surfaces ground flat on it too.

 

[Bob Gauntt]

The studs don`t go thru the water jacket.

 

[Greenday]

.80 cents each from john deere

 

[CLW]

They also allow for a more even torque.

 

[Anonymous-0]

guys lead washer where always put on at the factory the blocks where drilled all the way thru into water jacket at least on all A B and Gs the washer was to stop water lecks that got past the treads on head studs i think i may be right as i have worked on deeres for the last 50 years Kent

 

[Anonymous-0]

Lead washers were used as an extra "gasket" to keep coolant from getting past the threads on the studs and into the crankcase oil. There is no doubt about this! I don't know if A's have push rod tubes in the head like the B's do, but make sure you check them. They have a tendancy to rust out. Mine had a couple of little pin holes that allowed two gallons of coolant to get into my crankcase. Luckily I caught it before it was too late! You can still get them from Deere and they are very easy to replace, especially if you already have the head off.

 

[Zeke67]

I still think they were used to prevent the head from being chewed up by the nut. The washers prevent galling, yet allow for proper torque. Think for a moment. You want the nut to have full contact with the head. Lockwashers weren't used because they have a tendency to fail after repeated heating and cooling. The lead provides lubricity, yet squishes out to allow proper tightening. Kind of like using grease on nuts on aluminum heads. Head studs were sealed with white lead in the block. If coolant is leaking past a head gasket or out of stud threads, do you really think a little lead is going to stop it? Besides, there isn't a shoulder for the lead to contact to provide a water-tight seal. The lead is used on all the studs too, not just the ones that go into the waterjacket. Do you think Deere engineers would have allowed a potential leak like that? They would have modified block castings so that no studs penetrated the coolant passages.

 

[PBrowning]

Zeke -- there is no doubt that the lead washer acts as as a nice slip-cushion for the nut up against the head, but if that were the only need, a thin steel washer would have done the job just as well. And so both purposes are served with the lead washer -- the nut gets a nice "soft landing" up against the head so that your torque reading can be relied upon, and the 2nd -- as a seal in event coolant comes to the joint, keeping coolant from enteing the crankcase via the tappet oil return. (PatB)

 

[Zeke67]

Pat, if the lead is supposed to act like a seal, then why isn't there a shoulder for it to compress against like a PTO shaft packing (unless there is and I never noticed)? Once the lead got warm, the seal would break due to uneven expansion of different metals. A thin steel washer is all that Deere supplies now when you give them the old part #, unless the parts person takes time to cross-reference #'s. The lead washers are still available. In regards to the original question, I would use flats for now, lead for final assembly.

 

[greenmachineman]

The new head gasket kits come with copper washers

 

[Anonymous-0]

Make your own from chimney flashing.Gasket or leather punches work fine.

 

[diesel tech]

Kent, zeke67 is right. You mentioned studs going into open holes in block. The threads on stud going into block are shorter and are turned in tight with sealant. Lead washers are used as lubricant only. Note, also worked on these JD's for almost 43 years.