Rebuild Engine or Not

[Cody93]

Hey there, I have just recently started redoing a ‘38 unstyled John Deere A. To my knowledge the engine has never been apart, it was running before I started disassembly of the tractor. I’m getting to a point where I really need to decide whether or not to refresh the engine or just leave it as is. I’m somewhat leaning towards refreshing it. But just looking for general thoughts on this.

 

[Steven Allen]

It'll never be easier.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

There are arguments either way. If the engine was running fine before, didn't smoke or use oil, it's probably somewhere in the middle of its life cycle and serious engine work is unnecessary. Old tractors don't get worn out sitting in a row at a county fairs and tractor shows.

Overhauling the engine is part of a true restoration, bringing the tractor back to at least factory specs and performance.

Of course you'll have thousands into the engine overhaul alone, especially if it needs engine work.

 

[rrlund]

Are you going to use it or show it? If it's just going to be a trailer queen and never see any work, leave it alone.

 

[JOCCO]

If it was running good and no issues why rebuild it? As others said are you going to work it hard?

 

[JIM MN]

I second what rrlund said.

 

[Cody93]

My plan is to still use it, for raking and other odd jobs. I am thinking since I am going to the trouble of taking the tractor apart I may as well do the entire job. I know I saw Steiner has rebuild kits but are they good or is there some place that is better? I do know of some people having problems with getting the right parts from them in the past.

 

[wore out]

Hey there, I have just recently started redoing a ‘38 unstyled John Deere A. To my knowledge the engine has never been apart, it was running before I started disassembly of the tractor. I’m getting to a point where I really need to decide whether or not to refresh the engine or just leave it as is. I’m somewhat leaning towards refreshing it. But just looking for general thoughts on this.

''refreshing''

That sounds sorta like touching up the paint a bit vs. the $3000 to $5000 or more that a complete overhaul, not to mention a "restoration" would cost!

 

[Fixingfarmer]

It’s a decision only you can make. I often spend the 500 bucks and have the head done if everything was working ok not smoking starts ok. It sounds like your situation is similar to mine. My late A does the rake the fertilizer auger and the mower.

You will have the head off again and you will get good enough to pull the head without taking the hood off.

When I’ve done pistons and rings on a 2 cylinder often it’s been because the cylinder was scored or we did the one because everything else had froze solid and cracked every other piece of cast on the radiator except the head and the block but both needed to be pulled out to have the machine shop check.

Running the hone yourself quick and re ringing maybe putting aluminum pistons in is pretty cheap if the bores are all glazed. It’s totally up to you. They sell parts here as well.

Hard parts like pistons and rings and valves and even 2 cylinder head gaskets it’s pretty hard to screw up. I’ve tried just about every brand under the sun it will be down to who has it and when can you get it. The issues I’ve honestly had is with shipping the company you happened to mention sent a head gasket to me in the same box as a manifold just last week. They packed it pretty good but it did mash the head gasket and since it does have a pretty important task of running that fertilizer auger really they were telling me I could straighten it out and yeah maybe to run in a parade but it’s right by the center stud it like said above has a fairly light duty but actually super important task and was taken apart because of a coolant leak into the cylinder. With that info they sent me a new one but I still probably shouldn’t have had to fight it that much.

I’ve used in past the place you mentioned for the most part there kits are pretty good and will fit.
Yesterdays tractor.
If you go the engine rebuild route hard parts from reliance are inexpensive
A and I
Deere themselves
Combination of the last 2.
In that order is probably how I would proceed. Places are beginning to not have what they used to I only had one place Reliance of these listed that had valves for my late A in stock.

If you have a local machinist who is a MAHLE dealer you can also find some stuff if you are willing to take it in and have it measured.

Have gone all 5 of those directions and not had any rework so it’s not like this can be screwed up as long as you are willing to take your time. Use copper coat on your gasket and retorque the head nuts after you have warmed up. Whatever you want to do if it was running before you won’t screw it up.

 

[Mark-Ia]

My plan is to still use it, for raking and other odd jobs. I am thinking since I am going to the trouble of taking the tractor apart I may as well do the entire job. I know I saw Steiner has rebuild kits but are they good or is there some place that is better? I do know of some people having problems with getting the right parts from them in the past.

www.handjmachining.com for your unstyled A engine parts.

 

[560Dennis]

Get some benchmark numbers on compression and or leak down test .that way you can get and idea of the cost to rebuild . Most old tractors are worn out so suggest put together a budget To correct. Everything wrong with it.

 

[showcrop]

I subscribe to Antique Power magazine. They feature four tractors in every issue. I estimate that 2/3 of the owners of these usually restored tractors say that the tractor was mechanically sound so they had to do little more than source some new parts, paint it, and apply decals. I know that you already know that it is your decision, so I won't tell you that, but I agree with 560 Dennis. Give it an internal exam by way of compression, and leak down tests, along with oil pressure cold and hot. Then stack the results up against what you will be doing with it for the next fifteen years.

 

[G1000VISTA]

And old man told me once. Dont buy the real estate twice!! If you got it tore down you've already paid for the labor. Why put it back together with wore out parts hoping it will hold up ? If its fixed you know it's right and ready to go.

 

[560Dennis]

And old man told me once. Dont buy the real estate twice!! If you got it tore down you've already paid for the labor. Why put it back together with wore out parts hoping it will hold up ? If its fixed you know it's right and ready to go.

very good advice