[AT] refusing to replace old equipment - N-Complete

[Stephen Offiler]

When you say lock up, don't forget it was known that it did not seize,
it merely hydrolocked (on raw gasoline).

Steve O.

On Thu, Dec 18, 2008 at 8:23 AM, Cecil Bearden <crbearden at copper.net> wrote:
> I noted that Keith mentioned that the engine had locked up once.
> Perhaps the builder felt that that had damaged the longevity of the
> engine.  I know I have rebuilt engines that locked up before and had to
> hone the cylinders as the best ones were somewhat rough and the worst
> were galded....
>
> Cecil in OKla
>
> Stephen Offiler wrote:
>> A radiator clogged with weed seed is far from unique and I am more
>> than a bit surprised Tom was so stumped that he was ready to drop in a
>> whole new engine.  Kudos for standing behind his work, certainly; but
>> not for troubleshooting skills.
>>
>> Steve O.
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Dec 17, 2008 at 10:33 PM, Keith Kinney
>> <kkinney at herculesengines.com> wrote:
>>> About 35-40 years ago my Grandpa replaced our Ford 8N with a 1956 Ford
>>> 600.  The 600 has been our main tractor around the place, 22 acres,
>>> ever since.  7 or 8 years ago it was getting to the point where it was
>>> just worn out. We'd rebuilt the engine 20 or so years prior but it was
>>> time again plus everything else was tried on the tractor.  Mom wanted
>>> dad to invest in a new tractor that would be reliable but he didn't
>>> want to spend the $20-$25,000 for a new, similar sized, compact
>>> tractor.  I had heard about N-Complete and suggested for less than
>>> half of new he could have the 600 "re-newed" and we'd still have
>>> Grandpa's tractor.  He thought about it a while and finally had it done.
>>>
>>> It came back looking like new.  Everything went great until he tried
>>> bush hogging with it.  After about a 1/2 hour of cutting it would over
>>> heat.  Actually the first time it over heated and after he let it sit
>>> a few hours to cool down the engine was locked up.  What we discovered
>>> is the gas cap didn't have a vent and the fuel boiled and pressurized
>>> the tank filling a cylinder or two with fuel.  Tom immediately sent us
>>> a new fuel cap and carburetor.  But, it still continued to over heat.
>>> We took it back to them, a 5 hour drive each way for us, but they
>>> claimed they couldn't duplicate the problem and try it again.  After a
>>> second trip and still no duplication of the problem Tom came to our
>>> place and watched what we did.  He saw first hand that it would over
>>> heat after bush hogging for 1/2 our or so and it wasn't something we
>>> were doing wrong.  He tried several things but still had the problem.
>>>
>>> So he said if we'd bring it back one more time he would put a newly
>>> remanufactured engine into the tractor as he couldn't think of
>>> anything else to try.  Bear in mind this has been going on for a few
>>> years by now.  We took it back to Tom.  This time he finally found the
>>> problem.  The new radiator he put in when he originally rebuilt the
>>> tractor did not have proper distance between the fins.  It was an
>>> automotive radiator core not a farm radiator???  The problem was the
>>> radiator was clogging up with weed seeds and overheating.  Anyway, he
>>> went ahead and put a new engine in the tractor, replaced the radiator,
>>> and put a screen in front of the radiator to keep the weed seed out.
>>> We haven't had any overheating problems with it since.
>>>
>>> We did go through a lot of inconvenience with the whole process but I
>>> will have to commend Tom and N-complete for standing behind their
>>> work.  I'd certainly have no problem having them rebuild another one
>>> for us or purchase one of their rebuilt tractors.
>>>
>>> Here's some pictures of some of our tractors including the 600:
>>> http://www.herculesengines.com/tractors/
>>>
>>> Keith
>>> www.herculesengines.com
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