[AT] Int. 184 overhaul - a mystery

[Mike Sloane]

Thanks, Charlie. The problem was that the engine would start and run 
reasonably well for about 15 minutes, then it would start to pump oil 
fumes out the breather and get quite hot. After about half an hour, it 
would just quit and would not re-start until it cooled down. Based on 
past experience with Farmall Cubs, I assumed that the rings were worn, 
causing the fumes, but I don't know what caused the engine to quit. 
After I got all hood off, I found that the alternator/fan belt was 
loose, so that *might* have been causing the poor cooling. (I had 
converted to a Pertronix ignition module and brand new NAPA coil with 
internal resistor, so I don't *think* the coil is bad.) As for oil 
pressure, it has only an "idiot light" off the back of the oil filter 
housing, and that would go out after a few seconds of running and not go 
back on until the engine quit. So I was rather surprised to find the 
spring in the sump. I have not yet determined if there is a spring in 
the oil pressure control valve. The head had a little bit of carbon, and 
the plugs looked fine (no fouling, no burning) when I removed them. The 
bores are smooth but dark. I will find out more when I ream the top 
ridge, pop the pistons out, look at the rings, and run the bore gauge 
down the bores.

Mike

On 12/13/2010 6:40 PM, charlie hill wrote:
> Mike, I don't remember the circumstances of your rebuild but it might not be
> an uh-oh moment if your only problem was low oil pressure.  I'd be tempted
> to fix that pressure control valve, put the pan back on it and see how she
> runs.
>
> Charlie Hill
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Sloane
> Sent: Monday, December 13, 2010 6:22 PM
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group ; Farmall/IHC mailing list
> Subject: [AT] Int. 184 overhaul - a mystery
>
> I promised to keep folks updated on the overhaul of the engine on the
> 184, and today's work provided an "uh-oh" moment. After removing the
> flywheel shield and the steering arm cross member, I was able to drop
> the oil pan. As is my habit, the first thing I did was fish around in
> the remaining oil to see what lies down there. In this case, there was
> only one small spring
> <http://public.fotki.com/mikesloane/international_184/spring-found-in-the.html>.
>> From my experience with the IH C-60 engines, the only spring that looks
> anything like that is the oil pressure control valve spring. By the time
> I thought of that, I had already cleaned up for the day, so I will pull
> the plug that serves as a cover for the pressure regulator tomorrow and
> see what is in there. There is also supposed to be a little metal plug
> (IH calls it a valve) at the end of the spring, but I haven't found
> that, yet.
>
> Stay tuned for developments...
>
> Mike
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