[AT] Tractor Tale

[Cecil Bearden]

I have a 15KW generator w/ a Hercules engine.  I had sold another, an 
ONAN to a fellow and he decided he would rather have this one with the 
Hercules.    The engine was supposed to run, but the rings were stuck 
with rust.  I found the only ring set in the USA at the Hastings 
factory, and a head gasket set.  The manifold was cracked, I had one on 
an old Hercules engine from a Jaeger compressor.  I had it sandblasted.  
The buyer decided he would like to have the engine on Propane.  That was 
OK with me as the carburetor was going to be another pain.   I found a 
Propane carb off of a Massey 65 tractor.  I got it all together and 
started it up.  Engine had a knock in it.  I let it idle while I checked 
oil pressure etc.  In about 30 seconds, the left  side of  the block 
exploded.  Rod sticking out through the block.  Pulled the head and 
pan.  found a dirt dauber nest on top of the number 5 piston. I had 
checked the manifold and had blown through every passage in the manifold 
with a 1/2 inch blower connected to a 150 cfm compressor to make sure 
there was no sand left in it.    The dirt daubers had worked while I was 
putting the engine back together. I closed up the block with Devcon and 
Plastic steel over the next 3 days, and then found a Rod and Piston 
used.   I bored the block and installed a sleeve from a NAA ford 
tractor.  It was the only thing available that would fit.  The sleeve 
stuck during installation and required driving into the block with a 20 
lb sledge and an Oak block.  That was 10 years ago, my Dad had his knee 
operation that changed his life and mine also.  The generator is covered 
up with things that get brought into the shop and laid down  anywhere"  
As I remember, the sleeve was honed well enough that the piston would 
travel up in the bore ok, just not turn in the bore without binding.   
the bore is slightly egg shaped, but fits the piston very well.  I have 
spent so much time on this and need it out of the shop, I am ready to 
call the buyer and tell him to take the Generator he bought and I will 
give him this one to get it out of the shop.  I have several tractors 
that need work and I have to work on them outside.  Thanks to the last 
Ice storm, I don't have a shade tree I can get a tractor under anymore..

Cecil in OKla


On 1/27/2017 9:41 AM, kkinney at herculesengines.com wrote:
> Mine is a 1938 John Deere G.  Restored it back in the late ’70’s.   Took it apart in the late ’90’s to fix something.  Still apart but gathering parts to maybe get started on it again.
> Keith
>
>
>> On Jan 27, 2017, at 9:20 AM, Stephen Offiler <soffiler at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Spencer, me too!  Except my Cub Cadet is a 128.  And like Joe, I tore the
>> engine down then walked away for about 20 years.  No, wait, it's only been
>> 15.
>>
>> SO
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Jan 26, 2017 at 9:31 PM, Spencer Yost <yostsw at atis.net> wrote:
>>
>>> I suspect all of have one of those projects in our shops (-;
>>>
>>> Mine is a cub cadet 123 with a nice Johnson loader that needs an engine
>>> rebuild.  The engine is complete, sitting on the bench next to it.   I
>>> squirt oil in the spark plug hole every few months.
>>>
>>> Need a round tuit.
>>>
>>> Spencer Yost
>>>
>>>> On Jan 26, 2017, at 8:32 PM, Joe Hazewinkel <jahaze at aol.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hope this makes it to the list.  Am I the only one who has put a tractor
>>> in the shop, tore down the engine, then let it sit for 20 years only to
>>> forget why I brought it into the shop in the first place?
>>>> One of my first out of state purchases was an 18-27 Hart Parr on full
>>> steel.  I wanted to have one because I thought they looked cool.  I think
>>> it might have been stuck, so I stripped the engine down but couldn't get
>>> the pistons out (I really don't remember).  I know I rebuilt the head and
>>> all the parts I took off are sitting on the workbench next to it.  I put an
>>> old sheet over the motor to keep the dust off, seems like I might have put
>>> oil on top of the pistons, at least they are kind of oily.
>>>> Life took over, as well as another 30 tractors or so, so it is now
>>> tucked way back in the corner.  Fast forward to today, I needed an old
>>> sheet to put over the car seat to take the dog to the vet.  In a hurry, I
>>> pulled the sheet off of the old Hart Parr.  As I went to put it back
>>> tonight I figured I'd put a pipe wrench on the front crank and see what
>>> happens.  The motor rolled over and everything was free.  Now I don't
>>> remember if it was always that way, or if the oil did its job.  I'm
>>> confused, but I guess that comes with age.
>>>> Anyway, I guess I better start thinking about putting it back together
>>> soon, I'd love to hear it run before I forget it's there again.
>>>> Enjoy, Joe
>>>>
>>>> Sent via mobile device
>>>>
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