Bob,
I had a similar problem with my B. For some time, it was leaking coolant into the oil. I finally pulled the head and discovered a large crack running from the inside of the #1 cylinder to the inside of the #4 cylinder. I didn't think the water was getting into the oil through the crack, so I called a Farmall mechanic friend. He said to drain the oil, pour coolant into the water jacket and place a container under the oil drain. The next day, the container contained several tablespoons of coolant. I repeated the test several times, with the same results each time. This meant the O rings on the wet sleeves were bad. My friend said that, years ago, they used to fix cracks like this in Allis Chalmers and Farmall blocks by drilling a hole through the entire block between cylinders #2 and #3 an inch or two below the top. Then they'd insert a threaded bolt. The old-timers would then put some sealer on the ends of the bolt, slip on a washer or two, then add a nut on each side and tighten them until the crack squeezed together. He said this would hold things in place for a long time. But because my O rings were leaking, I decided to find a used block and then had a machine shop build me a new engine. It cost 10 times more than I paid for the tractor when my wife bought it for me back in 1972, but I didn't care. After all those years of yeoman service, I just couldn't abandon the old girl in her time of need. Now she runs like a young colt.As long as your A wasn't leaking coolant, you might get by with the old block. But I wouldn't weld anything. Several experts told me that once you weld a block, you have to have it re-machined to make sure everything is square and true. It's not cheap, they say. Try patching yours. It might last for years. Good luck.
|
