Number 4 Cylindar Exhaust Leak

I'm new to this forum and just purchased an 8N while driving from our place in Colorado to our North Dakota condo. I haven't spent any time with the tractor and it is still in Craig, Co. waiting for our return trip to. When looking the 8N over prior to purchasing it we ran it for a few minutes and it ran fine with no noticable smoke and it was vibration free. I did notice, however, that the area around the upper rear portion of the number 4 cylinder and around the air cleaner pipe there was some minor carbon or oil build up so I reached into the area while the engine was running and I could feel an exhaust leak. At the time I didn't give it too much thought as I figured it was probably a warped manifold or blown exhaust gasket or a combination of both. I thought that a new gasket and/or a resurfaced/new manifold would probably take care of it.

After reading some of the previous posts I now understand that there could be some block erosion as well. If this is the case I guess I have a little bigger problem to deal with. It sounds like using J B Weld or another high temperature epoxy has worked well for some for filling block voids.

Has anyone resurfaced an exhaust/intake manifold or is it more cost effective to just replace the manifold? I would be really interested in hearing about successful techniques that have been used for filling block voids (assuming the worst and that this is part of my problem).

I won't have access to the tractor for a month or so, but I'd like to be ready to repair this problem as soon as I (and the tractor) get back to my Colorado home.

I also need to size a trailer to pick it up and I know the weight is around 2400 pounds but I don't know the width of the front and rear wheel spans or the distance between the front and rear wheels.

I have ordered the manuals but don't have them yet. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

AT in Co.

I will probably need a replacement in a couple years though.

The machine shop guy told me then, I can't do that, I couldn't guarantee it, I told him I wasn't asking for a guarantee, I was asking him to do a job for me that I was willing to pay him for, and he did it.

Link

Thanks so much for the quick reply. I really appreciate the quick response and input. I'm sure glad that there are people out there willing to share helpful information to thode of us neophytes.

Art

I, too, am in Colorado, Larkspur. It is between Denver and Colorado Springs.

Danny

Thanks for the reply. Our Colorado house is in Cortez and I'll be using the 8N for maintaining our gravel driveway which is about 1/4 mile long. It's nice to know there are a few Colorado 8N owners that frequent this board.

Art

Further advice can be located in the "archives" at the top of this great N-Board..... .Dell, former Durangoite

I never cease to be amazed at the number of people who are from or know Southwest Colorado. It is really a great place to live even though we only found it about three years ago. Thanks for the advice regarding Uhaul. I called the rental place in Craig a few days ago and mentioned the word tractor and they got cold right away. I will definately mention the word convertable next time and hopefully I'll get a warmer reception. As I see it now it is either rent a Uhaul or try to find a reasonable equipment trailer but I suspect the two terms (reasonable and equipment trailer) are mutually exclusive.

Thanks so much for sharing your expertise--you guys on this board are great!!!

Art

Sounds like a great reunion. I went to my 45th a couple of years ago. I think there were 12 or so out of 60. I think we have had an inordinate number that have passed away. I went to a military boarding school in Minnesota and have lost touch with most of my classmates.

I have been to the Strater several times, once for dinner and once to attend the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown which was excellent. Durango is a neat town with a lot of things to do.

Best wishes and thanks again for the tractor advice. I'm sure I'll need more!

Art