861 Ford oil leak

   / 861 Ford oil leak #1  

mdo

New member
Joined
Sep 23, 2013
Messages
6
Location
Tulsa, Ok
Tractor
Ford 861 Gas
I have a first or second year gas motor 861. Newly acquired and used for the first time. I did the standard, changed fluids, filter, plugs, wires, thermostat and all seemed well. Tractor ran fine before doing that, test driving running around the field behind my house. Took it out to our farm to brush hog and i got an oil leak. Hopefully just one but didnt have anything to clean off to verify where it was coming from. I thought originally first from the front area of the manifold. It was dripping off the front nut. The whole area was oil soaked and the fan was blowing it all over the place. As i looked more as i had it running, it looked as if it was coming out of the front left valve cover corner. It wouldnt do it constant, see more like at higher rpms. Bad problem is that my farm, is slopped pretty bad and it seems that if i drive in a flat area it will go away and its spuratic when im driving up and down my property. Should there be that much oil up in that area to be able to come out fast enough that i can watch a drip per second off the mannifold bolt? Oil level is right between full and fill on the stick. When i changed the oil i only had about 4 3/4 quarts. I know a little oil looks like alot, but you could watch in the light the ripple effect right at the base of the valve cover. Thanks for all the help in advance.
oil leak 1.jpgoil leak 2.jpg
 
   / 861 Ford oil leak #2  
While putting on the new valve cover gasket would be a good time to adjust the valves too.

What motor oil did you use?
 
   / 861 Ford oil leak #3  
As gale said. no reason not to start with the cheap stuff and see what a new valve cover gasket gets ya.

while off.. DO adjsut the valves..a dn make sure oil is draining from the top of the head good.

I like 15w40 oil in my red tiger engines.
 
   / 861 Ford oil leak
  • Thread Starter
#4  
While putting on the new valve cover gasket would be a good time to adjust the valves too.

What motor oil did you use?

i used 15w40, castrol i believe, i just read alot on this sight about the 15w40.

Can the valves be adjusted while all the sheetmetal is on the tractor?

Again thanks for all the advice guys, if this was still at my house i would just tear into it, im just worried about something be broke and getting a couple parts torn apart and then i cant get it put back together to get it on a trailer, let alone, having to winch it up on the trailer.

Anyone know of a link on how to adjust the valves on this? Im sure they are solid being as old as it is, so i just really need the clearances, i dont think they are in the manual i have.
 
   / 861 Ford oil leak #5  
you need a service manual.

i'm not at home with my servic manual now but recall it being something like 15 thousandths 14/16.. so i set 15.. etc.

set warm..
 
   / 861 Ford oil leak
  • Thread Starter
#6  
As gale said. no reason not to start with the cheap stuff and see what a new valve cover gasket gets ya.

while off.. DO adjsut the valves..a dn make sure oil is draining from the top of the head good.

I like 15w40 oil in my red tiger engines.

Any certain way to check the drainage? Valve cover off engine running?
 
   / 861 Ford oil leak #7  
I have seen that done or if the battery is fully charged and the plugs are removed the starter may bring up the oil pressure enough to see path of oil return to crankcase.
 
   / 861 Ford oil leak #8  
yep. just make sure it drains and doesn't pool and overflow. that will sure make a vc leak..
 

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