Deere 970 Head Gasket

[TraderMark]

Yeah, it's been a while since I posted. Funny how life gets in the way, huh?

I recently acquired a 1992 model Deere 970 4X4 that had a misfire on #3 cylinder. The engine is a Yanmar 4TN82.
Of course I hoped it was just a blown head gasket since I knew the tractor had been run hot.
Alas, it was not to be. Two galled pistons were what I found when I cracked her open.
Imagine my surprise today when I called the local Deere dealer to order parts and they tell me the head gasket is ..... NO LONGER AVAILABLE??
I mean really? They can get pistons/rings, rod bearings, valve tappet covers, etc etc but no head gasket?

Does anyone know a good Yanmar dealer that I can try?

I tried a couple Yanmar dealers today but they were less than friendly when I told them it was in a Deere tractor.

ANY help would be greatly appreciated.

Mark

 

[California]

Hoyetractor.com supports primarily older Yanmars, including parts for the Yanmar 'Deere' tractors. Phone them. They have far more parts than they list on the website.

I see a gasket set for 4TN82 on Amazon, looks like it is shipped from China. One feedback on the gasket set, "Excellent, good as OEM". The vendor has all good feedback except some guy who couldn't get his order cancelled, likely after it shipped.

 

[TraderMark]

Thanks California. I don't know how I missed that set on Amazon. I saw some complete overhaul kits but I'm leery of spending $600 on something from China that may or may not fit and no way to return it for a refund. If I can't a set from Hoye or a couple other places I managed to find, I may wind up ordering this gasket set. I can swallow $128 a lot easier than $600.

 

[joecdeere]

Have you checked with another dealer? I’m on the road, but. Just checking on my local dealers site shows it available to order.

 

[TraderMark]

Hey Joe..
Yeah I've checked with Deere dealers all the way from Florida to Indiana to Alabama and all points in between.
They show a price but when they check availability to order the part numbers for the gasket set as well as the head gasket itself shows obsolete, no longer available.
Hoye couldn't help. They don't have parts listings on the 4TN82.
Same with Diesel Parts Direct who claim to be one of the largest Yanmar distributors in the country.

Looks like I may have to just wait for a slow boat from China.

 

[mini14]

Ebay has some cylinder head gasket for Yanmar 3TNE82 3D82E 3TNV82A engine John Deere 3120 3125 | eBay

 

[TimberHole]

I find it hard to believe Deere doesn稚 sell a head gasket for a 970 when they sell the head gasket for a 950. I壇 try another dealer to be sure. I知 not a fan of aftermarket head gaskets as I致e bought two that looked like junk. One had two different size holes in it for the studs when they are in fact all the same diameter. I sent it back.

 

[TraderMark]

Timberhole,
Believe me, I tried Deere dealers from every corner of the country with the same results. "Obsolete", unavailable to order.
Then I started working with Yanmar dealers and every one of them said, "We can't get parts for that engine."
Sooo..... I ordered the one from China through Amazon. I was told today it has been shipped so now it's just a wait on the boat.
I'll keep y'all posted when I get the gaskets and let you know how well they work.
BTW...... the Amazon listing now says this gasket is "currently unavailable". I wonder if I got the last one in captivity. ��

 

[TraderMark]

Well, the gasket set arrived from China today.
Very well packaged and right on time. That's the good part.
The bad part. It doesn't fit.
The head gasket they sent has an 86.2mm bore for the piston.
My old gasket has an 83.7mm bore.
I'm guessing they sent me a gasket for a 4TN84 which IS an 84mm bore engine instead of sending the gasket for a 4TN82 which is an 82mm bore engine.
Looks like I have three choices now:
1) Use the old gasket and hope for the best.
2) Use the new 84mm bore gasket and pray that the extra 2mm won't cause me to lose enough compression to matter.
3) Order again from another Chinese company.

What would you do?
I've already cleaned up the scoring in the block and dropped $600 to Mother Deere for the pistons, rings and bearings.

 

[TimberHole]

As frustrating as it is, I would get the correct gasket. What’s the old saying? If you don’t have time to do right the first time when will you have time to do it the second time??