My First Real Tractor!

[Kustrud]

Also - I did raise the oil level to 3/4 up the chekcered part on the dipstick or maybe a touch more (when cold). After doing that is also when the blow-by and oil spattering started. Again, it always cranks instantly. Could the oil be a touch too full?

 

[Kustrud]

Here's some pics and video. The blow-by out the vent tube is extremely hard to see. Take a look, let me know if you think this is pointing to rings.

 

[Kustrud]

Here's video - 20171016 114852 - YouTube

 

[Kustrud]

Called Fredericks in AL and he said to hold my finger over the breather tube for about 20 seconds and then let go. If I felt pressure build it it is blow-by. I DID feel some pressure build up. They are extremely reasonably priced on their labor and I may just run it like this until I can find some time to take it to them and save up some extra for new rings, sleeves, bearings, etc. and call it a day. They're about 3 hours from me.

Before I do anything though I'm going to weld that hole in the muffler shut and run the heck out of it with some fuel additives at least.

 

[California]

It's an old tractor. Just do the minor stuff and run it another 10 years. It will be in the same condition after another 10 years use, not like new but not deficient in any important way.

I was surprised when I had the seller bring my earlier YM186D down the mountain from Susanville (back side of the Sierras) to a shop halfway to me, where I picked it up to bring home. Dave's Tractor (former participant in this forum, now a Mahindra distributor, great guy) put it on his dyno and found it exceeded new rated horsepower. That Yanmar was 30 years old and looked so beat up that it had probably been outdoors the whole time. (photo, both). Yanmar built these to last, a little blowby after 30+ years is no reason to overhaul it. When it is hard to start indicating low compression, is where you start thinking about overhaul or replace. You are years from that if its in casual use.

 

[Kustrud]

Good to know, thanks California! I just have a bad habit of trying to instantly make everything "like new" again haha!

 

[clemsonfor]

Also - I did raise the oil level to 3/4 up the chekcered part on the dipstick or maybe a touch more (when cold). After doing that is also when the blow-by and oil spattering started. Again, it always cranks instantly. Could the oil be a touch too full?

I run mine all the way to the top of the hatch marks. That's 5 qts. No slobbering or oil blowing out my exhaust.

 

[clemsonfor]

I agree stop worries about it. Your tractor is fine. The rings are fine and in serviceable condition for a 35 year old tractor.

There is some slight wetness but most of that is normal diesel soot for a tractor it's age.

Think about all the old ford's or JD's you see out in the fields still disking or bushhogging, hauling just blowing a constant grey blue cloud. Those tractors probably have 10,000 hours on them and are 30 to 40 years old, the ones km talking about. Rings are worn, there is blowby but until that tractor no longer has the power to pull or uses so much oil it makes no sense to keep it full it's working. When that time comes it's rebuilt.....your no where near the point for new liners!!

 

[Kustrud]

Understood! Thanks guys! I'm just gonna leave it be for now then! That seemed to be the consensus here! I did check the water in the cooling system after running it all day and sitting overnight. Drained and flushed more mud out haha! It's staying much clearer now though.

I also found someone to trade me a four foot bush hog for the five foot I have on Wed so I'm gonna do that. Should get some good use out this thing!

 

[clemsonfor]

sounds good. Hope you much success out of it.