D1503-m head gasket issue

Pat kikendall

New member

Equipment
L3200
Sep 20, 2023
8
0
1
Salem Missouri
Like an idiot I pulled my head off of my L3200h tractor and pitched the gasket before I knew there’s six different gaskets for the d1503 engine before I found out that I needed the numbers off of the gasket to get the Right one.

how can I determine which one goes with engine?
Thanks
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
32,591
8,165
113
Sandpoint, ID
Sadly there is not an easy way to determine which one they used or which you need without the original.

You can do a fuse test when you have a gasket in place but without it it's tough.

Here is on thing to try, manually turn the engine till the center piston is almost to the top, set the head on top of the block with a couple bolts loose, then turn the engine till the head rises to the highest point if it rises at all, and then with feeler gauges measure that gap.
If there is no gap then it's all up in the air as far as which one will work.
If you get a gap then that will be under what you need for a gasket, so example if it measures 1.2mm you will need the gasket one larger.
Then after you install the new gasket you will need to do a fuse test, and a pressure test BEFORE YOU RUN IT!
If you don't you risk serious damage.

The other option is to start with the largest gasket, do a pressure test and ajust down till the pressures are right.
This is real risky with a non rebuild engine as bad rings or valves will throw all the measurements off and you run the risk of slapping the pistons into the head with catastrophic consequences.
 

Pat kikendall

New member

Equipment
L3200
Sep 20, 2023
8
0
1
Salem Missouri
Thank you for your reply, I guess I’m really in the shit now. First, please fill my empty head as to what you refer to as the fuse test? I tried finding it online but there was no reference. Are you referring to how the head gasket crushes?
 

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
32,591
8,165
113
Sandpoint, ID
A fuse test is done with a crushable wire, you can use soft solder.
you remove the injectors or glow plug and manually turn the engine a complete stroke and crush the wire, Then you gently remove the wire and measure it's thickness.
The procedure should be in the WSM.
 
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