Farmall H restoration

[Yooper]

Got the block back from being cooked out to get all the scale removed. Started checking the bores and I will have to hone them a bit to get them round again. But what I'm not liking is the counterbores. They vary as much as .005" on a single bore plus the sleeve projection is as high as .010".

The tolerance is .000"/.005" protrusion for the liner. I could machine the liners down but they would still be riding on the high spots and being pressed down into the low spots when the head is torqued down.

I'm getting that custom counterbore cutter feeling. Too high for my mill unless I install a riser and they are not cheap. Stay tuned...

 

[Yooper]

Honed the bushings for the wrist pins on my old Sunnen hone. Honing is something I enjoy doing for some reason. Very satisfying when you can hit your marks within a tenth!

Kind of neat that I'm rebuilding an antique tractor with antique tools.

Roughed out the tool I'm making to fix the counterbores. That's a piece of 1045 in the lathe chuck. More to come on this in the next post.

 

[Yooper]

Machined for two solid days and came up with this for truing up the counterbores.

I'm using a carbide lathe tool to do the dirty work.

The depth of cut is set by shimming to bit and the diameter or stick out is adjusted with a set screw in the back of it.

 

[Yooper]

Have to be careful setting it in the bore so I don't damage the cutting tip of the bit. Then simply rotate and let the weight of the tool cut the base of the counterbore.

Cylinder four had a definite low area. Hard to see in the image but you can kind of see where it is darker.

Anyway, I couldn't be more stoked by the way it performed! After cutting with the initial depth I added a two thousandths shim and they all cleaned up quite nice. Tolerance on sleeve stick out is .000"/.005" and I hit it right in the middle at .0025"

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Looking good man.

As the others pointed out, I am jealous of your shop and your skills for sure!

Very impressive.

 

[Yooper]

Looking good man.

As the others pointed out, I am jealous of your shop and your skills for sure!

Very impressive.

Thanks buddy! Kind of chuckling to myself that I spent two days building that cutter and it only took about fifteen minutes to get the counterbores cut!

 

[Lil Foot]

I spent two days building that cutter and it only took about fifteen minutes to get the counterbores cut!

Been there, done that!

 

[Yooper]

After lightly honing the block to clean up any high spots, I pressed the sleeves in. I prefer this method rather than hammering them in because if there is an issue you feel it sooner. All went in with no drama.

Measured the pistons and they were anything but consistent. I don't know what type of aluminum these are made out of so I'll have to inquire about clearance.

 

[Yooper]

UH OH! Was getting ready to start working the head and noticed this. Cracked and repaired head. Didn't notice this at first because the head was so dirty. Maybe this repair is good but I'm sorry, its not going back in. Big sigh...

 

[BAP]

UH OH! Was getting ready to start working the head and noticed this. Cracked and repaired head. Didn't notice this at first because the head was so dirty. Maybe this repair is good but I'm sorry, its not going back in. Big sigh...
View attachment 113012

Not uncommon at all for cracked heads in those engines. Particularly after all this time since manufactured. If you are concerned, there are plenty of used ones available to buy to replace it with. With all the work you are doing, I would be looking for a replacement to insure that you have a completely rebuilt, good engine. When you get your engine done, I have one in my H that needs a complete rebuild that I can send you so you can make use of all your machine tools you have put together to do your engine.

 

[Yooper]

Not uncommon at all for cracked heads in those engines. Particularly after all this time since manufactured. If you are concerned, there are plenty of used ones available to buy to replace it with. With all the work you are doing, I would be looking for a replacement to insure that you have a completely rebuilt, good engine. When you get your engine done, I have one in my H that needs a complete rebuild that I can send you so you can make use of all your machine tools you have put together to do your engine.

The search begins this morning. There is a tractor salvage yard about a half hour away. Going to give them a call. Looking for the gasoline head only. There were three different castings on these heads, gasoline, kerosene and distillate.

Would be happy to loan you the tools for your rebuild.

 

[BAP]

Are you putting in standard piston and sleeves? Or ones made for a Super H? The Super series piston and sleeves make more power and fit into the same bore in the engine block of a regular H. It used to be a common upgrade for farmers to use when they rebuilt their engines to put in the Super series parts to get more power out of the tractors.

 

[Yooper]

Are you putting in standard piston and sleeves? Or ones made for a Super H? The Super series piston and sleeves make more power and fit into the same bore in the engine block of a regular H. It used to be a common upgrade for farmers to use when they rebuilt their engines to put in the Super series parts to get more power out of the tractors.

I’m installing the domed pistons that are 3-7/16” instead of 3-3/8”. Seems to be the standard for overhaul kits. The engine had the super H pistons in them so I am assuming the original owner made the upgrade. It did up the compression but the kerosene head still was the lowest compression head of the three. People milled as much as an eighth of an inch off these heads to up the compression. I was planning to do the same but now I might as well invest in the gasoline head.

 

[BAP]

I’m installing the domed pistons that are 3-7/16” instead of 3-3/8”. Seems to be the standard for overhaul kits. The engine had the super H pistons in them so I am assuming the original owner made the upgrade. It did up the compression but the kerosene head still was the lowest compression head of the three. People milled as much as an eighth of an inch off these heads to up the compression. I was planning to do the same but now I might as well invest in the gasoline head.

Sounds like you should have some good power there when you are all done.

 

[Yooper]

Found a head on fleabay. Crossing my fingers that there are no cracks. It will get a thorough visual check when it gets here

 

[Yooper]

Just an update on some progress. Crankshaft is in along with the pistons and camshaft. Checked all the bearings with plastic gauge to confirm clearances.

Safety wired the main bolts in my best aircraft style attempt. Don't know if these will pass FAA specs but if this tractor gets air born, I don't think that wiring is going to be my biggest concern.

 

[Yooper]

Seal contact area on the front pulley was worn pretty bad so I decided to install a sleeve.

In my experience I want to make the sleeve somewhat substantial. Meaning I don't want to make it a thin wall because they tend to relax too much and in time actually loosen on the shaft. Machining this reminds me that one of these days I have to invest in a good quality boring bar. My favorite finally gave up and I hope to find an equivalent one but so far no luck. But we got through it.

Made a shaft to replicate the end of the crankshaft in the lathe so I could turn down the pulley shaft, press on the sleeve and then turn that down to size and polish the surface.

Once it was finished I could install the front cover. I like to put the cover on loose with the pulley to center up the seal bore before I tighten down the bolts.

 

[Yooper]

Rebuilding the oil pump. Started by grinding the end plate flat in the surface grinder.

The shaft was worn pretty bad which is common on these engines. So I ordered some 5/8" drill rod and in the mean time installed bushings in the pump housing.

Machined the new shaft and reinstalled the pump with a new spring and piston for the oil pressure relief.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

The amount of skill and attention detail to do something like is is insane.

I love reading about it, and kudos to you sir for posting it.'

I am truly impressed.

Keep us updated please

 

[GreensvilleJay]

dang HOW do you stay FOCUSED on just one project ??
Amazing....
somehow I end up with 10-15 '1/2 done' projects here....