Internal Water Leak

[Jimmy in NC]

So the lil green pain is back together, runs, and steers left and right!

It has taken over 14 months but in that time span I've moved 3 times, graduated from NCSU, and changed jobs. Enough on that ..


I noticed right before I pulled it apart that there was quite a bit of water in the crankcase. I had forsight to drain it and the water, refill with fresh oil and run it for a minute or two just to pump good oil through out before I pulled it down completely.

Well.. after getting it back together it quickly filled the crankcase with 'choclate milk'. Question is, and I understand that these will be guesses, but what is probably the problem. I"m guessing a cracked head.

It hurts to pull it apart again b/c it does start and run very well.. but it has to be done.

Thoughts on it, others that have run into the same problem??

How much for a good head and where to get one???

Jimmy in NC

[Lavoy]

Broken heads are quite common on them, but so is a leaky head gasket. If you did not use something like Kopper Kote or Copper Spray a Gasket when installing the head, good chance that is the problem. As long as the head is off, have it magnafluxed to be sure.
Lavoy

[JD430C]

hi, i just went through the same problem with a jd 40 motor in a 420. oil became milky white within 20 min. found the guy that cecked out the motor didnt install the head gasket correctly. i installed a new one, and so far havent had any water leaking in.

andrew

[Jimmy in NC]

I haven't had the motor open but the quality of the work on the rest of the tractor... well nothing supprises me anymore.

I guess just pull it down and we'll see where it goes. As I was tought years ago; you open it up and you don't worry what the problem was, rather you fix everything that isn't right.


Jimmy in NC

[Tigerhaze]

FYI, I would highly recommend making sure you get the "chocolate milk" out of your engine, refill with clean oil, and not run anymore until you can fix it. I'm sure that you awar of that, but even not running it but letting a small amount of water sit in the oil can end up ruining a connecting rod bearing and cause a bad engine knock even after it is fixed.

I learned that the hard way a long time ago with a truck gas engine; I wasn't running the truck after I discovered the leak and I thought the oil looked clean enough, but there was just enough water to make the bearing go bad.

[Jimmy in NC]

I appriciate the heads up but the situation of choclate milk has "already left the building"

Water cooled mains and connecting rods.. not a good thing!


Jimmy in NC

[Jimmy in NC]

Finally got a spot in the shop last night and pulled it down. A little scratching and there it was.. a nice crack in the rear cylinder.

Also looked like the head gasket may have been leaking a little on the front cylinder. All in all though it came apart pretty easily. I actually got all of the Exhaust manifold bolts out with out any trouble. I guess driving it in and letting it warm just a little and then imdetiately tearing it down helped.

I'll post pics later as I didn't have the camera yesterday.

Now searching a head and valves to get her poppin' again!

Jimmy in NC

[JD440ICD2006]

Jimmy,

Sorry you are having problems but glad you located the crack and leaks. Once fixed, you are good to go.
Make sure you post pictures, they are so valuable to all.

Chuck W.

[Jimmy in NC]

Ahh.. don't be sorry.. the problems are just nature of the beast!

I got pictures yesterday evening late but didn't get a chance to upload them. I will upload them and post this evening.

Jimmy in NC

[Jimmy in NC]

So some pictures for those that are curious what it looks like inside one of these lil agravation.... I mean.. green bundles of joy!


The valve cover first.. Trust me; this isn't a good thing to see..



Now the head..



And the offending valve seat that is cracked.. hard to see and I apologize for that... but it is what it is... cracked!



And another..



Now the bores.. I know it isn't 'with in spec' but it'll do.. A little blow by lets me know she's working.. and I wouldn't want it to get lazy on me!



And the other...



There ya have it.. one damp motor.. but it'll fixed up soon enough


Jimmy in NC

[JD440ICD2006]

Jimmy,

Thanks for putting those up for us to see. We can never have enough pictures of breakdowns and rebuilds.


Chuck W.