WD head gasket??
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=41486
Printed Date: 23 Aug 2025 at 3:26pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: WD head gasket??
Posted By: Alberta Phil
Subject: WD head gasket??
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2011 at 7:43pm
The last two times I started my WD it was hard to start and finally started on one cylinder. It would putt away on one for a while, then another would cut in then a third and it would then rev up and soon run as normal. After shutting down I could hear bubbling sounds from the front of the engine into the upper rad. Today I noticed some seepage and slight bubbling from the head gasket around number 1 cylinder.
Plugs are new, spark is very hot, and carb is clean. I suspect a head gasket leak as coolant level was down a little.
|
Replies:
Posted By: Jeff Z. NY
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2011 at 7:58pm
Sounds like your on the right track. eh!!!
Fill up the radiator and see of your getting bubbles in the water from leaking compression.
-------------
I Love Meatballs and Dumplings on Toast with Gravy and Rosemary and ??? {Open For Suggestions}
|
Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2011 at 8:32pm
|
I'll do a few more checks and see. Fortunately, I have a freshly rebuilt head on the shelf, ready to go for this tractor. I've been running it as my main workhorse for about the last 12 years and it's always been reliable and ready to go anytime. eh?
|
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2011 at 8:39pm
Phil, you might want to check the flatness of the deck before installing a different head and new gasket. Make sure your sleeves are flat to each other. I did a valve job on my little crawler, milled the head and bought a new expensive gasket and the gasket let go within 6 months and just a few hours of run time. I suspect the deck got a little washed out being run with a bad gasket before I bought it and I never thought to check the deck before I put it back together. Shame on me cause now I have coolant in the bottom of the oil pan.
-------------
http://www.ae-ta.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ae-ta.com
Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF
|
Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2011 at 9:05pm
|
Good reminder, Charlie. I haven't checked the oil pan for coolant yet. Thanks. This is a very recent "malfunction".
|
Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 03 Dec 2011 at 6:30pm
Got the WD into the shop today and did a few checks. No coolant in pan. I started it up and it ran on two then three cylinders, but not 4. No bubbles coming into the rad. Pulled the plugs and there was no sign of coolant anywhere. No 2 showed some oil fouling but this tractor has always done that. I then did a compression test and 1, 2 and 3 showed about 100 psi. No 4 was 0, nada!!. After pulling the valve cover I found #4 intake pushrod badly bent down in the block. I found the valve was sticking also. After straightening the pushrod and freeing up the valve with PB blaster, I reset the clearances and put it back together.
I think the culprit was some old fuel I was using up by mixing it with fresh gas. The old fuel came from an old tractor that had sat for a long time and it seemed a little sticky, but I thought it would mix OK. Obviously not, as it deposited on the valve stems and glued the valve shut when cold--enough to bend the pushrod! (It don't pay to be cheap!!)
I drained and flushed out the entire fuel system and refilled with fresh gas and she purrs happily now!
Thanks for advice from those that responded.
|
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 03 Dec 2011 at 6:34pm
Glad to hear you got it running and was an easier fix than it could have been.
-------------
http://www.ae-ta.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ae-ta.com
Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF
|
Posted By: TREVMAN
Date Posted: 04 Dec 2011 at 10:40am
|
Glad to hear you got it fixed, whenever I use up old gas I mix it 100:1 with 2 cycle oil before I mix it off with fresh, just a thought, Trev.
|
|