XT went to the shop

farmboy520 wrote: How's the tractor coming along Darrel?

I have to stop by the shop where it's at today, and pick up the pump and injectors, so I can send them to injEd. I'll probably get a look at the engine, if he has it tore down. Maybe have a report on it tonight. Darrel

Yes Darrel, you are going to be spending some big money. But we all know what a fairly new 90 horse tractor costs.  Ed has got my pump and injectors right now for my 7000. Your going to enjoy field work this summer on that XT.  Tim

yep....and who's to say if you buy a different one, that it wouldn't need the same thing?

O ring thing blows my mind, but that don't take much sometimes. Sounds like you got things going your way, good luck and I hope it's everything you expected when finished. Look at the bright side ,your thick wallet won't be a problem while in the seat of that fresh 190. Hope all goes well. Scott

$1400 sounds like a heck of a lot for a 301 head. It's such a common engine. I'd look around for a used one.

I've never priced one before. Certainly not going to put a used one on it that I don't know any history on. The shop rebuilding my engine says they've been using this machine shop for a while now, and has gotten nothing but top notch work out of them. Said that everything in the head will be new. I am open to better suggestions. I'm not thrilled about the 1,400 bucks, but I want it done right. Darrel

darrel in ND wrote: I've never priced one before. Certainly not going to put a used one on it that I don't know any history on. The shop rebuilding my engine says they've been using this machine shop for a while now, and has gotten nothing but top notch work out of them. Said that everything in the head will be new. I am open to better suggestions. I'm not thrilled about the 1,400 bucks, but I want it done right. Darrel

I would ask what there going to do to it just got one redone last month by local machine shop that has same guy doing heads that's been there 25 years very good reputation. Head was cleaned checked for cracks,surfaced, all new valve train looks like new. Cost was $650 but valve train came from reliance parts and not agco, may make a big difference.

I think what you are missing is he said that the machine shop is fixing the sins of the previous owners repairs. I regret to inform this message board that there are just not that many people in this part of the country and that makes used parts more scarce. If he has a good rebuild able core then that might be the one to use. How much would it cost to ship a head across the country? Will it go ups or will it have to come truck? Will they deliver 50 miles from the dock to his farm? Things are different out here. I might agree with him on using the one he currently has.

The 1,400 head issue has raised more eyebrows than I expected, and I do sincerely appreciate all of the responses. Dennis (that's the name of the shop owner and is the guy doing the engine rebuild) is a good friend, and I trust him fully, even though I got accused of "not trusting him" early on in this thread. LOL. But anyhow, he sent the head to the machine shop that he has good faith in, because he gets work back from them that does not fail, thus costing him money and grief. When Dennis called me the other night to tell me about the all of the head issues, I was a little shocked at the price. He said that one of the "smoking guns" was a previous poor job of valve knurling that had been done. Now I am not a machinist, but have a pretty good grip on all of the components of the head, and when a machinist tells me what he's going to do, I understand it. But I don't have a 301 head rebuilt every day of the week, in fact this is my first one, so I didn't have much to compare it to. I am not sure what all is replaceable in this head; two things that jump out at me that I remember him saying, were "all new valves, and valve guides." I'm thinking that he said valve seats, too, but I could be wrong on that. But, basically, It would be pretty much a new head when done. Dennis called me Thursday evening, and I gave him the "go ahead" on it, purely out of trusting him, and no research. I kind of wish now, that maybe I would have told him that I'd think about it and research my options over the weekend. I probably could still back out on it, but I don't like to operate that way, especially if the machine shop already has parts ordered. I sort of think though, that even if I had all weekend to consider things, I may have had the same out come. Mack's offer does sound fantastic; not sure if he's giving me a head that's all ready to bolt on, or if it has to go in for a looking over as well. I know that with a few phone calls, I could have found some used 301 heads, that probably would have, but possibly would not have been, in better shape then mine. But by the time I would have ran around the country side to gather em up, and then have the machine shop give an estimate on them, too, I would have had a lot into that, plus an aggravated machinist. And supposing that I found one that didn't take too much work, because all wear items were "within specs," is that what I really want? Honestly, not really. Why.....? Because I've been stewing on this project for roughly two years. Money is not in abundance around here, and a philosophy that I try to adhere to is: "If you don't have the time and money to do it right, when are you going to have the time and money to do it over...?" Over the last two years, I was tempted several times, to dig into this engine, and fix just enough to make it useful again on a bare bones budget. Probably could have done it, and be using it again already now. Call it a strange form of OCC or what you will, but I really don't think that I would be "sitting as tall in the seat" with something that is done to "get by with", as I will be with something done as close to 100 % right as it can be.
     This engine rebuild is probably one of the very few projects of this caliper that I'll have done in a while. Like I said, money is tight. Have 100 other allis projects around here that could and should be done. I chose this one, because I love this tractor, and it is one of the most purposeful tractors I have on the place. Win, win situation. Do necessary farm chores with it, and wear a grin while doing them. I guess, all in all, about what I've accomplished with this post, is that I've talked myself into believing that I made the right decision on the head. Truthfully, if there was such thing available as a NOS head for it, that was ready to bolt on and didn't take a winning lottery ticket to acquire, that's the route I'd have went. If it wasn't one of my favorite Allis's, and wasn't a "once in a lifetime project" for me, well then I would have been cutting corners, and said no way to the head cost. But to satisfy my OCC, this project requires new, rather than "within specs". Over the years that I've owned this tractor, I've been fixing a lot of other little mechanical and cosmetic things on it, little by little, and I sincerely hope to get a fresh coat of paint, and new decals on it before the newness of the engine wears off. If'n I get to that point, I think that I'll be glad I didn't spare any expense on the head, even though it kind of bites hard now. Darrel

The seats are probably all ground too deep and need replaced.It's amazing how much compression one loses that way. Makes em hart starting. The idiot that did the seats on my 8070(prior to my purchase) put new seats in but didn't grind them deep enough. Had slight valve marks in top of 2 pistons when I had it overhauled.Things definitely need done right when dealing with AC. Sounds like that's what you'll get,even though a little pricey.March on....