My activities for the month of stardate 20636 are/is

[NinjaPoodle]

Ok tomorrow,
Will begin the tractor engine rebuild
I guess I will start by changing the main bearings. There are three + the thrust bearing which in the motor goes on the end of the crankshaft instead of the middle So won't be able to change that. Pretty sure I change the two in the middle, and then the one of the front is being the oil pump, should be able to change that one as well.

Then inspect the o-ring seals for the cylinder sleeves some more then drop sleeves in.
Then get rings on pistons. New rings are of lower quality than stock. Stock has a full chrome coating, not the new ones though But gap on old rings was .030+ while new rings were .014 so I guess I'll go with new..
Then put in pistons.
Should probably then pour in some water and let it sit over night to see if there are any leaks. Would ULTRA SUCK to put the whole thing together and have it still leak

Than maybe friday work on installing oil pan, cylinder head, valve stuff

At least you know how to change the piston rings again with some new Chinese garbage when they wear out.

[Smucky]

Cleaned the block some more. Also notice the grooves where o-rings on the sleeves is not really in good shape so I had to do a lot of Scotch-Brite cleaning on that for quite a while.

Then pulled two of the main bearings. And they look like new both measured .116" thickness which is what the new ones measured. Only changed the bottom. Didn't try to spin the top one out. The top usually gets even less wear.

[Smucky]

Now in the tub

[Smucky]

Did some more cleaning. Painted the head. Got the sleeves in. Poured in one gallon of anti freeze to leave over night to see if it leaks. Hoping not.

[Smucky]

Hmm typical Saturday fashion, got work to do but now it is raining so just took some adderall and will probably sit in front of the computer all day.
But it is kinda clearing up now so

[Smucky]

Also yesterday I was turning the motor over by using the fan blades and my other hand was on the fan shroud and there wasn't enough clearance so the fan blade came by and dug a chunk of meat out of my fingers.
Really ticked me off.

[NinjaPoodle]

Also yesterday I was turning the motor over by using the fan blades and my other hand was on the fan shroud and there wasn't enough clearance so the fan blade came by and dug a chunk of meat out of my fingers.
Really ticked me off.

PXL_20260711_192818396~2.jpg

PXL_20260711_192903422~2.jpg

[NinjaPoodle]

Did some more cleaning. Painted the head. Got the sleeves in. Poured in one gallon of anti freeze to leave over night to see if it leaks. Hoping not.

PXL_20260711_022040321.jpg

You better have a good soft gasket for that head because it isn't exactly mirror smooth.

[Smucky]

Did some more cleaning. Painted the head. Got the sleeves in. Poured in one gallon of anti freeze to leave over night to see if it leaks. Hoping not.

PXL_20260711_022040321.jpg

You better have a good soft gasket for that head because it isn't exactly mirror smooth.

Well, looks better than last time

I went over it with a wide chisel/paint scraper. I catches on nothing. Then from there did a bunch of hand polishing with scotch brite. The camera really brings out the details, you can still see the original machining lines, but you can't even feel those. I could get a scotch brite pad chucked up in a die-grinder and really make the surface look like a mirror, but those pads at high rpm can really remove metal quick, and in that case, it would be shiny but not flat I feel pretty good with it right now.

[Smucky]

I think for tomorrow, unless it is pouring rain, I will get the piston rings in. Then get the pistons in. Hopefully the right way. Then get the connecting rods bolted down.

Debating on then getting the oil pan on and fill it up with oil and try to turn it over with the starter for 30 seconds or so to "prime" the oil. Which would also mean oil would eventually be coming out of the single oil feed port in the head (top left) so would have to redirect that somehow. Plus scared there is a bunch of crap and rust all in the oil passages in the block. Seems like it would be a good idea to try to flush it or something. Hmm.

Then from there, I guess get the head bolted on

[Smucky]

Didn't get too much done today. Did a little bit of cleaning and then...

[Smucky]

Stab

[Smucky]

Stab

[Smucky]

Stab

[NinjaPoodle]

Stab

[Smucky]

Stab

Stab. Stabbing. Stabbing pistons

[NinjaPoodle]

Stab

Stab. Stabbing. Stabbing pistons

you can't stab pistons.

[Smucky]

Stab

Stab. Stabbing. Stabbing pistons

you can't stab pistons.

Seems clear to me

Screenshot_20260713_160731.png (17.39 KiB) Viewed 6 times

Maybe UK english is different?

[Smucky]

Anyway, taking a nap

[NinjaPoodle]

Anyway, taking a nap

You can't take a nap in the middle of the day.

[Smucky]

Not sure why I just thought about this, but for most of the time I've been working on the tractor my toddler son has been in the driver seat pushing and turning every single knob he can get his hand on. Including the ignition switch. If he would have just turned the ignition switch a bit harder it would have put voltage to the ~3 hp starter motor and if my arms were any where near the crankshaft (which they always were) it would have RIPPED my arms/hands right off
Just broke out in a cold sweat realizing this
like SHIT
FUUUU