Motor degreasing...

[Karl Bader]

Hey everyone! I have a unique scenario... I own a 1947 cub that I bought the beginning of last year. It had some small issues, but somewhere over the winter here I believe the block or head cracked. I had a cracked bolster (ok still have), and I think the problem is deeper than that. I drained the radiator and it was black and I feel that I've got oil leaking into it. Frustrating. Also the last time I ran it the radiator would "spit" out the overflow hole (the tube is long gone).

Spring is coming and this is my working tractor for our 2 acres. We're starting a garden this year, so I need to plow, and we all know how spring lawns don't wait for mowing!

So I have a unique situation in that I also bought a 1952 Farmall cub in pieces for next to nothing. Someone broke it down for restoration but then did nothing. My thought is to restore the front half of the tractor and swap out, then assess the damage or restore the back half.

The work I'm going to do on the "replacement" motor will be minimal, I'm hoping just to replace all the gaskets, and then paint. In the past I've just pressure washed and used oven cleaner to degrease. I'm worried since I'm not doing a full breakdown about doing this. Obviously paint won't stick to grease and oil. What are the current tricks out there?

Thanks in advance!

Karl

[Jim Becker]

My first thought is that you may be overreacting to the symptoms of your '47. Oil getting into the coolant is pretty rare with a Cub engine. A leaking head gasket can let combustion gasses (air, gas, some oil) into coolant but not usually great amounts. Coolant can have black material that accumulates from not flushing it and that seems more likely. It usually drains out first when draining the system. A little coolant spitting out the overflow isn't unusual and usually stops when the coolant has reached a stable level.

I suggest giving the cooling system a good flushing out then see what happens.

[gitractorman]

I have to agree with Jim. I had a Cub Lo Boy this summer that showed similar symptoms as yours, but was also overheating. Found that the radiator was plugged completely with grass and dirt, but I pulled the head anyway. The head gasket was leaking between the #3 cylinder and one of the water passages. So, replaced the head gasket, and cleaned the radiator, and all was good. Since these engines are thermosiphon, not using a water pump to move coolant, if the radiator fins get blocked up it's really easy to overheat the engine. I'm not saying that the block in your 47 couldn't be cracked, but I would be darn sure before tearing it completely down.

Also, I'd lean towards putting the 52 together as a backup, or eventual swap to your primary machine if the 47 has larger problems. Since it's already apart, it would make more sense to put that one back together than to tear the 47 down and have 2 in pieces. Since the 47 has a cracked bolster, but is complete and running, I'd do the minimal work on it to keep it functioning, then focus on getting the 52 together. Just my $.02.

Bill

[Matt Kirsch]

I've always been a fan of Gunk Foamy Engine Brite. However it is more expensive than oven cleaner. Why the hesitance to use oven cleaner this time?

[Clip]

I found some Gunk degreaser gel that worked great. Stayed on the vertical surfaces without running all over the place.

I concur on the rarity of a cracked block. My 49 went through a rough freeze/thaw cycle sometime earlier in its life and suffered from a cracked bolster and head. Head's been replaced and the bolster patched with JB Weld and is still going strong.

[meandmydeere]

My 2 cents worth. The best engine degreaser is 100% lye drain cleaner. Put 2 bottles in a 5 gallon pail, stir in some corn starch to make the soluion thick, and then mop it on with a wisk broom or large paint brush. The grease, gunk and paint will soften and melt tight off. Pressure wash it, prime and paint it.
My 2 cents worth and a penny change.
Mark

[Matt Kirsch]

The $64,000 question though: Will the lye mixture kill the grass? I got stuff that needs cleaning and I currently live in town and I don't want my place looking like a toxic wasteland, especially if I'm going to be putting it on the market in the next year or so.

[meandmydeere]

It's been awhile since I did much but I believe I went that way because it is enviromentally friendly. I water everything down good when I'm done and I also am doing it in the garage but the wash off goes to the drain which goes about 150 feet to the creek and I have never seen any dead vegitation by the drain pipe. The solution to pollution is dilution.

[Karl Bader]

Hey all! Lots of great answers... so many that I wish I could just quote and reply to each one.. but I figure that might look awkward...

The alarm to the spitting is that I haven't seen that with this machine yet and it was spitting to the point that it was hitting me... Not something I wanted. THe radiator itself isn't in the best of shape either, so that may also be causing the issue... with the nice weather right now, if I have a chance I will try to start her up and try again... Any ideas on anything to help clean her out?

As far as oven cleaner, right now I'm hesitant in it's current state due to the possibility of getting water into it, and since it's not on the tractor the difficulty of getting further around it, and rolling my furniture dolly into gravel. I do like the corn starch and lye idea... hmmm something for future.

The idea with the tractors is to currently use the 47, and rebuild the 52 to restore quality. Then the 47 becomes either back-up or for sale... (I told the wife for sale... but we all know what will probably end up happening!) The downside of the 47 is lack of hydraulics...

My new idea (if indeed I have engine issues) is to restore the front half of the 52, put it on the 47, then restore the back half of the 52 and swap rear ends out later on when I can... This way I still have a working tractor... my everything stock from factory part of my brain doesn't want to mix parts if I don't have to...

[Slim140]

Karl, may I ask what the serial #is on the '47?

[Karl Bader]

Karl, may I ask what the serial #is on the '47?

Hard to make out. i read 1095?

[meandmydeere]

A circle Cub. Keep it as original as possible.

[Slim140]

A circle Cub. Keep it as original as possible.

+1 on this.

[Karl Bader]

are you sure? The hood doesn't imply this... although I like the circle ones better...

[Waif]

Karl: have you checked for a way to attach an overflow hose?
Your original may be missing/ damaged and allowing the fan to throw overflowing fluid.

As mentioned , the visible level of fluid does run lower than waterpump/ pressurised systems. Be sure you are not over filling ....