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Tearing down a VAC

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 8:50 pm
by Jason (IL)
Well we have been hard at it the past few nights at school working on our VAC. Things seem to be going well with the kids but all I keep seeing is dollar signs in my head. I am getting into a bigger project than I think I have ever thought. First we sprayed WD-40 in the pistons and let sit overnight, then the next day we came in and hooked a battery to the starter and tried to do compression tests. Well they didn't turn out to good, like 30, 0, 20?, and 0. Don't know what the problem is, all valves move and seat, the rings I guess are stuck??

So we removed the head to see in the pistons and found vertical scoring in a few cylinders, and some rust stains, and a lot of mice droppings in the manifold. We stopped there tonight, and will pull pistons the next time we meet on Monday evening. I have two groups of kids, one is motor break down, and the other is rear end break down. I have given all tasks a point value and that determines who get to show or skip school next fall to take the tractor to shows. So far it is working out good. I have plastic containers that are labled with all nuts and bolts. Best idea from one of the kids was to go to pizza hut and get the plastic sauce containers with lids. He got about 100 of them.

I am determined to have this machine done, so are the kids and I will try to get pics up as we keep going.

Next task is the motor tear down and throwout bearing disassembly.

Re: Tearing down a VAC

Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2012 5:43 am
by randallc
You're doing good. Keep up the practical teaching of the youth. How to use their hands, how to figure stuff out, besides computers, they know that when they are two, but doing for yourself is becoming a lost form of work.

Re: Tearing down a VAC

Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2012 7:16 am
by dgrapes59
Great job Jason!

I applaud you for taking on this project; it is one that will positively influence these kids’ lives and something they will always remember.

Thanks for the update and hang in there, you have many sharp young minds helping you,

Re: Tearing down a VAC

Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2012 8:07 am
by cowboy
While the low compression could be the rings. Compression that low is usually the valves probably just rust or carbon holding them open a little.

Keep up the good work.

Billy

Re: Tearing down a VAC

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:26 pm
by SONNY
I just got a vac myself,---engine stuck and was dug out of a shed after 35 years, also dug out an sc , engine not stuck on this one! ---if you need some info. or other assistance let me know! thanks; sonny

Re: Tearing down a VAC

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 9:31 pm
by Jason (IL)
It has been awhile since I gave an update.

The students and I have been hard at this past month. January has been a huge booster in cofidence for these kids. We got back from winter break and started working 3 to 4 nights a week on this project. We have taken a few steps forward but several more backwards in order to get things done right. Our more is assembled and reinstalled on the tractor and now we are just fixing up small things. We are replacing a lot of seals and bearings right now and will soon be ready for basting and paint. I hope to hot wire the tractor next week and see if we have forgotten anything. This has been a real experience for some of these kids and a big eye opener with lots of knowledge gained. This tractor has been nothing but head achs but with local buisness's helping out and donating now over a thousand dollars to our cause we will have something to talk about for years to come.

I will be back for questions soon, as we have not gotten it started yet.

Thanks
JAson

Re: Tearing down a VAC

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 4:05 am
by SONNY
Make sure the motor dont get turned, even a hair, once the crank and cam marks are lined up!---get the dist. installed as soon as possible to insure no-one does turn the the thing!---IF it gets moved on ya,---it means taking parts off again to reset marks! thanks; sonny

Re: Tearing down a VAC

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 8:14 am
by Jason (IL)
SONNY wrote:Make sure the motor dont get turned, even a hair, once the crank and cam marks are lined up!---get the dist. installed as soon as possible to insure no-one does turn the the thing!---IF it gets moved on ya,---it means taking parts off again to reset marks! thanks; sonny




Well then I think we are sunk now? It had to be pulled because of stuck screws after we buttoned it all up. I was told at IH to just use my thumb or they would send someone over to help us get it?

Question? Is there a way to prime the oil pump, I have been lookiing with no luck?

Also, the kids broke off the tube that goes up the oil filter how big a deal is it to replace?

Thanks

Re: Tearing down a VAC

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 8:28 am
by Eugene
Jason (IL) wrote:Is there a way to prime the oil pump, I have been looking with no luck?
Pack the oil pump gears and case with vasoline when disassembled.

Re: Tearing down a VAC

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 1:09 pm
by SONNY
DONT put anything thick in the oil pump!!---It will plug the oil passages and will shuck the rods right off the go!
Jason!---The oil pump on the va/vac engines are mounted laying down and very close to the oil supply, so just fill the pan to the full level, take out spark plugs to not have compression and spin the motor either with starter and booster charger or pull with it in gear until oil pressure reads on a known good gauge and your good to start up!!---Now me,---I just assemble an engine, fill it with oil and fire it up!---never had one fail yet, BUT do as you like on yours! LOL!!!

on the broken oil filter tube,--- try very carefully drilling out the broken part out and obtain a stiff tube of same diameter as old one, cut to length, press it in ,( might be good idea to put thread locker on the bottom to help hold it in),You may have to drill a couple cross holes in the tube, Im not sure what your broken one had on the top, so use your judgment on that part! thanks; sonny

Re: Tearing down a VAC

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 4:32 pm
by Jason (IL)
Sonny,
We will be starting it up this week once the carb kit gets here. As for the oil pump, my mechanic at CIH told me I should be ok just firing it due to the same reason you just stated.
As for the tube, I got a piece of 1/4" brake line and we will be fitting it in tonight.

Things are coming along pretty good, I was able to get all new tires donated to this weekend so that is a big help on the budget. The tractor has so much flakey paint rust on it that I have decided that the best way to prep for paint is to sand blast all the cast. Most of the little stuff has been wire wheeled and ready to be cleaned and primed. I hope to have it all done by the end of April. It looks like a long shot now but I have 4 students that have basically made this project their lives after school lately.

It has been a fun project for sure and the kids are wanting to do another one next year already. What we'll do is questionable but something will pop up.

Re: Tearing down a VAC

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:14 pm
by SONNY
Glad to hear that your getting along that well on it!---I have 3 smaller tractors apart that I have been struggling with to get back together before garden/farm season gets here!---Takes lots of time!--- take care now!! thanks; sonny

Re: Tearing down a VAC

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 8:24 pm
by Jason (IL)
The VAC NOW RUNS again.

Boy was it a sight and sound to hear. We have worked with it for 2 days and finally got it to start up. I ended up turning the dist back around 30 degrees when done and each time I turned it back the more it wanted to run. Once it started it ran good after I was able to adjust the carb and idle screw. I was very suprised and thrilled.

It was a sight to see those kids laugh, giggle and smile once it started. Thier smiles were huge with surprise and happiness.

Now we are on to the next plan on the list and that is have it ready for display next week for FFA week festivities and our annual FFA auction next weekend. The kids can not wait to drive it around school so their parents can see what they have been doing all those late nights since Mid October.

Thanks for the advice and I will try and get some pics and a movie up soon on my school wedsite.