Low engine oil pressure
- Thread starter Paul161
- Start date
ricky racer
501 Club
Oil pressure is regulated by a spring and poppet. Have you tried a different gauge?
No Rickey I haven't. The light goes out and stays out when running, but the oil pressure slowly goes down as the engine temp goes up to normal running temperature. This tractor sat for a few years in a field. I've restored everything on it but as the engine runs great, I didn't go into the engine. 3 oil changes using 20/50 oil and it hasn't improved. Is there a screen on the oil pump pick up tube that could possibly be restricting flow? I'll try another gage first, if that doesn't help, I guess I'll have to drop the pan. Thanks for the come back, much appreciated. PJ
staninlowerAL
501 Club
JHMO, the oil pressure symptom you described is most likely caused by wear on the rod/main bearings due to age and use. It's possible to replace them as part of an inframe rebuild but there's more to it than just swapping parts. Stan
ricky racer
501 Club
I agree with Stan. You're looking at a 50 year old tractor that's probably never gotten much love over its lifetime. I'm unfamiliar with the 154 or 184/185 series tractors and didn't realize they had an idiot light instead of a gauge. Still you may want to try adding a gauge to verify the oil pressure before rebuilding or replacing the bearings just for sanity check.
staninlowerAL
501 Club
That's a fairly simple add on with a 1/8 npt tee and a nipple to screw into the oil filter housing. You can just remove the sensor and replace it with the tee and nipple, then install a low pressure gauge (like the older cubs were equipped with) into the tee and add your sensor back into the line as well. Be sure to get a gauge that's in the 0-30 psi range or you won't see any pressure on the dial because the engine probably has less than 20 psi oil pressure. BTW, I think the manual says the idiot light goes out at about 5-8 psi. JMHO Stan
Thank you your information. I took the cup nut off and pulled the spring out, which appears to me to be very weak. Would placing a washer of the proper thickness in the cup increase the oil pressure a bit? Is it worth a try? PJ
PS, I added a 40 psi gage and it reads approximately 10 PSI.
PS, I added a 40 psi gage and it reads approximately 10 PSI.
staninlowerAL
501 Club
The spring has a spec rating but I don't have access to what it is. (I think it will be in the service manual GSS 1408.) You could obviously just replace the spring. I looked up some service info on the 154 which is basically the same engine (C60) as the 184. The page is attached but says when you drop the pan you can clean the oil pump pickup screen. Stan
EDIT: Forum Sponsor TM Tractor has the OEM listed replacement part for about $16 bucks. Stan
EDIT: Forum Sponsor TM Tractor has the OEM listed replacement part for about $16 bucks. Stan
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staninlowerAL
501 Club
When you remove the pan and drain the oil from the pickup assembly be sure to check for oil pressure when you get everything reinstalled and start the engine. The oil pump might loose its prime but it's not difficult to prime the pump through the oil filter housing by filling the pump with a hand pump oil can. The first picture shows the hole for filling the pump Note the pics are for a cub but it's the same C60 engine. Stan
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