Cylinder liners

[FPW501]

Hi again!
I have a question for you, maybe specially for Brian?

I currently work on a bit older major - diesel, ( engine number 1252505 ) The reason to repair it is a bearing failure in the crank, so there has not been any problem with water leaking in to the oil as far as I know. The bearing problem is under control but I have a question about the liners:

I have some experience from working on Fordson engines before and the liners in this one looks different to the one I have seen before. The top of the liners are completely flat. On the other Fordson engines I worked on there are so to say to levels on the top of the cylinder liner. The one located most to the center is reaching through the cylinder head gasket, and the gasket rest on the outer area. ( I hope you understand what I try to describe! )

On this one the liner protrusion is also more or less zero on all four cylinders. So in relation to the data in the repair manual they are all to low.
- Or are there other figures for "flat-top" liners?

So what to with those liners: They are all four in OK condition, but should I remove them and install shims to reach the protrusion stated in the manual?
Is it better to change them to the other type with the "two level top"? ( I have a set available)

I would be grateful for some help with this! Martin

[AdrianNPMajor]

Hello Martin
Whilst you wait for Brian to provide the specialist advice, I would make some general observations.
If the crank bearings show wear, the crank will also be worn. This means a crank regrind and new bearings.
Your engine is over sixty years old. It's ready for a rebuild. Having dismantled the engine, it would be unwise to put sixty-year-old wearing, and therefore worn, components back into the block.
You really need to buy an an engine rebuild kit and replace the liners, pistons, piston rings to go with the reground crank and bearings. [You may find that the small end bearings haven't worn, in which case they can be left.] You should also have the head skimmed, the valve seats reground and have new valve guides, valves and valve springs fitted.
The end result will be a brand new engine and a tractor that will be good for any work it was designed for.
Any photos available?
Best, Adrian.

[Brian]

Flat top liners were standard until around 1957 when they were replaced by the spigotted type you have seen. As far as it goes they will be OK and possibly do another 50 years. Yes, they sound a bit low but if the head gasket was not leaking then I would use the later type gasket with a little Wellseal around the fire ring. That is what I did to Henrietta and she is still going strong.

If you have another set of the later liner to put in then it is your choice but I do not feel the old ones would be a problem.

[oehrick]

FPW501 is a good old Norfolk registration number Martin (my Major is YPW688) is it in Sweden with you and do you know where and who it was first registered ?

[FPW501]

Thank you Brian! Then I most likely will leave the liners in place, as they are in OK condition.

Adrian; The engine is in general in OK condition and the crank is to be replaced to a used one in good condition so I won’t do any complete overhaul this time. I have done that before and the result is very nice, but in the case it isn’t needed. This engine have spent the last decades “a sleep” so it is so to say still young!

Oehrick; FPW 501 is also a good old Swedish registration number! So it has spent its whole working life here in Sweden as far as I know. Well, not really old actually. The Swedish registration number system was changed 1973 and all vehicles was given new numbers. And at that time someone probably tried to make his tractor bit younger! This one is a – 52 from the casting codes etc. but is registered as a -64! It is actually not uncommon with this “errors” in the register for older tractors in Sweden.
Kind regards Martin

[oehrick]

Ha! well I would have lost a bet on where it came from then Martin I've been to Sweden a few times but don't recall seeing what I'd think of as a UK registration but probably at times of year like this when older vehicles are tucked up in their garages.

I recall a pre Christmas trip from either Jonkoping or Lidkoping up to Hagfors over frozen roads at high speeds, now I've driven varieties of 'Swedish Brick' for many years and was enjoying the warm, comfortable and secure feeling and enjoying the wonderful views (I am not usually a very happy passenger) until I remarked to my 'chauffer', the Engineer of our Agents and a very fast driver, how impressive ice studded winter tyres were, he gave it a few kilometers before replying that yes, they were, and perhaps he would put some on if the weather got worse in the New Year - the remainder of the trip up and the return trip to Stockholm were what can only be described as a white knuckle ride !

Well non Swedish registered YPW688 has had a little outing today to pull some small trees out and has now been covered with some old blankets as the barn she lives in is not wind tight and we are supposedly due a cold (for Eastern England) winter this year, I couldn't find any holly with a single berry left as we like some to decorate the house for Christmas.

All the very best to you and yours for the festive season Martin

Rick

[FPW501]

Well, we are still using the same structure in the registration number also on brand new vehicles, three letters follow by three figures. But as you describe your ride here you might have had focus on other things than registration plates!
Anyhow I myself live in the southern part of Sweden, on the west coast, and I have the same reaction as you when I experience the driving style on winter roads among swedes in the north part. But they claim that ditches full of snow are rather soft to land in, if it would happen!

Happy holidays everybody! M

[oehrick]

The snow may be soft Martin but some of the posts marking the road edges look like they might do some serious damage ! and I told you long it was Munkfors not Hagfors - not too far apart - what really impressed me was the availability of power cords so you could plug an engine block heater in overnight and it was some way above zero next morning, we do not often get cold spells here to make that worthwhile

Rick