Fordson Dexta Ether question again

Wes

I would say there probly is damage because alot of time the oil leaks are caused by compression blow by, but again it could just be turning to slow to crank and the gaskets have dried out.

Your Dexta will usually let you know when it's time to rebuild the engine because with the power loss it just won't pull right, and the blow by out the side vent will blow pretty hard.

Please don't be too hard on dear old dad. We did'nt know about the ether back then, when it made it to the farm. The ether seemed like a miracle to us instead of a motor killer.

The old Farmall and Case you could use ether or just pour gasoline in the manifold and it would be ok, but the Perkins was different.

The oil leak is fairly significant. Dad thinks it is from a bad head gasket but this piston/ether problem sounds more likely.

Can you explain what you meant by "blow by out the side vent"? Also in reference to the slow starting turn over, what did you mean by "the gaskets have dried out"?

If the pistons are bad, can I tell by a compression test or will they need to come out for inspection? Are new or rebuilt pistons available for a rebuild? I have done a few top end rebuilds on autos but have never gone into piston removal and replacement, nor have I worked on diesel engines. Is this likely something that the weekend mechanic can do or is it better left to pros?

Thanks,
Wes

The Perkis in the Dexta and Super Dexta has a vent tube that comes off the valve cover top and runs down the engine on the right side just forwards of the starter, it blows straight at the ground.

When compression blowby gets excessive this vent pipe will blow oil vapors pretty hard.

What I meant by the gaskets dried out is this. The Perkins original type side plate, and valve cover gaskets are cork, they will dry out and either crack or shrink. In either case they let just a little blowby create a heck of a oil leak.

You can take a rubber tipped automotive compression gage and check the compression yourself.

Take all the injectors out. Be sure the battery is fully charged and take a compression reading. The ideal compression should be about around 400psi, no need to worry is 300psi or more.

The engine will continue to fire and run smooth with as little as 100-125psi, but it will have severe blowby and will have very little power.

I would set the valve adjustment before I ran a compression check. The intake and exhaust valves both set at .010 with the engine at normal operating temp. I would also wash the engine and check the head gasket for a leak.

The engine is very simple to rebuild since you have top ended a car engine before you should do fine with the Perkins.

The re-build kits are readily available at Ford and Massey Ferguson dealers, but usually a Perkins dealer is cheaper and is the same kits just not in a tractor company box.

If you get your parts at Perkins they will usually give you a spec and directions sheet for the engine. If you go that far and don't have a book email me and I'll send a copy to you.

If you get your parts at Massey or Ford don't expect to much info unless they have and older mechanic or parts man. Most of these younger parts folks at the tractor dealers are computer parts men and don't have a clue as to what the heck they are selling you. They just know they may or may not have a part by number, and that it may or may not be the part you came in for.

I thought I responded one time but I never saw it pop up. Thanks for the info. I'm having the tractor washed and am ready to fire up the garage wood stove and get a little dirty. I am also searching for a perkins distributor hear in NC.

I was already able to get the starter turning a little faster by cleaning cables and connections.

I have been reading the archives for more info and was happy to see I wasn't the only one suffering from the gear shift getting hung when moving from reverse to forward.

I will likely be posting for more help as I get further into it. That info on the rebuild sounded interesting too. I will let you know if I don't get it when and if I order a piston kit.
Thanks again,
Wes