Just installed a new engine and headers. It sounds like an ol' John Deere at idle. Loud and louder when accelerating. Can this be a header leak? At the heads or the collector or even a hole? I would think if at the collector it would not have the tractor pulse, could be wrong though. Is it a valve/lifter issue?

 

i was hoping you bought a new JD since i own stock in JD. if it sounds like the old JDs i'd suspect compression leak but it may be exhaust leak too. think you're going to have to look or feel for exhaust leak and if you don't find anything do a compression test.

 

Mine sounds like my grandpa's old John Deer model R when it gets out of shape

And if you know what a model R was then you're getting long of tooth

 

I didn't see any exhaust and tried to feel around for something coming out but those headers seem to get hot instantly. Found nothing in the short time I had. I suppose I will first try the comp. test and then procede to having a look at the header gasket for any sign of a leak.

 

Yea it doesent sound tractory enough. Id suspect a header gasket sliped or was ripped durring install. A good trick is to use a peice of hose or tube with one end to your ear and run it around the exhuast until you find somthing.

 

Hows the timing? Overly retarded timing will cause the old rusty tractor sound.

 

I'm 37, here's a shot of the '41 B handstart I had in '83.

 

It sounds like it is coming from a certain spot on the drivers side. Timing doesn't affect it.

I have not worked with it yet since I started this post and I probably won't for some time. I need to recoup and start fresh again a little latter.

 

Yes, this guy loves his as well.
http://www.stpetetimes.com/2004/06/0...r_to_him.shtml

 

That's even older than a model R. The R was from the early 50s, if I recall correctly.

 

I dont understand why you are complaining...

Nothing runs like a Deere!

 

What do you mean, WAS? An R-series IS still a working tractor. I have a relative that still uses his '51 R/D for routine chores. A Wisconsin V-4 is the pony used to fire it up. It's avtually one of his newer tractors, excepting the 8720, of course.

Actually, the R first appeared in '49. Speaking of hand-cranking and magnetoes, I've still got a '38 AC B-series. Starts on the third crank, every time. 18 monster horsepower, baby!

Back to the future, are all the header tubes getting hot?

 

Thought I had some photos somewhere. Yes, that's the "maintenanve record" written on the oil filter, and yes, it gets Mobil 1.

 

Vader! Where's the belly mower for that thing???

Here's my current toy, 1951 Case SC. Mods include 12 volt conversion by some farmer (note the clever mounting of the voltage regulator on the outside of the hood) strieght pipe, and the not installed Case 101 front end loader. The mounting "U" on the front makes a great brush bar when baja-ing throught the back forty.

A friend of mine tracked down the John Deere's current owner but the guy won't return my phone calls. Jerk.

 

Now we KNOW you are close to geezerdom

 

Vader, what kind of magnito is that on the AC? It looks just like the Fairbanks-Morse magnito that was on my '56 Mercury Mark 55 outboard!

 

Yup. Fairbank mag, I'm having a heckuva time finding points for it except online. No one stocks them locally any more. Go figure.

So, did we ever get the uneven firing problem resolved?

 

Now that my emotional drain and physical energy is back to a more normal state, I tore into it to find the problem. Center exhaust gasket was all blown out on the bottom side due to a warped header. Should always take a staight edge to them just to be sure before installing them. Welded and the low stuff and ground it all even again. Took care of it for now.

 

Back in the day I used to install these cheapo $60 headers on Pontiacs. They were so bad I had a spare set of heads on a bench that I would use to square them up on. File/weld/ file/ heat witha torch..etc etc. I always hd the best luck with Mr. Gasket supergaskets that were glued on using aviation Permatex, that gave me a little edge. Good luck with it.

 

exactly f/w/f etc. etc. I used a straight edge and looked across the four exhaust ports in 5 spots top to bottom. I still have a pop or two on cold start up. I will retighten all exhaust related bolts and hope that cleans up the remaining noises.