Radiator back from the shop

A couple weeks back I brought the radiator in to Seattle Radiator Works to have some work done.  It was a long drive but since I was going through Renton on the way there I made the most of it and met up with a former work colleague for lunch - good to see old friends.  This place is one of the few remaining radiator repair shops in the area and in addition to a good deal of industrial repairs they also do antique car (and tractor) restorations.  I highly recommend this place, the guys are very nice and super knowledgeable about everything radiator.  They've been around for 70 years.

Not impressive from the outside but a good bunch of guys that know their stuff

They cleaned it out, pressure tested it, made some needed repairs and removed the completely rusted studs at the bottom of the radiator that are used to attach it to the tractor.  They also did a bit of welding on the fan shield and then painted it.  Nice work and the bill was less than expected.

Inside the shop.  Notice the huge radiators in the back.

The finished product!

Now waiting for parts

Finished the last of the major tear-down this morning - removed the cylinder sleeves.  To do this I had to buy a sleeve pulling disk (not cheap) and then used the set-up in the below pics.  For the past several days the sleeves got an application of penetrating oil which seemed to do the trick, the sleeves came out pretty easily.  Now just waiting for the parts I ordered to arrive.  When they do I'll bring the head, along with the new valves/springs/etc., and the crank to the machine shop to get worked on.  Also, in another week or so the radiator should be back from the radiator shop and we'll then see if I can get this beast back together....

Cylinder #1 sleeve part way out

Cylinder #4 almost removed.

Off with their heads

Slowing chipping away at the engine tear down.  It's been cold and snowing lately and since I'm doing this outside my fingers don't last long before I need to go inside.  After removing the water pump and fan I removed the crank pulley.  It was a bit of a surprise that the pulley came off with no difficulty (with use of a puller).  Then off came the valve rocker assembly and this morning off came the head.  I was having some difficulty getting it off until I realized there was a breather tube stopping it from sliding up the head bolts and off.  After new valves, springs, etc. are ordered the head will go to the machine shop to get rebuilt.

Block minus the head

...and the head.

More dismantling

Over the past week the radiator came off which was not an easy task.  There are two studs that come out of the bottom with a spring and nut holding onto the bolster.  Those nuts were rusted solid to the long rusted studs and no amount of penetrating oil would loosen them.  So out came the sawzall and I cut them off.  The radiator needs some attention from a good shop (or need a new one) and hopefully they can get those rusted studs out of the radiator so I can put some new ones in.  After that the side rails came off, then with the help of my boom pole and another tractor the bolster (part that includes the front wheels) came off.  Then off came the manifold and carb, the governor, the thermostat housing, and the distributor.  A few more things yet to come off before the head comes off.

Radiator removed, bolster still attached.

Side rails and bolster removed