Case 580B G188 Diesel engine rebuild?

Jon has already given you a lot of good information. I've been told that the 188 gives good service but generally number 3 cylinder looses a rod and often puts a hole in the block. This area of the block is not critical however and can sometimes be fixed.

Are you getting a lot of blowby gases at the valve cover vent tube? This was the case on my dozer with a 188 and turned out to be a broken ring. The knock you describe is a bit more ominus and I would guess that a rod is fixing to come loose.

If you don't have to change out the crank you should be able to otherwise rebuild the 188 in the frame. As Jon pointed out however a rod knock usually indicates a "spun" bearing and that usually requires that the crank be turned at the very least.

The 188 rebuild kits are pretty complete. Mine came with all the gaskets, rings, sleeves, pistons, con-rod pins etc.

Considering your symptoms I'd go ahead and pull the head, drop the pan, and see what the damage is. If you do have to split the case it will be a little lighter without the head anyhow.

Best of luck,
John
1968 Case 450

Thanks, Terry

I am in the middle of the rebuild on my 188 in my '72 track loader. Do a search on this forum and over at the Case forum for "case 188". There are several well documented troubleshooting/rebuild posts. As I found out, (and others noted as well), don't be surprised if it's a little worse than expected once you get into it. My machine was due for a rebuild ever since I purchased it, smoked, used oil, and needed ether to start all the time. I nursed it along for nearly 2 years, but it finally developed a slight knock. I had hoped it was a piston slap or valve knock problem, it turned out to be a spun rod bearing (which I think is kind of common on these engines). Ended up that my crank was trash, which is the expensive piece to this rebuild, about $650. Rebuild kit itself was $625, and includes sleeves, pistons, rings, bearings, and all the gaskets.
The engine is pretty straight forward, as far as engines go. Actually, probably the most simple engine that I have rebuilt. I had done about 5 gas engines before, but this was my first diesel.
As for your problem, the white smoke is puzzling, maybe fuel that's not burning due to piston or valve problems, or possibly water in the cylinder. I would start at the top and remove the valve cover, then the head. If no signs of the problem there, then yeah, pull the pan off and take a look.

Hope this helps, and good luck.

Jon

By spun Rod bearing I take it to mean that the clearance on the shaft became so loose that the bearing coud not be contained and rotated on the crankshaft. Is it not possible to clean up the crank or take it and have it reground or does it always end up as junk? I have a Case manual for the tractor (I think mine is about a 1972 as well) and under knocks it says one of the symptoms of a bent rod is white smoke. So I will hope for the best and prepare for the worst. In any case I will know by the end of this weekend as I will start to pull it apart.

Thanks very much, Terry