IH 444 diesel block crack

240Patches · Jun 20, 2017

Just got the bd154 block back from the machine shop and while fitting the sleeves I notice a crack where the sealing o-ring goes on the 3rd cylinder. Goes up about a 1.5 inches above and through the o-ring groove. Can this be epoxied or is it anything to worry about? The only pressure will be from the coolant when it gets hot. Picture taken from the bottom shows the crack.

240Patches · Jun 20, 2017

Picture

lpgasonly · Jun 20, 2017

Well, I would use some ceramic seal after it was all put together and running. It is like a racing version of stop leak. we had a head done once and when they did the valve seats it opened up a hole in the casting. water run into the cylinder. We did that sealer according to instructions and never had an issue. Good luck.

Steve@Advance · Jun 20, 2017

Sure don't like the looks of that...

I know what would happen if I tried to use it.

9njunkie · Jun 20, 2017

If you want it to be 100 percent for a long time don't mess around with epoxy or enamel. You need to find sombody that can do cold stitching repairs to cracks in cast iorn. It's a dying art and not too many folks still know how to do it right out there.

I had a engine that had badly cracked 12 years ago.... Cracks in the head through the coolant passages and cracks in the block through where the valve seats are and up to the cylinder sleeves. Had it cold stitched and we use that tractor at least once a week or more for the last 12 years no problems.

If you are near MA, I can send you the contact info of the guy I use.... He does great work at very cheap prices.

The bigger thing I would be concerned about is the quality of the machine shop where you had your work done. Any GOOD machine shop after boiling the block should have done a MPI...(magnetic particle inspection) or even a mag flux bath to check for any cracks before doing any further work and should have definitely told you about the problems.

casecollectorsc · Jun 20, 2017

Had a Case 188 Diesel block that was cracked between the sleeves on the top flange. Put it together that way and is still running great 35 years later.

RBoots · Jun 20, 2017

I'm gonna guess sooner or later, that's gonna be a leaker. Had an Oliver 66 block cracked similar to that. That's why it has a different block now, she would make coolant/oil soup after a while.

JDEM · Jun 20, 2017

I would not use it. Mine cracked in the same place. Tractor salvage yard near me had four engines for sale. I checked them and all were cracked in the same place. I finally found a B414 with a so-called factory-rebuilt engine from Central Tractor and I paid a good price for it. When I got it home, I stripped it down to checked it over and it too had been cracked in the same place. Then welded, machined, and some bondo and paint added in few spots. I was ticked off and the place I bought it from gave me half my money back. I used it since it was the best I could find and now 10 years later, it is still working okay.

IH 444 diesel block crack

240Patches

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240Patches

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lpgasonly

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Steve@Advance

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9njunkie

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casecollectorsc

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RBoots

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JDEM

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