Mouse nest = fire?

Northvale PA · Oct 8, 2018

This is a new to me MF 35. I am fixing the steering which needs a new shaft bearing. I plan to replace the head gasket, valve cover gasket and adjust valves. I pulled the gas tank to flush it out too. Here is what was between the valve cover and exhaust manifold shield. I am guessing when the tractor got hot enough, the junk would ignite and there would be no way to put it out before the tank touched off.

JMOR · Oct 8, 2018

(quoted from post at 19:35:12 10/08/18) This is a new to me MF 35. I am fixing the steering which needs a new shaft bearing. I plan to replace the head gasket, valve cover gasket and adjust valves. I pulled the gas tank to flush it out too. Here is what was between the valve cover and exhaust manifold shield. I am guessing when the tractor got hot enough, the junk would ignite and there would be no way to put it out before the tank touched off.

hy the head gasket? mouse couldn't eat that!

Northvale PA · Oct 8, 2018

Agree. I am just thinking it is a 60 year old machine. $30 and I never have to worry about that. My TO20 blew its head gasket 2 years ago. Rusted out from the looks of it. The previous owner of this machine had it for 18 years. Did not use it much but sure didn?t take care of it much either. The valve cover gasket is original and cracked.

JMOR · Oct 8, 2018

(quoted from post at 19:46:40 10/08/18) Agree. I am just thinking it is a 60 year old machine. $30 and I never have to worry about that. My TO20 blew its head gasket 2 years ago. Rusted out from the looks of it. The previous owner of this machine had it for 18 years. Did not use it much but sure didn?t take care of it much either. The valve cover gasket is original and cracked.

ou will regret it. Don't disturb what is not broken!!!!

Northvale PA · Oct 8, 2018

You may have a good point. On the other hand, I am finding things that need attention. For example, the oil bath air filter had oil, water and a
few hickory nuts in it. The filter steel wool media is full of weeds. The oil was probably not changed since this guy owned it. Steering housing
had no gear oil and a crushed lower shaft bearing. Transmission fluid looked like milk. Starter very dirty around brushes, stopped cranking. The
tractor actually runs smooth. Considering the neglect, it is a wonder it ran at all.

Hayfarmer · Oct 8, 2018

I saw a burned tractor at the JD dealer a few years back. Problem was a birds nest in a critical spot that caught fire when it got hot. I once found a dead mouse curled up around a sparkplug on my old 53 Ford flathead V8, smelled but didn't do any damage

Steve@Advance · Oct 8, 2018

Good eye!

You've spotted about all the common problems that will be found with one of those!

But I would not replace the head gasket if it is not leaking. Those have wet sleeves that just sit in the block. Taking the head off can start the orings leaking coolant into the oil.

Go ahead and clean it up, adjust the valves, replace the cover gasket, all the other external maintenance tasks, then run it, evaluate the engine, the oil pressure, blow-by, etc.

That also gives you a chance to check out the rest of the tractor. That way it all gets fixed at once, no going back in for some unforeseen problem.

fixerupper · Oct 8, 2018

I applaud you for wanting to fix everything up. When you are done you not only will have a dependable tractor but you also will know how to get it apart next time. However, as others said I would not remove the head if it’s running OK. The head might be warped or cracked but not bad enough to cause a leak Because the head gasket is well seated in place. If you remove the head and torque it down with a new gasket, the crack that might be there but didn’t leak before might open up a bit and will probably leak and if the head is warped the head gasket probably will leak too.

Northvale PA · Oct 8, 2018

I think you guys convinced me. My TO20 blew the head gasket which I replaced, no problem. No grinding either. Just stuck it back on.

Stephen Newell · Oct 8, 2018

Mice like to set you up. I found a six foot long piece of romex wire in my shop that had every bit of insulation eaten off of it. I still don't see how it was possible for one to remove the insulation without getting fried or set fire to the building. Just found three bare wires laying there.

Russ from MN · Oct 8, 2018

Once one of our lawn tractors smelled bad when we warmed it up in the spring, I found a dead mouse under the flywheel!

Geo-TH,In · Oct 9, 2018

I know a guy found a mouse nest inside shroud of his cub cadet. Blocked the air flow to one cylinder. Head overheated and valve seat dropped out.

Another guy's horses chewed the spark plug wires off his MF35. Eat the seat too.

I make sure the mice have plenty of decon to eat where I park anything. Mice get thirsty too, so I leave them a bowl of antifreeze to drink. I have no pets, but I make sure antifreeze is located where no pet can get too.

INCase · Oct 9, 2018

i have to watch birds nests. they love the spot between the exhaust and water manifold on top of the Case 800 engine. they've also built on top of the alternator too.

i bought an old Case 400 (small 400) for parts. the crankcase breather/valvecover cap was missing. mice built a nest inside the valve cover. the next mixed with the rain that got in thru the hole rusted the top of the head up pretty bad.

Mouse nest = fire?

Northvale PA

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JMOR

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Northvale PA

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JMOR

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Northvale PA

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Hayfarmer

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Steve@Advance

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fixerupper

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Northvale PA

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Stephen Newell

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