Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Plastic gauge

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
MTJC

06-04-2007 05:11:39




Report to Moderator

Hi guys- want to check the clearence on my rod bearings.How do these plastic gauges work?Where can I get them?Thanks




[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
Walt Davies

06-04-2007 11:09:34




Report to Moderator
 Re: Plastic gauge in reply to MTJC, 06-04-2007 05:11:39  
Plastic gage is as accurate as the person using it. It is the easiest and best way to check bearing clearance on old tractors because its cheap and very accurate. within a half of .001 of an in. and you got 3 or 4 to play with so don't let these guys scare you away from it.
Like they said just pull a bearing cap wipe off excess oil and follow the direction on the box it comes in. Its not rocket science its an old tractor. Heck on my Case LA it says to put a bar under the rod and see if it has excessive play, how accurate is that.
Walt

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Rod Slinger

06-05-2007 02:04:38




Report to Moderator
 Just Curious in reply to Walt Davies, 06-04-2007 11:09:34  
Do you check piston clearance with a feeler gauge?



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Steve Crum

06-04-2007 05:35:39




Report to Moderator
 Re: Plastic gauge in reply to MTJC, 06-04-2007 05:11:39  
These are a very simple test strip. the material itself is like a stick of spagetti and comes in a tear off package. Take off the rod cap you want to check and thoroughly clean the crank journal and rod bearing then wipe a very thin film of oil on the rod bearing with your finger tip. Cut off a piece of the plastigage package the length of the first test being careful not to distort the gage strip inside. Pull the piece of gage strip (about and inch long) out of the package piece you just cut off and carefully place it across the journal. put the rod cap back on and torque it to spec. Be very careful not to move or turn the crank while the gage in in place. Now remove the rod cap and you'll notice the gage media is squashed on the journal. Use the piece of the package you cut off that you notice has bars printed on it of various widths and above each one a numerical referance in thousands of an inch and or millimeters, hold the edge down to the squashed media on the crank journal and find the bar that is closest in width to the squashed media, the numerical referance number is the actual clearance between the rod bearing and the journal. Always do this test at the center of the cap and not at the sides by the bolts. And clean the media back off the journal before wrapping up.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Jerrycpp(WA)

06-04-2007 13:19:20




Report to Moderator
 Re: Plastic gauge in reply to Steve Crum, 06-04-2007 05:35:39  
As a former sales person of Plasti-gage, the factory people told us you don't have to remove the squashed plastic - it is oil soluble. I've always left it in place and never had a problem.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Greg_Ky

06-04-2007 05:28:15




Report to Moderator
 Re: Plastic gauge in reply to MTJC, 06-04-2007 05:11:39  
The best way is with a bore gauge and micrometer. you can get plastigauge at an auto parts tell them you want 1 1/2 to 3 (.0015 - .003)
Make sure the crank and bearing are free from oil and lay a strip across the bearing surface of the crankshaft and install the bearing cap and torque to specifications. Remove the cap and measure the strip with the scale that is printed on the side of the plastigauge sleeve. Myself I never use plastigauge because it can lie. HTH

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
uncle

06-04-2007 05:24:59




Report to Moderator
 Re: Plastic gauge in reply to MTJC, 06-04-2007 05:11:39  
You can get it at NAPA. The Plastigauge comes in different ranges so you need to know what the clearance you are looking for when you buy it.
You cut a small 1/8" piece and place it perpendicular with the journal and torque the cap in place.
Remove the cap and place the scale of the plastigauge next to the sample on the journal and that will give you the reference to your clearence.
Brian

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy