Jacka Posted March 17 Posted March 17 I am not a novice,fixed my share of whatever broke on the farm,yard and the house.Figured out and fixed stuff at work.I am not a "real" mechanic nor to I claim to be.Overhauled a few motors,split a few tractors and unfortunately the main mechanic on my own backhoe,dozer and skidloaders.I did the DUMBEST thing past weekend.I had a headgasket go on my little crawler about a month ago with a 3.152 Perkins.Tore it down,sent head out,cleaned block etc.I got the head back last week.New valves,seats,guides,springs.Caps were only reusable.Past weekend took my time put it all back together.Copper Coated headgasket too.Torqued to spec and looking good or so I thought. I was on the phone with my mechanic buddy yesterday just talking.We started talking pushrods,lifters and adjusting valves.I had a sinking feeling come over me.I didn't say a word to him,too embarrassed.This engine has lifters and it occurred to me during our conversation I forgot to put them in.I just about died.I couldn't believe that whole time of installing the head,(I had it off years before too) that I didn't notice that I didn't install the lifters.I knew what they are,seen them when I took head off.I knew it wasn't a pushrod motor.I took my time between barn work and other stuff two days two get it installed,torqued and ready to adjust valves.This morning I took it all back apart,ordered another headgasket. What is so dumb is that when putting rocker arms on and looking over motor it didn't occur to me that there were no lifters. 9 Quote
766 Man Posted March 17 Posted March 17 I suspect that things like that happen far more than what people will admit to doing. 7 Quote
dads706 Posted March 17 Posted March 17 I don't understand the issue? Every time I grab a wrench stuff like that happens. Are you telling me this is not normal. This kind of stuff is why my engineer son hates to see my name on his cell phone....."what did the idiot f'up now". 2 5 Quote
560Dennis Posted March 17 Posted March 17 Suggest , move on ,put it back together. One big forget or 10 smaller ones still roll same . the bump in the road. 1 Quote
BrunsFarms Posted March 17 Posted March 17 57 minutes ago, Alan Dinan said: All you can say is, “Oops!” , and move on!! In the Midwest, we say Ope instead!😅 1 1 Quote
yellowrosefarm Posted March 17 Posted March 17 With the amount of distractions and the state of the world in general, it's more amazing that anything gets put together right the first time. Actually, 4 hours ago, Jacka said: I am not a novice,fixed my share of whatever broke on the farm,yard and the house.Figured out and fixed stuff at work.I am not a "real" mechanic nor to I claim to be.Overhauled a few motors,split a few tractors and unfortunately the main mechanic on my own backhoe,dozer and skidloaders.I did the DUMBEST thing past weekend.I had a headgasket go on my little crawler about a month ago with a 3.152 Perkins.Tore it down,sent head out,cleaned block etc.I got the head back last week.New valves,seats,guides,springs.Caps were only reusable.Past weekend took my time put it all back together.Copper Coated headgasket too.Torqued to spec and looking good or so I thought. I was on the phone with my mechanic buddy yesterday just talking.We started talking pushrods,lifters and adjusting valves.I had a sinking feeling come over me.I didn't say a word to him,too embarrassed.This engine has lifters and it occurred to me during our conversation I forgot to put them in.I just about died.I couldn't believe that whole time of installing the head,(I had it off years before too) that I didn't notice that I didn't install the lifters.I knew what they are,seen them when I took head off.I knew it wasn't a pushrod motor.I took my time between barn work and other stuff two days two get it installed,torqued and ready to adjust valves.This morning I took it all back apart,ordered another headgasket. What is so dumb is that when putting rocker arms on and looking over motor it didn't occur to me that there were no lifters. You actually just passed the test to join the "real" mechanics club. One of my first mentors as a novice house carpenter told me "It's how well you can fix your mistakes that makes a great craftsman". 5 Quote
BrunsFarms Posted March 17 Posted March 17 I love that! 10 minutes ago, yellowrosefarm said: With the amount of distractions and the state of the world in general, it's more amazing that anything gets put together right the first time. Actually, You actually just passed the test to join the "real" mechanics club. One of my first mentors as a novice house carpenter told me "It's how well you can fix your mistakes that makes a great craftsman". 1 Quote
axial_al Posted March 18 Posted March 18 I can relate ! I put the head gasket on a 560 diesel upside down once. Discovered the mistake when it was pushing oil out between block and head. 1 1 Quote
Jacka Posted March 18 Author Posted March 18 26 minutes ago, axial_al said: I can relate ! I put the head gasket on a 560 diesel upside down once. Discovered the mistake when it was pushing oil out between block and head. Yes,I was curious what others did too.Sorta of misery loves company kinda deal.If we don't laugh and shake our heads it would be a long miserable life I guess Quote
acem Posted March 18 Posted March 18 I plead the 5th on things I've done. Pretty sure I haven't peaked yet... 2 4 Quote
tommyw-5088 Posted March 18 Posted March 18 I put a head gasket in the 504 , boys were little . They were playing on it . Got it set and going - no power . Im am a pro mechanic . The boys had pushed down a hyd remote lever . That took a minute . A 504 LP does not have any extra power when everything is right .:) It happens in a pro shop too , we were constantly rushed at JB Hunt . We did screw up a few things . 3 Quote
wild one Posted March 18 Posted March 18 Was rebuilding an old jeep 4cylinder and had a newly reground 10 under crank to install. Looked at bearings and yes make sure to line oil hole in bearing shell up with holes in block ect. Decided to go do chores and finish later. Came back and finished install. Fired engine up later and man it ran sweet with great oil pressure for a while. Then it started to knock. Not possible I told myself, got great oil pressure. Finally pulled the pan, ya one bearing shell in wrong. The 10 under crank became a 20 under! 1 1 Quote
vtfireman85 Posted March 18 Posted March 18 BTDT, I froze up a new 427 tall deck bored .030 over. After serious issues with a Chrysler 230 head gasket on a fresh rebuild, ultimately found to be a timing issue, I decided to just put water in it, run it around a little bit and make sure I didn’t have issues before filling with antifreeze… that was September. We got a hard freeze in November and I woke up at about 3 am with a sinking feeling. It split the block on both sides between the freeze plugs. Wide open. Not my proudest moment, on the bright side I got very quick at pulling and reinstalling that engine. 1 Quote
New Englander Posted March 18 Posted March 18 If you've never 'ucked up it means you never do anything. My FIL, a very good mechanic, and I agree that being able to fix your 'uckups is the sign of a good mechanic😁. 4 Quote
bitty Posted March 18 Posted March 18 19 hours ago, Jacka said: I am not a novice,fixed my share of whatever broke on the farm,yard and the house.Figured out and fixed stuff at work.I am not a "real" mechanic nor to I claim to be.Overhauled a few motors,split a few tractors and unfortunately the main mechanic on my own backhoe,dozer and skidloaders.I did the DUMBEST thing past weekend.I had a headgasket go on my little crawler about a month ago with a 3.152 Perkins.Tore it down,sent head out,cleaned block etc.I got the head back last week.New valves,seats,guides,springs.Caps were only reusable.Past weekend took my time put it all back together.Copper Coated headgasket too.Torqued to spec and looking good or so I thought. I was on the phone with my mechanic buddy yesterday just talking.We started talking pushrods,lifters and adjusting valves.I had a sinking feeling come over me.I didn't say a word to him,too embarrassed.This engine has lifters and it occurred to me during our conversation I forgot to put them in.I just about died.I couldn't believe that whole time of installing the head,(I had it off years before too) that I didn't notice that I didn't install the lifters.I knew what they are,seen them when I took head off.I knew it wasn't a pushrod motor.I took my time between barn work and other stuff two days two get it installed,torqued and ready to adjust valves.This morning I took it all back apart,ordered another headgasket. What is so dumb is that when putting rocker arms on and looking over motor it didn't occur to me that there were no lifters. Admitting you did something wrong is very important to getting better 15 hours ago, yellowrosefarm said: With the amount of distractions and the state of the world in general, it's more amazing that anything gets put together right the first time. Actually, You actually just passed the test to join the "real" mechanics club. One of my first mentors as a novice house carpenter told me "It's how well you can fix your mistakes that makes a great craftsman". The best mechanics are the ones that realize that they don't know everything and will seek advice when they aren't sure . Was a local here that was an excellent welder and mechanic. He was mostly JD oriented and we drove to the IH dealership one day for him to get advice on something for our 1586.. his son is the opposite and knows everything.... Unfortunately 3 1 Quote
dale560 Posted March 18 Posted March 18 Put a new head on a m11 Cummins about 5 years ago. Forgot the Allen plugs that go in fuel rail on front and back of head. Had to lift head back up fix it and reassemble. put the ring gear in a 4010 jd flipped over and never even noticed it until done.tractor went opposite direction of gear it was in about 15 years ago. once in the way back time I was putting synchronizer discs in a 4320 and put one to many in. It drug so I had to pull top shaft out and fix it. If I would have looked at it harder I could have just cut it out with shift fork out and drums spread forward. This was 35 years ago still remember the day like yesterday. a lot of other messups along the way. Dropped a screw driver into the fan on a Chevy truck while adjusting carburetor , took radiator out and dad soldered fins shut. That is about 35 years ago. The best of it all about 45 or so years ago we were terrorizing the yard with cub cadet 100 and wheel bearing went out. Somehow we twisted bolt off about 1/2 way in spindle. Then twisted a tap off yet trying to fix it before dad found out. I still remember that day also. The but chewing that came down to me and my brother. Pretty sure I was 10 and he was 8. 1 Quote
Dave Downs Posted March 18 Posted March 18 Servicing my neighbors compact JD tractor, drained oil, changed filter…..added new oil to engine - had not replaced drain plug, but did remove drain pan. It took 4 quarts before I noticed the rapidity expanding oil slick on the floor……… 1 2 Quote
whweldit Posted March 18 Posted March 18 Many years ago neighbor had to redo transmission in his FARMALL h. Got dad and I to help. Dad knew we were going in ours sooner than later and was glad to help. Also the neighborhood mechanic helped. Got it apart and had to wait a few days for bearings and a few gears. Neighbor had bought a service manual before starting. Got ready to reassemble and carried bottom shaft to shop in town to press old gears off and new gears on. That night we went over to help put it together. Got ready to lower the top on and before we did mechanic says you have the bottom gears backward. No, they are just like they were. No they are not, look at picture in manual. Sure enough, on page with assembly instructions is picture of gears on shaft. Well shucks. Take everything out. He goes back to town and changes gears. Back we go to assemble. Start down with top and forks do not line up. Back to manual. They discover the picture was for the next page. Think it was for an orchard model. Gears were correct to start with. I remember their were a lot of “adult” words used. Everything back out and another trip to town. 1 3 Quote
yellowrosefarm Posted March 18 Posted March 18 1 hour ago, Dave Downs said: Servicing my neighbors compact JD tractor, drained oil, changed filter…..added new oil to engine - had not replaced drain plug, but did remove drain pan. It took 4 quarts before I noticed the rapidity expanding oil slick on the floor……… When I first started working in the JD dealership back in the late 80's, I was doing exactly the same thing with a riding mower when the shop foreman walked over and asked me "did you forget something"????? Quote
pt756 Posted March 19 Posted March 19 Years ago changed the oil in the 756 310, probably was in a hurry about something, put filter, new oil in, BIL took off with it , I am lucky he is so observant and noticed the oil coming out of the oil pan, as he drove out the driveway, didnt tighten up the plug, that was a close one, Quote
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