The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

What we have here is a corroded water plate from the rear of the engine head (no# 54 on the diagram image). The only reason it hasn't leaked coolant is due to the corrosion and water diposits that hve built up behind the plate and sealed the hole.










Our intention is to refit the plate but with a brass spacer plate behind to make the seal, can anyone see any issues?

You could probably get another one quite cheaply from Malcomn Hipperson.

Thanks for the warning - what else has corroded??

any idea what caused it to rust through from the inside?

john.n wrote:any idea what caused it to rust through from the inside?

Yep... engine coolant, its a cap for the water jacket.

EddieJ wrote:Yep... engine coolant, its a cap for the water jacket.

Coolant should contain corrosion inhibitors should it not? Maybe just water, perhaps acid water, has been used?

The corrosion of the plate is almost entirely due to the fact that the engine has been run for years without any antifreeze. Modern antifreeze contains corrosion inhibitors which prevent corrosion of the cooling spaces and should be added to the coolant at all times.

The corrosion of the plate gives an indication of the corrosion that has in all probability occurred throughout the engine cooling spaces. Fitting a full face gasket to this plate would have isolated it from the coolant and is an acceptable repair when the plate is lightly corroded.

Gerald

I don't think the No Antifreeze is the whole answer. I can go back to the start when Ford introduced the New Major, working on these engines, and later the Dexta, Ford have had a problem with internal engine corrosion, allmost from day one. it's why the block in the Major rusts at the liner seals and rust as in your Dexta, and in later Fords the reason why blocks go porous. Electrolosis is what Fords told their agents, and is to do with Static electric passing through the coolant. On some Fords around the 80s they came with a water filter and you could get this as a retro fit which seemed to cure the problem. Was also thought it could be an earthing issue "not sure on that"
You can remove the rust quiet easy by using a tub (plastic)of water, some baking Soda, and a battery charger. works well on small items, not sure how you get a block in there, .
Have Fun

The corrosion problem affects all makes of tractor using wet liners. I have had the same thing with Nuffy and our local J-D agent has had many engines let water into the sump until they started selling their own coolant.

The problem with porosity in the later Ford block was a different thing. It was something to do with the mix used in casting. Blocks made in this country suffered porosity in a matter of a couple of years but blocks made in Brazil suffered no corrosion at all.

Vibration also plays a part, longer stroke, slow reving engines like the I-H did not suffer as much as the short stroke engines in Ford and J-D.

Certainly the later types of antifreeze do help matters and so do water types.