The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: mab on July 24, 2012, 09:59:13 pm

Title: Feeling like a bit of a lemon
Post by: mab on July 24, 2012, 09:59:13 pm
Well I decided to finish changing the engine oil on the recently acquired old tractor  today to keep out of the sun.

Trouble is I had a problem on another vehicle when the oil pump wouldn't prime after an oil change, and as the oil pressure light doesn't work on this tractor I decided I'd better fix it before trying to start the tractor (just in case it didn't prime OK).

Turns out that the oil pressure switch is dud and I don't have a spare, but I do have a pressure gauge so I put that in instead.

Started up the tractor...

watching the gauge - no pressure...

 - keep waiting (it had to fill the new filter)...

still no pressure - getting worried...

still no pressure - so I turn it off and have a think. It occurs to me that the plastic capillary tube connecting the gauge might have been squashed when I tightened the connection (I'd had to 'improvise' a seal), so I loosened it off a bit.

Restart the tractor - watching the gauge, closely...

still reading zero....

??? it's raining!!!  ???

- the capillary tube has popped out and oil is jetting up to the roof of the shed (~12 feet) and spraying out in all directions. It's amazing how much oil can fit through a 3.0mm hole!

stopped the engine (el-pronto!!)

Well the shed & tractor did need a good jetwashing - but not with super-universal tractor oil.  :(

anyone got any suggestions as to how to clean oil off the walls, roof, floor, tractor, tools (and me)?


Still - at least I know the oil pump IS primed and working  ::) .

marcus




Title: Re: Feeling like a bit of a lemon
Post by: omnipeasant on July 24, 2012, 11:18:43 pm
Like it.
Title: Re: Feeling like a bit of a lemon
Post by: tizaala on July 25, 2012, 07:53:07 am
Gunk , best degreacer of the lot, put it on with a paintbrush scrub it about a bit, then hose off. try washing an engine with it, comes up like new. :thumbsup:
edited to add:  to get oil off your hands , pour some cooking oil into you palm then add a tablespoon of sugar, work this all over the mineral oil bits then wash with washing-up liquid. job done.
Title: Re: Feeling like a bit of a lemon
Post by: Dan on July 25, 2012, 07:55:49 am
 :D and  :(
Title: Re: Feeling like a bit of a lemon
Post by: Lesley Silvester on July 25, 2012, 05:56:31 pm
mab I know it's not funny when it happens to you but it didn't happen to me so  ;D ;D ;D .
 
Hope you get the oil off everywhere and keep smiling.