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Old 11-29-2021, 09:49 PM   #1
1crosscut
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Default Brought a diamond block home today

A couple of months ago my wife and I were visiting our oldest son about 250 miles to the west of us in a rural part of Nebraska when I spotted a Gleaner combine resting along a gravel road. Today I was able to meet with the rancher and ended up bringing the engine power unit home with me. It had been sitting out in the weather in that spot for the last 60 years or so. Apparently it was running when parked. When I got it home and unloaded I put a crank into it and found it wasn't stuck at all. The date code on the head shows a January 6, 1939 build date.
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File Type: jpg Gleaner11.jpg (46.7 KB, 196 views)
File Type: jpg Gleaner22.jpg (95.9 KB, 204 views)
File Type: jpg Gleaner33.jpg (55.1 KB, 197 views)
File Type: jpg Gleaner44.jpg (45.8 KB, 197 views)
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Old 11-29-2021, 10:23 PM   #2
dennis lumbert
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Default Re: Brought a diamond block home today

Nice find.
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Old 11-29-2021, 11:32 PM   #3
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Default Re: Brought a diamond block home today

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A couple of months ago my wife and I were visiting our oldest son about 250 miles to the west of us in a rural part of Nebraska when I spotted a Gleaner combine resting along a gravel road. Today I was able to meet with the rancher and ended up bringing the engine power unit home with me. It had been sitting out in the weather in that spot for the last 60 years or so. Apparently it was running when parked. When I got it home and unloaded I put a crank into it and found it wasn't stuck at all. The date code on the head shows a January 6, 1939 build date.
Cool, when do you plan to go back and get the rest of the combine?? All you'll need then is a Farmall F-20 to pull it and a grain box on that AA. You'll be singing "Green Acres is the life for me." Actually, I think the Green Acres tractor was John Deere D. Excuse my humor, I've reached the living in the past stage of my life. I think you'll have a lot of fun with that engine.
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Old 11-30-2021, 12:18 AM   #4
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Default Re: Brought a diamond block home today

That setup makes a beautiful test stand.
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Old 11-30-2021, 06:48 AM   #5
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Default Re: Brought a diamond block home today

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Cool, when do you plan to go back and get the rest of the combine?? All you'll need then is a Farmall F-20 to pull it and a grain box on that AA. You'll be singing "Green Acres is the life for me." Actually, I think the Green Acres tractor was John Deere D. Excuse my humor, I've reached the living in the past stage of my life. I think you'll have a lot of fun with that engine.
Well... the rancher said I could have the whole thing but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be married anymore once I brought it home.

I actually do have an F-20 that has been in the family since purchased new.
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Old 11-30-2021, 08:05 AM   #6
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Someone may want that governor for a doodle bug tractor. My Grandad had an F-20 Farmall and the big tractor was a McCormick Deering 22-36. They also had those old Baldwin Gleaner pull behind types but that stuff was traded for an MH model 27 after the war. Grandad and one of my Uncles built their own front end loader for hay on the old F-20 & mounted hydraulics to make it all work. They didn't have Ford trucks though. The used the old International 6-Speed Specials.
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Old 11-30-2021, 09:25 AM   #7
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Well... the rancher said I could have the whole thing but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be married anymore once I brought it home.

I actually do have an F-20 that has been in the family since purchased new.
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Old 11-30-2021, 09:27 AM   #8
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Default Re: Brought a diamond block home today

Nice find Dave! Turns over by hand! Lets us know when you start it up, and more pictures
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Old 11-30-2021, 09:33 AM   #9
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[QUOTE=goodcar;2080783]Well... the rancher said I could have the whole thing but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be married anymore once I brought it home.

Smart, better to leave sleeping dogs lie. I met you and your wife at Mahoney. As I recall, she seemed pretty proud of that AA. If she goes, she might want the AA as part of the settlement.
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Old 11-30-2021, 02:14 PM   #10
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Default Re: Brought a diamond block home today

N'Abend Dave,

please tell me, what is that, what is flanged next to the camshaft gear?
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File Type: jpg Gleaner22.jpg (96.1 KB, 86 views)
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Old 11-30-2021, 02:37 PM   #11
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Default Re: Brought a diamond block home today

Looks like a magneto or Governor.

Mike
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Old 11-30-2021, 03:13 PM   #12
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Default Re: Brought a diamond block home today

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N'Abend Dave,

please tell me, what is that, what is flanged next to the camshaft gear?
That is a governor which maintains a constant engine speed despite varying loads. The combine's moving parts need to run at a continuous pre-determined set RPM but the more grain that goes into the combine, the harder for the engine to hold that RPM. So the engine slows a little and the governor opens the throttle to maintain RPM. When only a little grain is being fed into the combine the governor closes the throttle to avoid overspeed.
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Old 11-30-2021, 11:09 PM   #13
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Default Re: Brought a diamond block home today

Smart, better to leave sleeping dogs lie. I met you and your wife at Mahoney. As I recall, she seemed pretty proud of that AA. If she goes, she might want the AA as part of the settlement.[/QUOTE]

Ken she is pretty attached to it. Hope that your enjoying being in Alexandria. I need to get back up there sometime to do some fishing and see how things have changed since I was last there many decades ago.
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Old 11-30-2021, 11:23 PM   #14
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Default Re: Brought a diamond block home today

I spent a little time working on the engine tonight and was able to take the head off. Needed to heat each nut followed by a quenching the hot nut with spritzes of water. All of them broke loose nicely except one that the stud came out with it.
Mud Dauber wasps found their way in through an open valve and into the #4 cylinder. I wonder how old some of them are.
Cylinder walls look promising and the valves aren't worn thin.
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Old 11-30-2021, 11:26 PM   #15
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Default Re: Brought a diamond block home today

Werner here a few pictures of a governor that I had worked on a few months ago.
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File Type: jpg gov3.1.jpg (50.3 KB, 32 views)
File Type: jpg Governor1.jpg (41.5 KB, 24 views)
File Type: jpg Governor2.jpg (60.5 KB, 24 views)
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Old 12-01-2021, 05:54 AM   #16
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Default Re: Brought a diamond block home today

Dankeschoen, I understand that now.



A centrifugal governor that moves the throttle linkage to the carburetor flap for even speed / load.


What does the name 'Diamond' mean? Is that the company that assembles these devices?
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Old 12-01-2021, 09:28 AM   #17
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Default Re: Brought a diamond block home today

My understanding, limited as it is, is that the diamond engines were assembled by Ford for industrial applications after Model A production ended. My question would be if the engine has a balanced crankshaft and a better cam grind than the Model A engines.

In my opinion the combine has value, especially to the folks that like to exhibit antique tractors. I would advertise it in the antique tractor online and print media. It is a little less valuable now that the engine is removed. But maybe someone will want it for parts. The price is right.
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Old 12-01-2021, 10:55 AM   #18
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Default Re: Brought a diamond block home today

Ford outsourced the casting of engine blocks after full model A production ceased in 1931. It was less expensive for them to do that than to keep casting them at the Rouge for low production numbers needed. These contracted blocks have the little Diamond casting mark just to the rear and above the timing cover. They generally all have a date code cast in as well. Ford assembled Model T and Model A engines up to just before the involvement in WWII. Folks still debate what company may have cast these diamond blocks since there were several foundries that used a diamond in their casting marks back in the day. They are good blocks and are found on old agricultural, generator, water pump, and other industrial applications as well as replacement engines.
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Old 12-01-2021, 11:25 AM   #19
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Default Re: Brought a diamond block home today

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Well... the rancher said I could have the whole thing
Lucky you!!
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