A question for the more experienced mechanic

[maginoodle]

Hi, i have a david brown 30c tractor. It was built in 1954.

The last time i used it it was running fine, not using any water or oil.
It then sat for at least 2 years.
I then went back to it to move it from the paddock. The water was low and i then found it was in the sump.
I have found it is getting into number 3 cylinder(pulled the plugs out and 3 was full).
I drained the sump and put some more oil in it. I started it up and it would only go for about 2 mins.
I then pulled out number 3 plug and lead and it ran like a charm until it ran out of petrol.
It didnt loose any water in the half hour it was going for.
My question is----how do i go about finding where or how the water is getting into the cylinder?
I have now left it sitting with number 3 plug out and the radiater full of water, so i will know if it looses water while sitting(there are no visible leaks).
I think back then they used copper for head gaskets, maybe i pull the head off and have a look and use spray copper and put it all back together, but maybe there is anothe way that i cant think of.

Any Help Appreciated.
Cheers Shane

[Rhodsy]

as a apprentice diesel mechanic but not knowing ALOT, on our trucks i have seen this a few times, our problem was being the water jacket cracked and leaking into cylinder so if this helps??

[azkwazere]

Compression test........?

aZk.

[KRUPTD]

Get the enigne to operating temperature.Then turn it off and remove the glow plugs and let it sit overnight and then whined it over the next day and watch for which cylinders have water in them (when whinning over you will either see water coming out of the glow plug wholes.)Either you have a cracked head of a blown or leaking head gasket.

[vt1538]

Copper head gaskets can be annealed so you can reuse them. It is just a matter of heating them up & quenching with water.
As for the leak do as suggested earlier & get the engine to operating temp, remove the plugs with the piston for no 3 at BDC & if you have a radiator tester, pressurise the cooling system.
If coolant comes out of the plugs try again with the piston at tdc. If coolant now goes into the sump & not out the plugs then you have a cylinder wall problem. Still out the plugs & it will be a head or gasket problem.
I have only worked on the diesel tractor so I cant be more specific.

[maginoodle]

Copper head gaskets can be annealed so you can reuse them. It is just a matter of heating them up & quenching with water.
As for the leak do as suggested earlier & get the engine to operating temp, remove the plugs with the piston for no 3 at BDC & if you have a radiator tester, pressurise the cooling system.
If coolant comes out of the plugs try again with the piston at tdc. If coolant now goes into the sump & not out the plugs then you have a cylinder wall problem. Still out the plugs & it will be a head or gasket problem.
I have only worked on the diesel tractor so I cant be more specific.

thanks mate for that, i will try to get one a loan of one of those radiater testers(maybe able to bodge something up) and test it both ways, that way i will know what is going on.
Cheers Shane