Old JD Engine (I think)

[bd354]

Hello everyone I'm new here. A few years ago I reaquired an old homemade tractor that my father built in the early 1960's. I would like to get it running again and need some info on the engine. It's a two cylinder water cooled engine with vertical cylinders and thermosiphon cooling. A friend of mine suggested it was a John Deere.(still has a small amount of green paint) The only numbers I can find are L4234T on the head and 1/ 16 on the block. There's no manuel with it of course but I would buy one if I can find one. I'd like to know the specs as in rpm,hp, ect. If anyone has this info or knows where I can buy a manuel I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks. George.

[GRookus]

pics. would help

[bd354]

These are the only pics I have. It's hard to tell much from them. If needed I can take more tomorrow. Thanks.

[JHFoster]

LU C or S?

[bd354]

Mr. Foster I really don't know what a LU C OR S is. When it comes to this engine I'm pretty much in the dark. Not trying to be a smart a**, it's just the first one of these engines I've ever seen. I'm looking for any info I can find. Heck I'm not even sure it's a L series engine. Thanks.

[JHFoster]

We all had to start somewhere! JD LU's were a series of 2 cyl. engines. LU C's were in combines and LU S's were stationary. The difference was in the arrangement of the power take off section of the engine.

[GADavis]

"L" denotes the engine family. "U" means unit. "C" means combine, most popular was the 12-A pull type combine.
The "S" would mean just a stationary power unit.
Worked for Deeredealership in the days of the 12-A combine. The "L" tractor had a 9 hp engine that was a Hercules in the first few years and then Deere built it. The "LA" used this engine which was approximately 12-14 hp.

[bd354]

It must be a LUC, seems I remember my father saying it came from an old combine. He's been gone 30 yrs. now and I wish I'd listened closer. The engine had a hand crank when he first built the tractor but he added electric start and mounted a hydraulic pump on the front of the crankshaft for a three point hitch. Now if I can find a manuel for a Luc I'll at least be on the right track. Thanks very much for the info.

[bd354]

Mr. Davis, I guess we were posting at the same time. Thanks for the info, that helps me understand the differences in the designations.

[GADavis]

An "LUC" engine would have come with a place to mount a starter cast into the flywheel housing and all he would need would be the flywheel with the ring gear and a starter and he would be set. I see he added a generator of his own discretion.

These were extremely long lived engines. All I ever saw on combines were hand cranked. The toggle type clutch and a reduction gear unit was used on combines.

[bd354]

I found another number today on the flange that's bolted to the flywheel housing. My father cut the flange from the original transmission or reduction gear and welded it on a three speed car transmission so it would mate to the engine. There's a four speed truck transmission behind the three speed. On the flange there's a aluminum tag with the # G-010833 but maybe this number went with the gearbox. Does having the starter hole cast in the flywheel housing make this a LUC or does the other versions have it also?

[bd354]

Would pouring some oil or diesel or trans fluid in the cylinders be a good idea since this engine has not run in 20 years? I haven't tried to turn it yet so I don't know if it's stuck but I thought it might help lubricate things. I'm gonna have to have the starter rebuilt and probably the mag before I try cranking it. ( if it's not stuck).