In addition to my yblocks, I have a 54 Ford Naa Golden Jubilee tractor. I doubt the head has ever been off, I am the second owner and have had it about 10 years. No 1 cylinder stopped firing. Compression is fine. The push rod came off the rocker arm on the intake valve. I first thought I stuck a valve - not so. I checked the push rod, it isn't bent. Put it back and adjusted the tappet clearance. To get it to 00015 requires all the adjustment screw and leaves no room for the lock nut. Not good. Just for the heck of it, I started it. The motor runs fine (oil gets to all the rockers too) but the push rod rotates at about half the speed of the other push rods. Maybe the lifter has cratered. Anybody got an explanation for this behavior?

lifter or cam lobe wear?

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

I agree that the cam has worn or the lifter has worn. If the lift to the rocker is still good look at replacing the lifter and you might save the cam. I've seen a couple lifters and cams go bad in the Red Tiger engines. Might run a long while that way but if you actually work the tractor I would look for parts. Parts are more readily available for that engine than for our Y blocks I believe.

BTW, if it is a 54 model you have an NAA, not a Jubilee. Same tractor in appearance and mechanically. Only difference is the front emblem. The Golden Jubilee was Ford's 50th anniversary model for 1953, a one year only tractor in name. The '53 is also a model NAA.

ray

The Model NAA, Jubilee, and 600 use the same lifters as 239/312 engines, FYI.  If replacing lifters I would send a set of used units to Oregon Cam for regrind, costs around $2.00 ea.  If the cam isnt too bad it can go there too. 

I discovered the rubber oring that fits around the long tube feeding the rocker shaft.  When servicing the head the oring came out in brittle pieces.  It has to seal to get oil up top.  

I have a 1954 Model 600.  It is a ruff looking beast but works well. 

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.