Oil Pressure

If I remember right, they are 30 psi gauges.

Here's how I tested out my gauge at 10, 15, 20, and 30 psi.

Well, if it's on the mark before the N when it's warm, that might be around 5 psi. Which still might be OK, but I think she is worn.

Heavier oil, but why?

Got to remember the general rule of thumb for low speed engines is 1 psi, for each 1000RPM...  seen many a b, c, ca run for years at 5psi...

On the WD 45 style engines, if the oil pressure is low usually changing cam bearings will bring it back up.  The oil goes to the cam first and if the bearings are loose, you lose most of your pressure there.  A friend had a similar issue, engine was pretty tight  (very little blow by and made good power), but had very little oil pressure.  We changed the cam bearings and brought the pressure back up.

Be sure the oil filter isn't a fluted paper junk filter. It needs to be filled with cotton fiber. The pressure drop of the filter sets the oil pressure in the bypass filter oil system. A few years ago filter makers changed the filters and destroyed AC engines. Also be sure there is a tube in the center of the filter. There is a pressure regulator valve that bleeds to the filter and its spring can sometimes be adjusted.

Gerald J.

The filter is definitely the cheapest way to start.  Get a Fram C159 filter on it.
Heavier oil is not the answer.  It only puts off the inevitable for a little while.  I know of a dealer that puts it in tractors that they sell.  Someone I know bought a backhoe from there.  The engine seized with the hoe in a hole 11' deep!  The engine couldn't pump the thick oil in cold weather.

Allis Wd45 wrote: I currently have a wix 57011 filter on it.

You're right on the line of being ok or low. Like others said, most likely is your cam bearings are worn. An up to snuff oil system usually has the needle straight up between the R and M at about 15 PSI

The engine will need to come out to get the cam bearing changed, like this.

Edited by Don(MO) - 05 Jan 2019 at 7:36am

Don, is that a special puller or how tricky is it for an amateur to replace? Ive got a 45 and a D14 on the list that both need that job done.

That 5# oil pressure on the little B's can make you money now and again. I was at an auction and bought a restored 1947 B with a Woods belly mower, L59 I think, for $850. All new rubber with the size on the bars yet hardly marked. New paint and decals, ran and drove nice, nice all the way around. It was a consignment sale and it was announced that after the rebuild it still only had 5# so the owner went and bought new. Auctioneer told me he was a city guy with alligator shoes. Next consignment sale I went to I saw a guy looking at mowers. Pitched mine and he watched the junk sell, then stopped over and bought the B for $1750. Good Enough.

Looking at the pressure guage on my tractor I noticed the box that the letters are in is slightly longer than the pictures posted above. Is mine a 30psi guage or is it different since the face is slightly different?