Replaced sump gasket and crank seal, now it won't start.

[keakar]

Well you called it. Stripped it all down, and sure enough the Woodruff Key was sitting in the bottom of the pan. So the timing gear was just free wheeling and not actuating the valves. I'll read up on setting timing, etc and figuring out meshing these back together with key in. Still have no idea how it came out in the first place.

https://imgur.com/a/To3o8fs

those things can be a genuine PITA, i had one slip out on me about 20 times before i finally got it to cooperate and stay in place

 

[73datsun]

those things can be a genuine PITA, i had one slip out on me about 20 times before i finally got it to cooperate and stay in place

You aren't kidding. Took way too long. Ended up staying up late last night and got it all back together. Spun the crank, with valve covers off, and miraculously, they actually move this time. Now I just need to put it back on the frame, connect everything up, adjust the valves and give it a go. Here's hoping.

Thanks for solving it for me!

 

[73datsun]

Welp. Had a morning free of meetings, so spent it in the garage. Everything bolted back together, set the valves, turned the key and it immediately fired up and idled perfectly. Drove it around with no deck to confirm it was operating fine.

Purchase price: $250
Plugs, gaskets, misc hardware, rust inhibitor, JD paint, couple new idler pulley's, led headlights: $135

Cleaned all surface rust, used rust inhibitor, painted over all areas (tractor and deck), pimped out the headlight buckets and put LEDs in, seems to be a pretty dang good value.

Here's a few pics from the process. Thanks again for cluing me in on the Woodruff Key.

https://imgur.com/a/GpGKi63

 

[Scrubcadet10]

Great Job!! Looks very good.