Tractor Repair: Ford 800 Tractor Power loss, blown head gasket, fuel starvation

Question
Ford tractor has loss of power when driving around. Backhoe and loader work fine and strong (sherman backhoe) but when driving there is definite power loss. I was told this is probably a bad head gasket. Outside of usual tune-up items how do I tell if head gasket is shot and if so is this an expensive repair. Thanks

Answer
Hello,

  A head gasket usually does not cause noticeable power loss unless it is bad enough to cause the engine to misfire on a couple of cylinders.  Obviously, you would notice if it was misfiring.  Sometimes a blown head gasket will cause it to push coolant out of the top of the radiator.  With the cap removed, the radiator full, and the engine running, you would see constant bubbles coming to the surface in the radiator from engine compression leaking into the cooling system.  A gasket blown between 2 cylinders will cause it to misfire on those cylinders.  How expensive it is to repair depends on where you have it fixed, and if other problems are found, such as if the head or block needs resurfacing or has cracks.  Power loss is usually caused by a fuel starvation problem, needing a tune up, dirty air filter, brakes dragging, governor problem, etc.