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Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engine?

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Alan R

10-18-2005 05:57:04




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Turns out the 52 8N I purchased from a neighbor had been sitting longer than estimated since the engine won't turn at all. He claims it overheated on him while mowing about 2 years ago and has been sitting ever since. Tried a hand crank, but the slots it engages are stripped, so won't work. Tried shooting a couple of cans of rust penetrant (PB Blaster)in all four cylinders and pulling the tractor with my truck, but I just end up dragging it across the field, without turning the engine. Any other ideas before I go inside the engine, or is a rebuild the only way to go? I don't mind taking some chances, since I'll have to rebuild the engine anyway if I can't get it freed up some other way. Thanks.

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julius

10-18-2005 18:22:04




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to Alan R, 10-18-2005 05:57:04  
alan the very first thing i would do is loosen the starter bolts, like you are removeing it, these starters are known to lock a engine rock hard. hope this works for you



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Alan R

10-20-2005 05:15:33




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to julius, 10-18-2005 18:22:04  
I had the starter off already to replace the solenoid. Starter spun over fine when free of the flywheel.



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RustyFarmall

10-18-2005 17:40:49




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to Alan R, 10-18-2005 05:57:04  
You said the engine overheated and has been sitting ever since. Did the engine get so hot that it siezed up? Or was it still running and allowed to cool down before shutting it off? If the engine seized from overheating there is no amount or brand of penetrating oil or other snake oil that will ever free it up. The pistons probably welded themselves to the cylinder walls, and the connecting rod inserts may have become part of the crankshaft.

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Alan R

10-20-2005 05:13:28




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to RustyFarmall, 10-18-2005 17:40:49  
Supposedly, the engine would turnover after overheating, but the engine would not start. What you describe is very scary. Sure hope that isn't the case here.



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Alan R

10-18-2005 16:07:52




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to Alan R, 10-18-2005 05:57:04  
I'm considering pulling the cylinder head but I have a semi-stupid question: How do I remove the "hood"? I have a shop manual, but it doesn't mention anything about body parts and how to gain access to the engine. A quick look shows 4 bolts at the rear of the hood (around the instrument panel) what else do I need to remove to get at the cylinder head?



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Dell (WA)

10-18-2005 16:25:24




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to Alan R, 10-18-2005 16:07:52  
Alan..... ..yep, 4-bolts on the dashpanel and 2-bolts from yer dog-legs down by yer frontaxle. CAUTION: as you loosen yer front doglegs, yer front grill will come crashing down.

WARNING: yer 10-gal gasoline tank is attached to yer hood. Drain it by unscrewing yer carb elbow.

TIP: have a set of saw-horses to set yer hood down on. Having a helper carry the AWKWARD hood foward is good. My 9yo son helped me..... ...Dell

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Alan R

10-20-2005 05:10:23




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to Dell (WA), 10-18-2005 16:25:24  
Thanks for the tips. I'll give it a try just as soon as I can finish my other (higher priority) projects.



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Rob

10-18-2005 12:03:24




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to Alan R, 10-18-2005 05:57:04  
You free it up right you may not need a rebuild.

You free it up the "easy way" you increase the odds it needs rebuilt way sooner or right away.

Start with the head off and vinegar and easy does it so you don"t shell out bearings, rings, valve guides and score cylinder walls or knock the lobes off the cam.



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Jim.UT

10-18-2005 10:31:45




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to Alan R, 10-18-2005 05:57:04  
The link below is to a post from 5 years ago on the same topic. Maybe it will help, maybe not.



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Loren.c

10-18-2005 09:29:29




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to Alan R, 10-18-2005 05:57:04  
just pull the tin,and the head is just begging to come off,if this tractor was overheated you might have a blown head gasket anyway,cheap fix.while you are in there,can free the pistons with a chunk of wood and my favorite tool a hammer,dont be afraid to hit it,you will not hurt the pistons,use some scotch brite to clean up the cyliders.and plenty of oil for lubrication,contiue to rotate the crank until the pistons wipe clean,check your valves,clean them as well,by rotating the engine till each valve is up.dont be in hurry,I use wire wheels,scrappers pocket knive,whatever you can use.

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Loren.c

10-18-2005 09:29:08




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to Alan R, 10-18-2005 05:57:04  
just pull the tin,and the head is just begging to come off,if this tractor was overheated you might have a blown head gasket anyway,cheap fix.while you are in there,can free the pistons with a chunk of wood and my favorite tool a hammer,dont be afraid to hit it,you will not hurt the pistons,use some scotch brite to clean up the cyliders.and plenty of oil for lubrication,contiue to rotate the crank until the pistons wipe clean,check your valves,clean them as well,by rotating the engine till each valve is up.dont be in hurry,I use wire wheels,scrappers pocket knive,whatever you can use.

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corvette8n

10-18-2005 08:48:10




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to Alan R, 10-18-2005 05:57:04  
I had a Honda single cylinder motorcycle engine that had set in a shed with a hole in the roof I don't know how many years it was there, anyway I soaked it for months using various oils,tranny fluid etc. I finally bought a small chisel and removed piston, it looked like the rings were welded in place. Had it bored 60 over and got new piston/rings/rod. Not what you wanted to hear.



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Dell (WA)

10-18-2005 08:45:23




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to Alan R, 10-18-2005 05:57:04  
Alan..... ...try white vinegar. Pour yer cylinders full and letter set. Everyday come by and rock yer engine in highgear with them BIG reartires as a lever. White vinegar (acetic acid) has a chemical attraction for ferric oxide (rust). Leave yer sparkies out but cover yer engine so stuff don't fall-in..... ..Dell



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old

10-18-2005 07:54:38




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to Alan R, 10-18-2005 05:57:04  
PB is a joke as working on your problem. Fill the cylinders with tranny fluid and leave it a few days. Then set a battery in it and tap on the starter button just give the button a quick hit don't hold it down. If it still hasn't popped free then refill the cylinders with turpentine, not paint thinner but the true turpentine which can be hard to find. Let it sit a few days agian and give it another try. By the way always put the plugs back in the engine after filling the cylinders and always pull the plugs before you try to turn the engine over. I've poped a lot of engine loose that way and so far never found one that didn't come free for me.

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Alan R

10-18-2005 08:45:09




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to old, 10-18-2005 07:54:38  
Thanks for the suggestions. I have been removing and reinserting the plugs as you describe. I know it's not critical for this application, but any recommendation on what type of ATF to use or not use?



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old

10-18-2005 09:41:41




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to Alan R, 10-18-2005 08:45:09  
I always use dextro 3 but thats because I keep it around for the power steering on my truck and for a tranny in my wifes van that she just blew up, guess I don't need it for the van any more lol



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Alan R

10-18-2005 11:00:49




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to old, 10-18-2005 09:41:41  
Sorry to hear about the van, but thanks for the suggestions.



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Alan R

10-18-2005 07:12:32




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to Alan R, 10-18-2005 05:57:04  
Thanks for the help so far. I've already tried the PB method suggested by CWG with no luck. To answer some of the other questions, there is decent looking oil in the pan and I don't think there is any serious damage to the engine other than that caused by the pistons/rings rusting to the cylinder walls. Hard to believe this thing has locked up so tightly. Once I decide which options to try next (and in what order), I'll post an update on progress (or lack thereof). I was hoping to use the tractor for a while without rebuilding the engine right now, but that's life.

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CWG

10-18-2005 06:18:52




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 PB in reply to Alan R, 10-18-2005 05:57:04  
A spray can called Parts Blaster would free the pistons- its worked on motorcycles, pull the plug, empty half a can into each cylinder. Let soak for serveral hours try again.
IF the pistons are locked, it will free those, but if the crank is snapped, rods snapped, engine overheated so bad it warped the cylinder walls...the PB wont work.
But! its way easier than pulling it apart at this point.
post updates

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souNdguy

10-18-2005 06:10:25




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to Alan R, 10-18-2005 05:57:04  
Since you may have throw-away parts anyway.. might try vinegar inthe cyls first.. thent he oil treatment.

Soundguy



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souNdguy

10-18-2005 06:07:15




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to Alan R, 10-18-2005 05:57:04  
As badly stuck as it is.. sounds like it needs some work.

Any oil in the pan? Hopefully.. maybee the crank survived.

I'd head to the jiffy and get a few quarts of cheapy atf, and then mix it with some diesel or mineral spirits.. then pull the plugs, and fill each cyl full. Just thread the old plug in a couple threads to keep junk out of the cyl.

Come back in a few days and pull the plugs and try to get the engine to turn over some way.. but be gentle on it.

Soundguy

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dbwillia

10-18-2005 06:05:41




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 Re: Easiest way to free up frozen (locked up) engi in reply to Alan R, 10-18-2005 05:57:04  
I read that a cup of regular household dish soap put in each cylinder will free frozen pistons. This came from a fellow had tried several methods in a car engine and was advised to use the dish soap. It apparently worked and was fast. Like in a day or two.



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