Free 186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook:  
Get tool plans

User Tag List

Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: The gentle way to loosen stuck pistons!

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Posts
    1
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post

    The gentle way to loosen stuck pistons!

    Take a spark plug and remove the ceramic part and electrode.
    Solder a grease nipple to the spark plug base.
    Skrew the device into the cylinder head, then use a grease gun to slowly release the piston.
    Take your time and let the grease have time to its job!
    Good luck Mike

    186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook

  2. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to boschmike For This Useful Post:

    Jon (Apr 20, 2017), Paul Jones (May 18, 2017)

  3. #2

    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Posts
    14
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
    i always filled cylinders with kerosene, let set overnight or longer then take a breaker-bar and deep well socket to the crankshaft pulley bolt an d rock it back and forth. i don't force it just apply a little pressure one way then back the other. if it moves any at all i stop and add motoroil to the cylinders , let set overnight again. this may be a slow process as all the cylinders must make a clean pass. i usually turn over by wrench until my shoulders' are about to fall off. just to make sure nothing is broken inside. then with the plugs out i crank the engine over to get most of the kero-oil mix out . replace plugs and fire up.

    2,000+ Tool Plans

  4. #3

    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Posts
    4
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    I have always used a method similar to cuyler1's. The only real difference is that I use Marvel Mystery Oil, pour it in liberally through the spark plug hole, then replace the plug and let it sit for at least 24 hours before trying to turn the crank....gently, at first, using a back-and-forth motion. Once you feel the rings break loose, you should be able to feel whether it's somehow still bound up, but I've never had this stuff fail me completely! Good luck.

  5. #4

    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Posts
    14
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
    if this is an engine or vehicle you plan to keep then plan on a rebuild. 50 years of experience building,racing and hiding from the wife under a car. the "original" man cave dweller here!

  6. #5
    Supporting Member Frank S's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Peacock TX
    Posts
    11,638
    Thanks
    2,189
    Thanked 9,137 Times in 4,367 Posts

    Frank S's Tools
    The a fore mentioned methods are tried and proven by many. However the pistons are not the only components which may cause an engine to be frozen in place.
    the valve camshafts crank shaft bearings and even the lowly distributor or magneto are a few of the others. on small engines that have an alternator built right into the flywheel the magnets can become dislodged. Some small engines have counter rotating balance shafts which can drop a tooth from their gears. On motorcycle engines particularly those with chain driven overhead cams I've seen them drop chunks off of the chain guides which become lodged in the links of the chain and the sprocket on the crankshaft. These are some of the reasons to check everything before deciding on which procedure would best solve the situation.
    Never try to tell me it can't be done
    When I have to paint I use KBS products

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to Frank S For This Useful Post:

    Paul Jones (May 18, 2017)

  8. #6
    Supporting Member tonyfoale's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Spain
    Posts
    1,609
    Thanks
    722
    Thanked 2,706 Times in 726 Posts

    tonyfoale's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by cuyler1 View Post
    if this is an engine or vehicle you plan to keep then plan on a rebuild.
    That would be my approach. If it is stuck then there is likely to be a reason that can't or shouldn't be fixed by external means.
    BTW. where do you guys get all these stuck engines from?

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to tonyfoale For This Useful Post:

    Paul Jones (May 18, 2017)

  10. #7

    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Posts
    3
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
    Definitely an interesting tip/trick. Thanks. Although I have never had a fully seized engine i wanted to rescue, I have been partial to a 50/25/25 mix of acetone, atf and Seafoam (or Marvel's), in attempt to loosen stuck rings and carbon build up. Approx. 1/8 cup each cylinder and 1 to 3 days wait has helped me greatly. i can see how your grease gun approach may benefit, but i also would opt for using a spark-plug hole adapter to pressurize the cylinder after all pistons and rings have soaked.

  11. The Following User Says Thank You to Shalen06 For This Useful Post:

    Paul Jones (May 18, 2017)

  12. #8
    Diode2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Queensland, Australia
    Posts
    11
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts
    Get yourself some Penetrene and remove the spark plug, glow plug or injector. Pour a some Penetrene into the cylinder and let it sit. Penetrene is also extremely good for loosening seized or rusted parts. The grease gun or grease through the spark plug is a very good way to prevent the engine from seizing up if you know it's going to sit idle for a long time. Of course you have to remember you've done it when it comes time to fire the engine up. Cylinders full of grease will behave the same as one full of water and hydraulically lock. This could easily bend conrods.
    Last edited by Diode2; May 21, 2017 at 10:01 PM. Reason: extra info

  13. #9
    Supporting Member Ed ke6bnl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    So. California high desert
    Posts
    78
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 14 Times in 11 Posts

    Ed ke6bnl's Tools
    I was watching a TV commercial for evaporust in cylinder to devolve rust then hit it with kerosene acetone power steering combo
    1950 F1 street rod
    1949 F1 stock V8 flathead
    1948 F6 350 chevy/rest stock, no dump bed
    1953 chevy 3100 AD for 85 S10 frame going for a 4BT cummins motor, NV4500
    1968 Baha Bug with 2.2 ecotec motor, king coil-overs,P/S
    2000 National Sea Breeze 5th wheel trailer
    1998.5 Dodge 2500 4x4 Cummins,

  14. #10
    Supporting Member NortonDommi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    North Island, New Zealand.
    Posts
    990
    Thanks
    1,800
    Thanked 531 Times in 319 Posts

    NortonDommi's Tools
    I've delt to quite a few seized engines. First determine if it is seized from sitting around, mechaniacl damage or mechanical damage then sitting around. Has it got water in the oil ect. ect. Filling it up with straight Diesel will test the crankseals plus displace water which can be dropped from sump or my lazy tube down the dipstick hole,(copper or Bundyworks), if petrol spark plugs out and equal parts mix of Kerosene/ATF/Hydrualic oil. Yes I know ATF & Hydrualic oil are essentially the same but most Hydrualic oils are Hydrophobic & ATF has gum solvents & detergents & the Kero is just a very light Diesel oil with great penertration. Anyway the three work well together & are not overly volitile.
    Squirt some down each plug hole and let soak. Pressurising is good if the valves are seated but you need to be able to turn over to do each cylinder.
    After a good long soak try and bar over. The flywheel ring gear is a good place. Try one way then the other. If no movement soak longer. When you get ANY movement bar it back & forth but not too aggressivley.
    I've taken 2 -3 months to free up a badly seized engine, particulary bad if they have been shut off hot with heat seizure & parked up for a decade or two.
    You might end up having to strip it down but if you can get things moving life will definately be easier for the effort.
    I'm on month 4 of a Bedford 214 engine that has blown crankseals, blown head gasket & I suspect broken rings & at least three cracked pistons. I have a new engine but want to free up this one in the hope something will be salvageable, it has only just started to move and I just hate to be beat.



    2,000+ Tool Plans

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 2 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 2 guests)

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •