AW: SER1 Seized Engine

[prev] [thread] [next] [Date index for 2005/06/03]

Hello Adam,

during my years in Portugal I have discussed exactly this issue with quite
some "old hands" of the trade. The method they have sworn to be the best is
subtle but takes some time:

Unbolt the sump, the crank shaft and lift it off. Turn the engine back to
its normal position and place it close to a wall, the crank axis parallel to
this. Get a large piece of timber, a girder and bolt it horizontally against
the wall. Get four equally large pieces, four short ones that will stand
inside the cylinders (head is off, of course) and four heavy stones (may be
30 to 50kg or 4 to 7 stones for our imperial friends).

Stand the short timbers into the cylinders and place the long ones on top,
wedging them under the horizontal one that has been bolted against the wall.
Hang the stones at the end of each long timber.

You have got now a leaver mechanism that continually exerts pressure on top
of the pistons pushing them down. The longer the timber and the closer the
engine stands against the wall, the better the ratio and the higher the
pressure on the pistons. 

Now pour petroleum, like used in lamps, into the cylinders and let it stand.
Make sure the pistons are always covered with it. Eventually the petroleum
plus the continuous pressure will work and free the piston. As I have been
told this can take some time, meaning up to 4 weeks.

The "old hands" told me this would be a very soft approach and that pistons
often could be used again. 

You have to bear in  mind that the people who told me this lived in a
country where, in the sixties and seventies, spare parts where rare and
great efforts were spent on repairing things. So, from what I personally
have learned and seen there, I believe this could work.

Hope my explanation is understandable.

Cheers, Ulrico


-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: series1-host@xxxxxxxxx.xxx [mailto:series1-host@xxxxxxxxx.xxx] Im
Auftrag von Adam C. Hodge
Gesendet: Freitag, 3. Juni 2005 03:07
An: Series 1 Mailing List
Betreff: SER1 Seized Engine

Hello All,

   I apologise if this topic has come up before (I imagine it will have
considering the age of the vehicles and the number of which are coming back
from poor lives in barns, fields, or otherwise!).

I have a late 2.0L that is stuck solid - much like nearly everything on the
vehicle, but I digress... 
Currently, the engine is sitting on an engine stand, and most of the
ancilleries are removed - cylinder head, water pump, oil pump + sump etc..
are all off. 
The internal bits (camshaft, etc..) and of course crank + rods + pistons are
still attached.  For the past couple of weeks I have been putting
penetrating fluid into the cylinders to soak for a few days, each day
putting a large socket on the crank-pulley (starting dog) and trying to get
it to move, then flipping it over and soacking the 'bottom side' of
everything, and again trying to make it move.  I realise this can often take
a good amount of time, and I'll keep at it a while longer, but I was
wondering what the list guru's feelings are on some of the alternate (more
extreme) approaches I have come across.

A common approach is hammer + timber - either timber onto piston and give it
a smack, or timber on crank and give it a smack.  There are various
approaches on using the flywheel side - which is the side attached to the
engine stand unfortunately - via the flywheel teeth, or bolting something to
it.  Finally, fire...
put some diesel in the cylinders and light it; the heat causing the metal to
expand and break the rust free.  I'm somewhat leary about doing more harm
than good with a hammer though... :)

As it stands I'm just going to keep hoping penetrating fluid and elbow
grease will get it to go - perhaps see if I can remove valves etc.. the less
to push against the better I imagine.  If anyone on the list has good or bad
experiences un-sticking an old engine I would really appreciate the input!

Thanks again in advance! As always any help is greatly appreciated.
-- Adam







__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com 

To change subscription see www.landrover.net/series1/mail



To change subscription see www.landrover.net/series1/mail