Stuck Engine Tips?

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited October 2012 in HUDSON
A chapter member has a stuck engine in her Super Jet - blown headgasket 4 yrs back and head is off - and its just been sitting. Besides Marvel Mystery Oil into the cylinders and soak time, is there anything else to be done?

Would this thing necessarily require a rebuild without at least trying to crank it up first?

Thanks,
Jon Cronk

Comments

  • MikeWA
    MikeWA Senior Contributor
    I hang out on a tractor board, where stuck engines are more common. Consensus is that the best stuff to break it free (and the best penetrating oil for rusted bolts and nuts, better than Kroil or PB Blaster) is a 50/50 blend of ATF and acetone. The acetone will evaporate pretty quickly unless you seal up the area after putting it in (probably put the head back on).

    As far as a rebuild, get it freed up, then look at the condition of the cylinder bores. If you can hone it up without getting the clearances too far out of spec, and the bearings are turning freely, I'd put it back together and run it for awhile. You can always go for the rebuild later, if EPA gets after you for the smoke!

    Tractors have it a little easier- put the magic juice in, put tractor in high gear, then every time you walk by it, give the rear tires a little push, both ways. One day, it won't spring back, and you've got it broke free.
  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    I have always made up a concoction of Marvel Mystery Oil & WD-40. Let it soak a coupla days.
    I found the best way to get a lot of "meat" on it to turn engine over is to get underneath & use a pry bar on the flywheel.
    Be sure & put whatever mix of "jungle juice" you make down around the valve guides they will probably be stuck & to get it to start you'll need them opening & closing - make sure of this before putting the head back on. Also, once you get it free you can use a battery to turn the engine over faster, easy to check if valves hung up.
    You'll probably have to consider re-reringing it unless lucky as the rings will take a "set" against the cylinder walls.
    LOTTSA LUCK
  • Uncle Josh
    Uncle Josh Senior Contributor
    The rings are probably stuck in the grooves. When the aluminum pistons oxidize it makes aluminum oxide...the stuff grinding wheels are made of. Impossible to dissolve and difficult to remove.

    Take it apart. It'll be easier to unstick one piston at a time. It should have new rings anyway, and in the process, you can check all the other stuff, clean it up (old oil turns to jelly), check the valves, bearings etc, and have virtually a new engine...and a good education.
  • hoggyrubber
    hoggyrubber Expert Adviser
    i got my valves free, but had to pull them anyway to do redo the valves and seats. same with the rings. had to pull the pistons and put in new rings/ clean up the pistons. i even had to replace a couple of pistons. i wasted some time and a head gasket monkeying around with it. you could prob feel if the rings are stuck in the pistons and check the valve surface without pulling it all apart, but i would be pretty leary of putting the head back on without checking it all real good. good luck!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Thanks guys, great suggestions. Todays update - apparently car was at a shop, mechanic got engine unstuck, identified at least one piston to be replaced. Owner is considering complete rather than partial overhaul at this time.
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    A wise decision. Any money spent on labor and parts would be wasted if in fthe end it needs rebuilt.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Well from the mechanics point of view he doesnt want to do a partial repair and be blamed if it doesnt work out well,
    Roger
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