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This is always a topic of much discussion here. I'm like old, I've freed lots of them without teardown and more often than not they start and run without smoking much. Sometimes it is a tractor I parked and left too long and it stuck so I know it is mechanically OK. If you are one of the guys that can't stand having a piece of used equipment, then go ahead and tear it down. You can buy all new parts and have the confidence nothing is wrong. I've been lucky, I've got 14 M's and have not put a set of sleeves in one, rings have always been enough. If it was stored right, and did not get a lot of rain down the exhaust, and wasn't damaged when left to sit (like blew a head gasket and got antifreeze in the cylinders) it may not be stuck very bad. When you pull the spark plugs you will learn a lot. If water runs out and you live in a freezing area there may be significant damage. If the plugs are lightly rusted, especially #2, it may be in pretty good shape. What does the previous owner say? They can be a big help. Although there are some liars around, I have found most previous owners to tell me as much as they know, but they rarely know very much about the tractor. You have to evaluate what they say. If you have a few weeks or months, and want to save money, try to free it up. If money is no object, tear it down. I use Marvel Mystery Oil, probably no better than transmission fluid but I like it. PB Blaster is good, I've never heard of heating it, and squirting it into cold steel, it will cool pretty quickly.
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