SMTA may be stuck...

Hello.

I have a farmall SMTA, which I have owned for about 7 years. It gets run usually only in the summer, for mowing and light loader work.

The muffler fell off last summer - and I didn't replace the rain cap. I haven't attempted to start it until this week. I now can't it to turn over at all when I go to start it.

Two possibilities come to mind:
1. Weak Starter. I can hear the solenoid go, and the bendix (I think) engages, but doesn't turn it over. I charged the battery, and tried it with jumper cables too- no different.

I pulled the starter out 1/2" or so, and tried to push the rear wheels by hand - I didn't note any movement of the fan.

2. Stuck engine. I never thought that would happen in less than a year (famous last words). I am assuming this is the case, based on the apparent lack of movement of the fan when rocking the tractor. However, the rocking is limited, since I have a 3pt mower and loader attached, both resting on the ground.

Assuming no 2, I sprayed PB blaster in the spark plug holes, and down the exhaust, probably 3/4 of a can. No luck after two days (rocking or key-starting )

Thoughts?

Oh yes, the manual crank (shaft) is on the front of the tractor, but it seems the socket-end is frozen - it doesn't come close to engaging the pulley on the crankshaft. So I haven't tried crank-starting it, either.

Many thanks in advance

Our local rifle club had a "H" and it froze up over one winter. It was left out and the snow would melt on the muffler and run down into the intake. The pipe was broken and and that is all it took.

Automatic transmission fluid is about the best for loosening the engine, if it is the rings stuck to the sleeves. Drain the oil from the pan. Remove the spark plugs and put some in each cyclinder. After about a week check to see if the ATF is in the oil pan. If it is, use a stiff wire as a dipstick and check each cyclinder. If they are drained down then try to roll the engine over either with the starter or by rocking it while the tranny is in high gear. It might take a couple of weeks to free up.
Good Luck
Steve

Well I was going to say somethng here but you beat me to it. LOL Guess you have found out what I have known for years ATF works well and if it doesn't work your in big trouble

If the pistons are stuck there is a good chance the valves are also.I always loosen the rocker arms prior to forcing it turn over. You also could tear the faces off the TA clutches by rocking it. I am writing this from lessons I learned the hard and expensive way.

I wondered about the valves being stuck - wouldn't water run through the exhaust valves when going in the exhaust pipe? Or do I have the wrong picture in my mind?

The tractor sat outside all winter without any cover!?! Yes, it is probably froze up. Not to mention, you could have other problems in addition to rust (ie water freezing in voids in the motor)
ATF works well to loosen up motors. We always pulled the heads and beat the piston with a 2x4 and hammer. This was on low value motors, not something like a SMTA. Diesel fuel is another great alternative to ATF.

I used ATF back in 1975 on a Farmall A that was stuck. You should pull all the sparkplugs to make sure there's no water on top of the pistons then see if you can bump over the engine with the starter. If you can find a borescope light and take a peek in the cylinders you will be able to see how rusty they are. You can always pull the head and set each cylinder on fire using kerosene
or diesel fuel. Don't do this near any building
and remove anything flammable. Hal

Another solution i have found is to remove the plugs loosen the rockers and fill each cyl.with brake fluid.Wait a few days and attempt to turn the engine over by hand somehow.You can exert alot more cranking power by hand.It has always worked for me so good luck.

We should name this procedure "OLD" and then we would not need to type a long reply. That would work it there was a registry for these answers for the new people to look into for the solutions to their problems.

Two cyclinders still stuck on the 400. Almost three weeks and hope is fading fast. It was a parts tractor when I bought and that is what I will probably do to it.
SDE

Shoot pull the head off, pour in about a table spoon os gas and light it up. Let it burn till it goes out then take a 2X4 and set it in the stuck cylinders ad lay into it with a hammer. I'll almost bet if you do that it will free right up

A "new" trick I heard about the other day to free a stuck motor- assuming the tires are up and hold air- after letting it set a few days with your potion of choice in the cylinders, put it on a flatbed trailer, put it in high gear, and DON'T chain it down....then, grab a 12pack of beer(or your beverage of choice) and cruise around your local back roads for a while. The stopping and starting and general wiggling forward and backward of the tractor are 'sposed to do a darn good job of breaking 'em loose.....never tried it myself and naturally your mileage may vary...wouldn't do this in a heavily populated urban-type setting either!

SDE - a lot of the other forums have a look here before wasting our time section...I mean...frequently asked questions.
On your 400 did you try building a "pressure device"? A guy I rand into said good things about putting constant pressure on a frozen cyl. He siad take the head off and then screw two bolts in with a strap across forcing down on a block. Put a few turns on it every day and good things will come. I don't remember where I heard it, but this fellow had success with it.
Not near as fun as starting things on fire.