1929 McCormick Deering 10-20 stuck engine

Ct Hay Farmer · Jun 13, 2010

I bought this tractor from a local farmer who had it sittin behind a barn for 15 years completly uncovered and the sprak plugs taken out. The pistons are rusted stuck. If you look through the side holes the bottem half of the engine is all shiney and well lubricated. I tryed filling each cylinder with an acetone and atf mixture and letting it soak for 3 weeks than hitting an oak block on the piston with a 10 lb. sledge...din't move at all. So i repeated this same process but with pb blaster this time and nothing again. I don't know what I can do to break this engine free. What do i do??

Nebraska Kirk · Jun 13, 2010

The problem with trying to drive one piston down when all four are stuck and still attached to the crankshaft is that the crankshaft is transfering the energy to all four pistons, so by pounding down on one, you are trying to move all four.

If I were in your shoes, here is what I would do. (I had to do this with two badly stuck pistons in a Farmall Regular engine) Remove the connecting rod cap and then drive the piston/sleeve assemblies out the top of the block. Put the sleeve/piston in a press and put some pressure on it, you can even heat the outside of the sleeve with a torch a little, the heat will help loosen the rust bond and draw the penetrating oil into the tiny spaces. If you don't have a press, just set the sleeve on a couple blocks of wood and hammer on the piston with your oak block and 10 Lb. hammer. I bet they will come loose without too much trouble. The pistons have to come out the bottom of the sleeves anyway, so just drive them all the way down and out.

Oldiron29 · Jun 14, 2010

CT hay, as kirk said is correct! I used a bottle jack and oak dowel and pushed my pistons and sleeves up and out of the block on a Regular. BUT!!! with the 10-20 and the bath tub frame I don't think this can be done. You may have to remove the motor from the frame. If you tape pistons and can not brake it loose than it will be a bigger job! oldiron29

El Toro · Jun 14, 2010

Do what NE Kirk suggested and see if the sleeve and piston will come out together. You can also pour kerosene on top of a piston and set it on fire. Only do one at a time and stay away from any building or anything flammable. The heat should free them. I drove the pistons out on this Farmall A in 1975, two of the sleeves came out with the pistons and the other 2 pistons
without the sleeves. I used ATF and I pulled the engine since it made it easier to work on. I don't think this tractor was ever shedded. Had to replace the wiring, seat, steering wheel, rims, tires and fenders. With a new sleeve kit it ran like new. Also needed painting. Hal

Anonymous-0 · Jun 14, 2010

If the 10-20 is like the 15-30, the bath tub frame is open in the bottom to allow removal of the oil pan, and isn't a problem.

James Williams · Jun 14, 2010

The 10-20 is probally the easiest motors to unlock.Ive done several of them.Remove your head your clutch,and the oil pan.If the pistons are half way down fill the cylinders with deisel fuel and a little gas and lght them.Let them burn slow,do this several times.There are 2 holes in your fly wheel put 2 peices of pipe in them and use a diging bar to force the motor in either direction.I have also removed the rod caps,cut a 3/4 peice of steel a little smaller than the cylinder,lay it on top of the piston and hit it hard with a very heavy sledge hammer,protect the cylinder walls with a peice of plastic container.The pistons has to be taken out through the bottom becaues the rod ends are larger than the cylinders

1929 McCormick Deering 10-20 stuck engine

Ct Hay Farmer

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Nebraska Kirk

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Oldiron29

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El Toro

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Anonymous-0

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James Williams

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