What the heck happened here ????

Photo below (hopefully if I can post one) of a single piston from a 6-cylinder Buda engine from a Cockshutt 40. My friend was given the engine by someone who had heard it running, it supposedly sounded good or at least "OK" so my friend dropped it into the tractor, did a bit of prep work and fired it up. The engine ran but had a weird noise, nothing too loud and some might have dismissed the noise as just being a bit noisier than expected but after all, it was an old engine. My friend wasn't satisfied though and eventually tore off the cylinder head and looked a bit further. The result is in the photo, piston totally destroyed and actually cleaved in half horizontally just below the lower ring groove. The two parts had been hammering on each other for at least some time after the separation, not sure how long it was run that way.

My friend has an opinion on what happened (some evidence elsewhere in the engine that wasn't mentioned in this post) but I thought I'd send the photo out to readers here to see if they have ever seen something like this (he never has after a lifetime of wrenching). And maybe a suggestion or two what you might think what might have caused the problem.
<image src="http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/mvphoto28143.png"/>

That piston (rings) were stuck & that happens when breaking it loose.

not uncommon seen it several times. sometimes sounds like a wristpin.

Obviously a manufacturing defect he should contact his dealer for warranty replacement part. LOL !!!! At least that's what most all customers I deal with at work would try and pull.

Is that a diesel? Friend has a Cockshutt %60 I think that after he used either to try to start it did that. And in several years he has not yet been able to find a piston and sleeve for it. The either blew it up.

Old age and fatigue. My S-88 broke the tops off five of the six pistons over the last few years I ran it before it finally gave up the ghost from just flat out being worn out. Was flat broke at the time and just kept cobbing it together until the poor thing couldn't go any longer. One of my sons has it now and intends to rebuild it.

Try Howard Enterprises for cylinder kits. I got a set for my 230 gas. Don't know if they have diesel.

No, gas engine in this one. Yes, pistons for the Oliver and Cockshutt 60's are very difficult to find, I see one person replied about a possible source. I know a guy who has worked on the 60's (both makes were the same tractor really) and he might have an idea where to look, I will ask him.

that is one small piston !!!!!

16 hp Kohlers do that sometimes, too.