TRACTOR PARTS Allis Chalmers Case & David Brown Farmall & International Ferguson Ford & New Holland John Deere Massey Ferguson Massey Harris Minneapolis Moline Oliver & Cockshutt Kubota / Yanmar

TRACTOR MANUALS

Allis Chalmers	Case	Farmall IH	Ford 8N,9N,2N	Ford
Ferguson	John Deere	Massey Ferguson	Minn. Moline	Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

siezed engine, break towing in gear?

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register

Author

Donovan

04-08-2007 15:00:26

Report to Moderator

I'm trying to get my fathers old Ford 860 running and found out the engine is siezed. A sparkplug hole was open for many years, so i am assuming a piston is rusted, so i want to spray PB breaker down all the sparkplug holes, and then i wnated to try to tow it while in gear.

My question if i am towing it backwords, can i only use reverse? I heard that using a higher gear like 5th might be eaiser to break it in.

Also should i just tow it while in gear, or push down the clutch, wait for it to start to turn, then let up on it, like compression starting a car.

If there is any other easy ways of breaking an engine please share.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Kelly C

04-09-2007 09:00:24

Report to Moderator

Re: siezed engine, break towing in gear? in reply to Donovan, 04-08-2007 15:00:26

Unfortunatly for me I have only done one stuck engine. I tried every thing I could think of but nothing worked. Finnaly had to tear it down and beat the piston out with a hammer. She runs now with a new set of pistons and sleeves.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

oldcraneguy

04-09-2007 07:31:38

Report to Moderator

Re: siezed engine, break towing in gear? in reply to Donovan, 04-08-2007 15:00:26

Blaster, Liquid wrench are both good but I like to top em off with ATF and give em a week or more if possible. And I wouldnt pull it at all. Stick it in the highest gear and rock it, if that doesnt budge it I pull the starter and get out the prybars or if you can get at the front of the crank with a big breaker bar that might do it. Also you can take an old sperk plug break out the insolator and weld/braze a grease fitting in it and put tons of pressure on the piston with out straining the rods/crank/flywheel, etc....Biggest thing is the longer you soak it the better, not just for getting it freed up but for having some rings left afterward...

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

billyar

04-09-2007 04:02:37

Report to Moderator

Re: siezed engine, break towing in gear? in reply to Donovan, 04-08-2007 15:00:26

We used air to move a stuck 330 ih it had set for 4 years. We let soak pb wd diesel for a mouth would not budge. We removed rocker arms made fittings out of old sparkplugs to hook air lines to 125# on 1 and 4 cyl rocked in high gear came loose. Moved air to 2 & 3 for acomplete rev" then the starter would turn it. Runs fine now wish I had thought of that years ago.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

hay

04-09-2007 03:38:33

Report to Moderator

Re: siezed engine, break towing in gear? in reply to Donovan, 04-08-2007 15:00:26

try to get some pure undiluted antifreeze into the rusted area and let it soak. it would help to remove the head like the others said because of rust on the valves.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Paul from MI

04-08-2007 19:17:04

Report to Moderator

Re: siezed engine, break towing in gear? in reply to Donovan, 04-08-2007 15:00:26

Rule #1-GO SLOW!!! You can cause a lot of damage with too much uncontrolled force on an engine. I"ve had the best results just taking the head off first. Lots of times the valves are stuck too and you"ll just bend pushrods or worse. Soaking with various mixtures may do it if it"s not too bad. When I took my stuck JD D apart there was 1" of rust and crud in the bottom of the cylinders. There"s no way it could have been turned over without breaking something. By taking it apart and loosening everything one piece at a time I was able to avoid any more damage. Just my $.02
Paul

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Jim Johnson

04-08-2007 18:00:39

Report to Moderator

Re: siezed engine, break towing in gear? in reply to Donovan, 04-08-2007 15:00:26

My best luck has been with a 50/50 blend of ATF and brake fluid but whatever you use it will probably take longer than a couple days. And if it has been sitting that long with a hole open it's a pretty good bet it'll have to be torn down.

I hope you get lucky though, keep us informed, we like those kind of adventures.

Jim

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Jim Johnson

04-08-2007 18:07:05

Report to Moderator

Re: siezed engine, break towing in gear? in reply to Jim Johnson, 04-08-2007 18:00:39

Also a good way to break it loose without pulling it is just put it in high gear and rock it back and forth. You are more apt to break it loose that way than pulling it, might need another person on the other wheel but it works.

Jim

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Jiles

04-08-2007 19:35:00

Report to Moderator

Re: siezed engine, break towing in gear? in reply to Jim Johnson, 04-08-2007 18:07:05

Jim--I agree 100% I might add that with several engines in this condition, I have used "liquid-wrench or Marvel mystery oil in the cylinders. Many times when a piston is seized close to top dead center, there is not enough leverage of the crank journal to carry the piston up, but enough to bring it down, hence the rocking you described. The only problem is that when the engines does free up you don't know how much rust is in the cylinder and cranking could do more damage. Much easier to tear down with the engine free.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Mike in Ind

04-08-2007 16:59:57

Report to Moderator

Re: siezed engine, break towing in gear? in reply to Donovan, 04-08-2007 15:00:26

I too use pb blaster and it's good stuff, but if and when you go to pull it make sure you pull it over dirt or gravel. Otherwise you run the risk of bending a rod or worse. Let it soak for a week before trying and good luck. Mike

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

JK-NY

04-08-2007 16:43:08

Report to Moderator

Re: siezed engine, break towing in gear? in reply to Donovan, 04-08-2007 15:00:26

You could try PB Blaster or Kroil , never tried ATF personally , but it'll probably work too. I'd let it soak for a while . I would try to turn it by hand with a socket on the crank pulley bolt, or put pto in gear and use a socket and long bar on that. Be patient and try every couple days if needed .Your less likely to break things that way compared to towing.If you get it to move some then you could try the starter trick . In my experience if you cant soak them and then break them free with a little leverage action they are really siezed and need to come apart.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

georgeky

04-08-2007 16:00:53

Report to Moderator

Re: siezed engine, break towing in gear? in reply to Donovan, 04-08-2007 15:00:26

I have never tried the PB blaster, but again I agree with old. DO NOT PULL that tractor it will cause damage to the rods almost immedietly. I have rebuilt engines in several old tractors with broke or bent connecting rods from this very reason. The tranny fluid is a good idea. It has been my experiance with stuck engines they usually need sleeves or rebored. Sometimes you may get by with honing.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

old

04-08-2007 15:26:35

Report to Moderator

Re: siezed engine, break towing in gear? in reply to Donovan, 04-08-2007 15:00:26

Forgot the PB blaster it doesn't work well for that. Instead fill all the cylinders with tranny fluid and let it sit a few days. Don't try to pull it in any gear since if it doesn't pop loose it can brake rods and other parts in the engine. After letting it sit a few days put a 12 volt battery in and then use quick hits on the starter button. If it doesn't pop loose that way you will most likely have to open it up to get if freed up. BTDT and so far out of 10 plus tractor only one hasn't popped free for me doing that and that one the sleeve came out with the piston after I had pulled the head off

Hobby farm

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

kito169

04-08-2007 15:11:14

Report to Moderator

Re: siezed engine, break towing in gear? in reply to Donovan, 04-08-2007 15:00:26

Spray the pb blaster in and let it sit a day or two. remove the starter and use a pry bar to turn the engine backwards. after you get it broken loose then pull it forward in gear to free it up. yes, when you begin to pull it place the transmission in gear with the clutch pedal pushed in then when you are rolling, let off the clutch. it took several tries like this to free mine, but it worked

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

old art

04-08-2007 15:36:25

Report to Moderator

Re: siezed engine, break towing in gear? in reply to kito169, 04-08-2007 15:11:14

when you tow a tractor in gear tofree it up or to start put it inthe highest gear the engine will turn over slower than if you are in alower gear. try it the next time you need to start one. be sure the clutch is not sized so you can stop it when it fires up. old art

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

[Options] [Printer Friendly] [Posting Help] [Return to Forum] [Log in to Reply]

TRACTOR PARTS	TRACTOR MANUALS

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home | Forums

Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy