Seized engine

[MoreWellie]

I recently had a K series that was solid, starter wouldn't turn it, breaker bar on crank wouldn't. I knew there was a head gasket issue so it was coming apart anyway

I stripped the engine and found the coolant and oil had mixed, flowed round the system and then set solid when it cooled

Every bearing was coated in a thin and very sticky brown gunk which cleaned off easily with wd40 but was locking the crank solid

It isn't always pistons!

 

[gt6s]

A pry bar in a tooth of the ring gear levered against a bellhousing bolt can sometimes get them to budge, Archimedes and all that

Bob

But he had to do it in the bath.

 

[RonA]

My colleague did French army training as a mechanic, and reckons they used brake fluid to uncease engines , never heard that one before.

Could work, basically looking for a fluid with very low viscosity, my favourite is still paraffin/deisel mix.
RonA

 

[ronan]

I heard of people using very hot olive oil, get it good and hot in the pot and throw it into the cylinders.

 

[mr haynes]

As been mentioned above, first strip off box, takes 10mins, if not already done so.
Another 5mins and the crank is off.
Will be able to deal with each cylinder individually, much easier

 

[Eric the chicken]

When you get it apart don't forget to give us an update on which method worked.

 

[Olderisbetter]

It has an paraffin and oil mix in the bores for now, a guy at my local garage today said pull push rod covers off and put a hot air gun in there to warm it up, maybe worth a try over the weekend but if the weather is dry i am back to doing the new shed roof.

 

[Olderisbetter]

Well time for an update, after trying all sorts we went for a strip down we took the end caps off 1 and 4 con rods and they pushed out, we had to drop the crank out to get to the lock tabs on pistons 2 and 3 but the crank looks in great shape, number 3 pushed out but 2 was solid after a few good hits it seemed to move but the piston crown came flying out, after we got the rest out you could clearly see it had been fractured for a while but the block looks useable.

 

[Windy Miller]

I'm a bit late for the party, but Citroen LHM is a pretty good penetrating oil for jobs like this. The stuff they put in their hydraulic suspension/braking/steering systems.

It's that lovely bright green colour that @Pete. likes for his milling machine refurb!

 

[stuvy]

I'm a bit late for the party, but Citroen LHM is a pretty good penetrating oil for jobs like this. The stuff they put in their hydraulic suspension/braking/steering systems.

It's that lovely bright green colour that @Pete. likes for his milling machine refurb!

View attachment 327600

Hydraulic fluid is thinner so penetrates better than standard oil

 

[Olderisbetter]

It had ages soaking in acetone and ATF but the LHM plus has been added to my data file

 

[Stueeee]

View attachment 327537

Is that a liner in that bore?

 

[Gd485]

I have a A series1100 10CC engine been sat years, the head is off and i have washed the cylinders out with thinners then left them with plus gas, i have give it a try on the crank nut with a big spanner but it os solid anyone got and secret formulas or tips?
View attachment 317642

The big hammer and a piece of hardwood should work on the two middle cylinders as they look close to 90 degrees on the crank. Get a good sized blow torch to warm up the block. I've not had an A series that wouldn't free up so far with that sort of treatment. I think it will need a rebuild anyway so what have you to lose?

 

[Woody.v8]

Well time for an update, after trying all sorts we went for a strip down we took the end caps off 1 and 4 con rods and they pushed out, we had to drop the crank out to get to the lock tabs on pistons 2 and 3 but the crank looks in great shape, number 3 pushed out but 2 was solid after a few good hits it seemed to move but the piston crown came flying out, after we got the rest out you could clearly see it had been fractured for a while but the block looks useable.
View attachment 327537View attachment 327538View attachment 327539View attachment 327536

That will be one of those 2 piece pistons then!

 

[awemawson]

Bolt a plate & gasket with a grease nipple over the cylinder in question having packed it with grease, pump it with a grease gun to get the piston moving. They can exert a lot of force !

(you can put random items on the piston crown first to reduce the amount of grease used if you like)

 

[Olderisbetter]

Is that a liner in that bore?

Yes it has had liners, it is a gold seal engine so I think they put liners in to go back to standard pistons.