John Deere Type W Stationary

[Martin Reece]

I’ve had my eye on this engine for a long time. I was finally able to purchase it. Been going thru it before I try starting it. Seems like it has a valve problem. I pulled the sheet metal cover off under the radiator and the right hand push rod moves a good half inch.I believe it is the exhaust valve push rod? Doesn’t change as you rotate the engine. All the other push rods have about .020-.025” play. Any ideas what has happened? What is next? Thanks

 

[greenmech]

Valve stuck open? Ron MN

 

[Martin Reece]

Yeah, it is a stuck exhaust valve. Anyone have any luck freeing it up without removing the head? I have the rad and valve cover off. Been soaking it with Thrust and PB Blaster every couple hours. Where can I buy a head gasket? Someone said the John Deere D is the same engine?
Thanks
Martin

 

[matthies]

Have you taken the spark plug out and looked, maybe see it and spray it down or tried a small pair of visegrips on the spring side and rotate it?

 

[Martin Reece]

Soaking it paid off. It is now free. It still is not seated though. Will give it a go again tomorrow

 

[moresmoke]

Yeah, it is a stuck exhaust valve. Anyone have any luck freeing it up without removing the head? I have the rad and valve cover off. Been soaking it with Thrust and PB Blaster every couple hours. Where can I buy a head gasket? Someone said the John Deere D is the same engine?
Thanks
Martin

Yes, many parts interchange with a model D.

I had a W that Dad had restored up until a couple years ago. Had originally powered a sawmill.

 

[Martin Reece]

Thank you for all the help. I finally got the valve unstuck by soaking it everyday. Seats good and i was able to charge the cylinder with compressed air to put the valve spring back on.
I tried starting it tonight but holy moly it has a lot of compression, even with the pet cocks open for decompression. What is a good tip for starting? Bring it right up to the left impulse line and give it a good pull? Any tips please. Thanks

 

[moresmoke]

Thank you for all the help. I finally got the valve unstuck by soaking it everyday. Seats good and i was able to charge the cylinder with compressed air to put the valve spring back on.
I tried starting it tonight but holy moly it has a lot of compression, even with the pet cocks open for decompression. What is a good tip for starting? Bring it right up to the left impulse line and give it a good pull? Any tips please. Thanks

I found the best method was to bring it up on compression slowly till you pass the compression release. At that point, close the choke all the way, and rock the flywheel back and forth 3-4 times. You will hear the air bubbling through the gas in the carb. Open the choke half way and give the flywheel a swing over TDC. If you are lucky it will fire and go.

On one that has been sitting and has unknown internals, I would probably drag out a belt and a tractor. You can do yourself in pretty quick trying to crank that beast.

 

[Mark-Ia]

Any John Deere with a magneto; just open the throttle until the arm on the carb just touches the spring, full choke and turn the flywheel over slowly to allow the impulse on the mag do it's thing. After a couple of turns of the flywheel, take the choke off. It should start.If it has primer cups, fill them a couple of times.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

A whiff of ether if they have been sitting is usually ok as well they have big cylinders it’s a lot to turn over

 

[Mark Poss]

Put some dual exhaust on it. That will make it BARK!

 

[Keith True]

I like using a flat belt to spin something like that after sitting around for a while.Gets the lube flying around,brings the compression up a little, gets the sticky rings a little looser,and you can make sure oil is actually pumping around before it fires off.I caught an A in time by spinning it that way.If there is ice in the sump,and you turn it over,the tang on the oil pump will shear off.If my old boss hadn't warned me about that years before,I would have fired it up and probably broke something.He had learned by spinning the babbit out of the rods on his dads tractor.There is a Model W engine here on FB in N.H. for sale right now,has dual exhaust and has an electric starter added to it.