M stuck engine

[300 dave]

My M engine is stuck, has not been run in a year. I know ATF is na popular choice to set in it. My question is, how much per cylinder? and do we have any concern about oil contamination? thank to all
dave

 

[Ellis Kinney]

It is hard to believe it got stuck sitting for only a year. How much ATF doesn't really matter. Try pulling it to see if it will break free. If you get it free I would change the oil right away. Ellis

 

[used red MN]

You dont really need to worry about ATF contaminating the oil really hurts nothing. Checking the oil for water in the bottom by cracking the plug would be important. Just out of curiosity was the tractor in a shed or outside. Also what part of the country do you live in? If it was outside the thing you have to remember about old Farmalls is a can on the muffler is not a 100 percent guarantee of keeping moisture out of the engine. The threaded connection on the exhaust pipe to the manifold does not always seal water tight.

Edit to add: If there is water in a cylinder it has to come out or your ATF or penetrating oils will never get to the piston. Air hose, rags tied on wire, finish with an air hose at a slow wisp of air blowing for an hour. Automotive vacuum tubing works good for this to direct the air current down in the cylinder against the piston. About about 4 - 6 tablespoons in each. Adding a tablespoon of acetone in each may also help. Your wifes nail polish remover is scented acetone.

This post was edited by used red MN on 10/13/2023 at 07:07 am.

 

[560Dennis]

Take plugs out inspect for water first so you dont hydrolock it .

I start, use two stroke oil mix . Not enough to hydra lock it . Take your time lets soak awhile . Mystery oil if you have it, also .
Take valve cover off ,soak valve with fresh oil and move each one down and release closed several times .

 

[300 dave]

So your saying any ATF is bad in the crankcase -right? So why not drain oil first It is realitivly fresh.

 

[kshansen]

Is there a chance it got water down the stack? Or was it someplace very damp or wet?

Hard to imagine an engine locking up from rust in just a year with out some external source of water getting in.

I would not try too hard to force it to turn before I stated pulling the head, but that's just me.

I could tell a long story about freeing up a Mack diesel that locked up from rust parked outside one winter.

 

[fastfarmall]

Dave, ATF will not hurt if a little gets in the oil pan,I use Misting oil in the fall of the year in the spark plug hole,it turn to a mist lubricates,for any valves that might be off the seat too!

 

[caterpillar guy]

I would not pull it until I had tried most other things first and the ATF should not be a problem unless you put a gallon or so in the engine. The Half cup or so for each cylinder would not be a problem. Like said you have to get the water out if there is any standing in a cylinder first or nothing you put in will make any difference.

 

[Janicholson]

ATF works. I use a trigger pump oil can and pump it 3 times (after making it start to pump oil) in each cylinder.
I would loosen the starter motor to see if it was jammed before all other tasks. Jim

 

[John Deere D]

I have NO experience with a M stuck engine.......
However..
I own a W9 that had not ran for decades...
I removed the Head from a W9 .....
There were NO pistons at BDC.....
Removed OIL drain plug from Engine Oil pan..
De-glassed the cylinder walls to the top of the Piston Crowns...
Vacuumed out cylinders....
Sprayed a abundant amount of KROIL penetrating fluid into each cylinder....
12 hours later, placed a hard wood block in each cylinder.....
With a SLEDGE HAMMER,applied three blows to the top of each Piston....
Inserted Engine Crank..
Placed 36 pipe wrench on Crank handle..
Turned engine over...
Cleaned all block to head matting surfaces...
Installed rebuilt head...
Bob..

 

[rustred]

a little preventative maintenance is to remove the spark plugs and squirt in 5 or 6 shots of oil usually what the engine uses, put plugs back in and turn engine over a couple times. this lubes the cylinders and valve seats to prevent what you have going on when you know the tractor will be parked for long periods. patience is the key now , let it sit and soak for a week. never pull with a truck engine!

 

[the tractor vet]

Ya got a bore scope ???? handy little gadget then ya can see where the problem lies . Everybody has there snake oil product . Myself i use Zep penetrating fluid , does it work the min. ya spray it NO but if anything will get the job done this is what i have found and been usen this stuff now for what 54 years and found nothing to match it . . Now IF no rain water got to it ya might get lucky by just putting in fifth gear and you and a buddy grab hold of the back tires and rock the tractor back and forth Hard . It worked once for my buddy on his M he kept under the picker as it only ran a couple weeks a year picken corn. and sat in the corn crib the rest of the time . I stuck the one year and we Zepped it let it set a day then rocked it a couple times and it broke free stuff the plugs back in added a fresh battery and went picken corn.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Lots of inexpensive bore scopes out there. Worth it to have in your toolbox. Just make sure the camera head is small enough to fit in the spark plug hole because some of the cheapest ones are too big. I think the Harbor Freight one is/was like that.

If you find water in a cylinder you'll have to find a way to suck it out first, or pull the head. Oil floats on water.

Have you tried the simple stuff first? Pull the starter. If you hear a click as you crack it loose from the bell housing, that was your problem. Once the starter is out you can bar the engine over on the ring gear. Just be careful.

 

[rustred]

was the exhaust pipe covered is the big deal, and where was it sitting? outside or under cover is what we need to know here. if it was left outside open to the rain ,that is a guarantee to pull the head. as there is all kinds of speculation here without information.
Untitled URL Link

 

[rustred]

no idea how that LINK got there ?

 

[Charlie M]

Before taking it apart or pouring stuff into the cylinders I would make sure its not locked up against the starter or stuck in 2 gears.

 

[300guy]

Here is a very cheap bore scope and is very good to use.

https://www.beautifuldeer.com/products/usb-endoscope?variant=192036&utm_source=fb&utm_medium=Facebook_Desktop_Feed&utm_campaign=23859282045770580&utm_term=23859491936370580&utm_content=23859491936170580&fbclid=IwAR19NNq4gtfHosv2CYCULTov_3FFYioftVFpZ1eZiQdH_lyPtzopEBmtHtE

 

[redforlife]

You first need to make sure engine is seized. Assuming you know this, remove spark plugs and insure piston tops are dry. If moisture on top of pistons. it needs to come out. You can do this by siphoning or better yet, blow it out with small air hose stuck through spark plug hole.

Then put your ATF on top of cylinders. And let sit. Over time, try to work the engine loose.

Couple of tips. If there is moisture on top of cylinders, try to figure out if it's rain water or coolant. If coolant, it'll be green providing it was an antifreeze mix. And second tip, make sure none of the valves are seized before you go to working the engine free. Pistons might not be the only thing seized up. And the possibility might be there, to have stuck valves. Especially if rain water was the cause.

 

[Fritz Maurer]

Im wondering, if the water cannot get past the piston, why would the ATF go down there.

 

[300 dave]

OK update -tractor lives outdoors, has rain cap on muffler, plastic jug most time. Tranny starter all fine. I generally use hand crank -engine is stuck. Engine is tight-rebuilt in mid '80's at ag school from crank out. Probably not 300 hours since. I will look for a bore scope, should do rifle bores as well. tx all again.