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How to unlock a locked up motor? FLATHEAD

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by falconwagon62, Sep 16, 2007.

  1. falconwagon62
    Joined: Mar 17, 2006
    Posts: 1,431

    falconwagon62
    Member

    Ok guys, I am going to keep my flathead in my 59 Rambler, Super Station Wagon (maybe) the motor is locked up...prior owner said it used to spin over, now nothing, whats the best way to free it up? I don't want to bust a ring. Tranny Fluid in the Cly's? Blaster, what worked for you??
     
  2. Flatman
    Joined: Dec 20, 2005
    Posts: 1,975

    Flatman
    Member

    Pull the plugs and drizzle in some Marvel Mystery Oil. Walk away and let it soak everything good. After a couple of days, try bumping over the engine with a johnson bar on the crank a little bit at a time. If you get a bit of motion, work it back and fourth as it frees up. Don't force it too much, patience is the key.

    Flatman
     
  3. foolthrottle
    Joined: Oct 14, 2005
    Posts: 1,402

    foolthrottle
    Member

    fill the cylinders with transmission fluid and let set for a day or two, then put a wrench or socket on the front balancer and gently tap back and forth untill its free. It dosen't take much rust to stick an engine. were they still useing a flat head in 59? I would think it was an old 258 inline ohv?
     
  4. Paul Windshield
    Joined: Aug 29, 2002
    Posts: 317

    Paul Windshield
    Member

    If it's a stick after soaking put it in second and rock back and forth.
    Paul
     

  5. falconwagon62
    Joined: Mar 17, 2006
    Posts: 1,431

    falconwagon62
    Member

    Thanks, and YES AMC used a Flatty into the 60's! now we know why they are no longer around Lead the pack or be left behind! or be bought out by MOpar.....Thanks guys.....John
     
  6. Scarebird
    Joined: Sep 26, 2006
    Posts: 958

    Scarebird
    Alliance Vendor
    from ABQ, USA

    Get a can of Kano Labs "AeroKroil". I do not go to the boneyard without a can of this stuff, make 3n1 oil look lame.
     
  7. budd
    Joined: Oct 31, 2006
    Posts: 3,478

    budd
    Member

    i use combustion chamber cleaner.
     
  8. Boynamedsue
    Joined: May 11, 2005
    Posts: 238

    Boynamedsue
    Member

    tranny fluid seems to work the best, it has better detergants in it.
     
  9. falconwagon62
    Joined: Mar 17, 2006
    Posts: 1,431

    falconwagon62
    Member

    just filled it with Tranny fluid! now WAIT....
     
  10. falconwagon62
    Joined: Mar 17, 2006
    Posts: 1,431

    falconwagon62
    Member

    pulled the head tonight, insides NASTY.....still can't flip it over, guess I got to let it sit, DAM I hate to wait!!!!!!!!!!
     
  11. GlenC
    Joined: Mar 21, 2007
    Posts: 757

    GlenC
    Member

    I remember using kerosene to unstick a T truck engine in the 60's. Just kept filling the cylinder heads and letting it run through into the sump for a week, then drained the sump, oiled her up and she fired!

    Cheers, Glen.
     
  12. overkillphil
    Joined: Aug 31, 2007
    Posts: 303

    overkillphil
    Member

    Kroil is the best penetrant on earth! I practically soaked my 'stude flattie in it, and had no problems breaking anything free. Plus, it kinda smells like hopp's nitro solvent!
     
  13. Don Lyon
    Joined: Jan 18, 2007
    Posts: 275

    Don Lyon
    Member

    Ditto to what Scarebird and Overkillphil said. Aerokroil or plain old "Kroil" as it's known in aviation circles is the BEST unfreezing, unlocking,bustin' loose product there is. even use it in all my air tools.
     
  14. 7&7
    Joined: Jan 6, 2006
    Posts: 362

    7&7
    Member
    from Colorado

    I will agree that Kroil is the best. We take apart 100 year old steam lines with the stuff. Yea let it soak too, but for about half the time of others. I love it the next thing you know you are using the stuff on everything. Shit I have a can in the shower.
     
  15. Mockie
    Joined: Jun 13, 2006
    Posts: 173

    Mockie
    Member

    Marvel mystery oil down the plug holes worked fine for me, let her set 3 days before trying and broke loose easily after that. Motor was a 235 that had been sitting for 50 + years.
     
  16. Goztrider
    Joined: Feb 17, 2007
    Posts: 3,066

    Goztrider
    Member
    from Tulsa, OK

    My uncle is a retired diesel and tractor mechanic. Whenever he buys an old tractor to fix that has a locked up motor, he'll load it on his trailer, throw a big safety chain on that he can secure loose enough so the tractor can't roll off the back of the bed, and take off down the back country roads - starting and stopping the whole way with the tractor in gear. After about a good hour or two of this, he'll often be able to get the starter to turn the motor over on its own.
     
  17. ccrain
    Joined: Dec 6, 2010
    Posts: 1

    ccrain
    Member
    from Greer

    Okay i have a 74 pinto and the motors stuck solid i have filled the spark plug holes with transmission oil if i do get the motor un stuck do i have to worry about all the tranny fluid i put in it,if so how do i get it out?Drain the oil
     
  18. Seems like everytime someone has a stuck flathead all the advice assumes the pistons are stuck. Don't overlook the valve train.
     
  19. J'st Wandering
    Joined: Jan 28, 2004
    Posts: 1,772

    J'st Wandering
    Member

    It doesn't matter. You can drain the oil but it will still be a pinto.

    Neal
     
  20. flthd
    Joined: Sep 13, 2010
    Posts: 169

    flthd
    Member

    Anybody messin around with rusty or seized parts should try that kroil oil that stuff works freakin awesome.Ive worked on mechanically f'd up stuff for years.
     
  21. irondoctor
    Joined: Jan 7, 2007
    Posts: 568

    irondoctor
    Member
    from Newton, KS

  22. leaded
    Joined: Nov 17, 2005
    Posts: 326

    leaded
    Member
    from Norway

    fill it with diesel.. it may take some time, but it wont disturb anything, and oils up everything inside!!!
     
  23. espo35
    Joined: Jul 16, 2010
    Posts: 310

    espo35
    BANNED
    from california

    I'm a believer in Marvel Mystery Oil squirted into the spark plug holes. Also, I "fill" the engine with 10+ qts of motor oil to let the crank "bathe" in it for a week. Of course, drain and fill properly before starting it.
     
  24. Straightpipes
    Joined: Jan 25, 2006
    Posts: 1,084

    Straightpipes
    Member

    Why not just tear it down and rebuild it?
     
  25. Ggg6
    Joined: Apr 18, 2010
    Posts: 4

    Ggg6
    Member
    from IL

    How do you get the valve trail loose?
    I have a 46 Willys cj2a, I have removed the head. The pistons move about 1/2", but on #3 cylinder I do not see the valves move at all. I do see some valve movement in the other 3 cyls.
    I have tried tapping on the valve heads with a small hammer which helped one or two of the valves but not the two valves in the #3 cyl.
    Heat them up with a torch a little?
     
  26. wristpin
    Joined: Aug 31, 2009
    Posts: 48

    wristpin
    Member

    Don't forget acetone/atf, 50/50 mix, can't beat that with store bought brands.
     
  27. XxWingNutxX
    Joined: Jan 22, 2011
    Posts: 19

    XxWingNutxX
    Member
    from Greer SC

    I used a pry bar on the flywheel. Not a lot of pressure just tugged a little then once she finally (3months) twitched i put her in third and drug it down the road. just a note if you forget to put the plugs back in you will have marvel mystery or tranny fluid everywhere!!!!
     
  28. Left Turn
    Joined: Nov 13, 2009
    Posts: 634

    Left Turn
    Member Emeritus
    from Omaha, NE

    ATF!... let it soak, and work it over with a pry bar... It's worked for me on all my engines!
     
  29. diesel2007
    Joined: Jun 11, 2012
    Posts: 1

    diesel2007
    Member
    from nebraska

    I agree with the Kroil idea. it is amazing stuff. What i have learned to do is pour kroil down the cylinders, and sometimes even white vineger down the exhaust manifold to eat some rust around valves. But i only had one project that was severe enouph for that. Sometimes pouring kroil down the cylinders works by itself, sometimes you may need to bolt an angle iron or something sturdy and put slight pressure on it with a jack or a come along and leave it set for awhile. the constant pressure may help break it loose. just my two cents
     
  30. 40Standard
    Joined: Jul 30, 2005
    Posts: 5,963

    40Standard
    Member
    from Indy

    how old is this thread. I bet that Rambler is long gone. John?
     

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