Seized engine

[ralph thetford]

I am restoring a 'Square Four' engine which overtime in storage has seized and will no turn over.
I have removed the head and there appears to be only a small amount of rust present in the bores but it will not turn over.
I have tried 'WD40' and 'Diesel' down the bores but it still will not move ---Has anyone got a tried and tested method that would possibly work ?

Ralph

[adrie.degraaff]

Bolt a plate on the barrel and press oil in between plate and piston with an hydrolic pump.

[robin.parker]

CocaCola down the bores is said to work.
Good luck.

[brenton.roy]

Hi Ralph, this series of posts are about the same problem as yours. Hopefully, there is something helpful there.
http://forum.arielownersmcc.com/viewt ... 1148#p1148
By the way, Editor John, do you know how this worked out for the other Ralph's KHA?
Brenton

[john.mitchell]

I have talked to Ralph Hawkins (Is this a sort of particular Ralph problem?). He reminds me that hiis problem was different in that the engine was free but the barrel appeared to be welded to the crankcase. He eventually managed to prise a kitchen knife under the corners of the barrel whilst keeping the jack arrangement in place and it came free. However he also suggested that a grease gun with nipples set into Adrie's bolted plate might be easier than the oil. Another idea might be to put the head back on, tap an old spark plug for a grease nipple and go round the cylinders in turn.
Good luck
John

[brenton.roy]

Thanks John. Glad at least one Ralph got it sorted!

[p tuxworth]

i hate to ask but the timming chains not jambed is it , which year four is it

[ralph thetford]

i hate to ask but the timming chains not jambed is it , which year four is it

No the timing chain and all three sprockets are off ------It is a 1938 Square four.

Regards Ralph

[ralph thetford]

Bolt a plate on the barrel and press oil in between plate and piston with an hydrolic pump.

All pistons are at about mid stroke-- will this still work.

Regards Ralph

[Simon.Gardiner]

I'm no expert on squariels but asuming it's the rust above the rings that's causing the problem I'd be tempted to 'unbolt' he block and lift it off the crankcase/pistons (that way all the pistons only have to travel downwards...and if things are that tight the block will need to come off anyway).