Farmall M --stuck

[Dusti Snider]

I bought mine from yesterdays tractors.com It was a Tisco kit and had everything I needed. Price and shipping were great...

[artc]

I plan on pulling the the head after everything is freed up. Hopefully I can get away with a little honing to clean up the cylinders and replace the rings. I will also look at the bearings and valves as well.

if you are going to pull the head anyway, do it now so you can drive the pistons down as well as up, keeping in mind the position of the crank journals, of course.

[BucketHead]

if you are going to pull the head anyway, do it now so you can drive the pistons down as well as up, keeping in mind the position of the crank journals, of course.

The only reason I haven't done that yet is I don't have a place to pull the head at the moment. The tractor is sitting in my yard where we have been "tinkering." My neighbor has offered space in his garage..as soon as he gets his drag car out of the bay. So, I am trying to do whatever we can until the garage space opens up.

[artc]

when you gwet it tore down and need to remove the sleeves, i have a puller with the correct size puck.
i'm only probably only an hour away. bring the block - i'll get them out

[Matt Kirsch]

This one's a little hairy...

Once you get the head off, fill the stuck cylinder with diesel fuel, roll the tractor outside, and LIGHT IT.

Your little bonfire in the cylinder will often loosen up the piston enough for it to start moving again.

[Mr Joshua]

This one's a little hairy...

Once you get the head off, fill the stuck cylinder with diesel fuel, roll the tractor outside, and LIGHT IT.

Your little bonfire in the cylinder will often loosen up the piston enough for it to start moving again.

that's what i'm talking about!! Piro!!

[Jason (IL)]

I have a buddy who soaks em for a month and if they don't free up he made a fitting for the end of a Port Power or Ram Jet. He pumps it full and the pistons usually pop right out. Make sure you disconnect the rods first though. I have seen him do it and it works really quick. I have also seen him apply a light amount of heat to the sleeves.

Good luck, let us know how it turns out.

[BucketHead]

Thanks for the additional input guys.

I have to admit that this isn't the first time I've heard the "light it on fire" method and know some guys that swear by it.

Art, thanks for the offer of pulling the sleeves...I believe that you will be hearing from me.

My father has suggested the spark plug adapter with a zerk fitting and using a grease gun to provide the pressure to unstick the piston...I like the port-a-power idea too.

[BucketHead]

Yesterday we removed the head from the the M and confirmed that #2 is the only stuck piston. It appears that there was a slight weep at the head gasket that allowed coolant to drip into the cylinder and cause the problem. At this point I am really tempted to just pull the motor and do a rebuild...it has been sitting for a long time and I bet the front and rear main seals are like rock. I would also like to see all of the sludge cleaned out of the engine. I'd do new sleeves, rings, bearings, and seals. Then maybe valves depending how they looked.

Anybody want to talk me out of this??

[artc]

Anybody want to talk me out of this??

nope. you will know what you have when you are done. oh, on the valves, they need to be done, no question.

i have a sleeve puller that fits those sleeves, if you need it.

[BucketHead]

Anybody want to talk me out of this??

nope. you will know what you have when you are done. oh, on the valves, they need to be done, no question.

i have a sleeve puller that fits those sleeves, if you need it.

Well...it's settled. I will drop the head off tomorrow and then start cribbing under the transmission. Also, you are certainly on my list when it comes time to pull the sleeves. Wow, that was easy!

[Ida Red]

Use a 'black smith' anvil and some juice.

[artc]

any progress?

[Ida Red]

Hey BucketHead did you ever get that old M freed up. If you haven't let me know. I have an idea that may work.

[Ida Red]

You don't seem to communicate very well ...or you have solved the problem.