Stuck pistons on Disston DA211

[Chris J.]

I've done a search here on AS for stuck/seized pistons. I'm curious to know if there are any special precautions or tricks for a twincylinder with 3 rings on each piston. I poured oil in through the sparkplug hole, but that doesn't seem to be doing any good, and the oil isn't seeping through to the parts of the cylinder that I can see. I've also unbolted the cylinders, but they're not budging. Maybe bake the saw in the oven for a while, lol?

 

[Lawn Masters]

I wouldnt go that far, your wife would be REAL mad with ya. maybe try filling the crankcase with oil as well, and let it sit for a few days. thats how I got one of my older machines to move again once. smoked like CRAZY for about an hour of running afterwards though.

 

[Chris J.]

Actually, I'd pay good money to see :Eye: the look on my wife's face . On second thought, maybe not.

 

[eyolf]

Here's a trick my dad used to use on old tractor engines; even easier on a two-stroke with 1 or 2 cylinders and no valves (hope the piston is inthe top 1/2 of the cylinder). Take an old plug and knock the porcelain out, weld on a 1/8" pipe coupling. Thread in a Zerk, and pump the cylinder full of grease to force the piston to move.

I saw a stuck piston removed in an old Elto outboard (iron piston and cylinder) by soaking the inside with a solution of phosphoric acid (milkstone solvent at the farm store). The phosphoric acid will dissolve the rust fairly fast, but eats iron so slowly that there is no problem.

The Elto was bored .010, and it cleaned up! The piston was "plated" with zinc, turned to clean up the ring grooves, and reassembled. Ran pretty good!

 

[scottr]

Siezed Engine Thread

Chris , here's an old thread http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=1417

 

[Timothy]

how about some marvel mystery oil, they say that stuff frees stuck rings

 

[Lawn Masters]

his pistons are stuck, not JUST the rings.

 

[sedanman]

How do you know this? Wouldn't a penetrating oil free up the piston as well as the rings? I have had good luck with "Kroil" tough to find but it is good stuff. http://www.kanolabs.com/

 

[Chris J.]

Thanks to everyone for your input. I'll try Lowes, Home Depot, & Ace Hardware to see what they have available; will order online if need be. I'm in no rush, & I have two NOS cylinders in route, but obviously I'd prefer to save/salvage the original cylinders, pistons, & rings. My hope is they are mildy corroded, not melted.

Aw ra best!

 

[2Coilinveins]

You might try threading the greasegun's output hose directly onto the 1/8" pipe thread, and skip the zerks.

 

[Bill G]

..............I'm in no rush, & I have two NOS cylinders in route, ..................Aw ra best!

Well that is great. I would love to find some.

Bill

 

[Justin Garrison]

I have an old Lancaster saw that was stuck when I got it, corroded stuck, not blown up stuck. My Dad works for a Nissan dealer so he gets brake clean Carb clean and this awesome stuff called Rust penetrant. You spray it on rusted bolts let it soak for a little bit and then try to brake them loose. I just sprayed a bunch of that down the spark plug hole and the put a breaker bar on the clutch and turned it until it was free. It turns over great now, but I have never had it running because it only has 60 lbs of compression. I think the rings are stuck in the piston too, but I just don't feel like messing with it anymore. The rust penetrate is very oily, It is rather annoying to get it on your hands. So I figured it would not hurt the bore. I do not know if there is such a product sold to consumers I would figure so. Check your local parts house and see. If they would have any.

 

[jokers]

PB Blaster and Kroil are both excellent products. They put all others that I have tried to shame.

Another penetrant that I have heard is excellent is plain old ATF, sometimes mixed 1:1 with diesel or kerosene. I`ve also heard of pouring some of the penetrant into the cylinder and then hooking an air hose to a fitting which attaches at the spark plug hole and putting a head of air on it to force the lube in and hopefully push the piston down. Obviously there would be issues with a piston ported engine or a piston at the bottom of it`s stroke. You will also need to oil both cylinders prior to trying to move either one, but you already knew that, just reminding you.

Some of the guys at yesterdaystractors.com are expert at unsticking old engines. It would be a good place to ask around if you don`t find success using any of these suggestions.

Russ

 

[cbfarmall]

Here's a trick my dad used to use on old tractor engines; even easier on a two-stroke with 1 or 2 cylinders and no valves (hope the piston is inthe top 1/2 of the cylinder). Take an old plug and knock the porcelain out, weld on a 1/8" pipe coupling. Thread in a Zerk, and pump the cylinder full of grease to force the piston to move.

Depending on how stuck your piston is, this would a pretty good way to put a hole in the piston. How many PSI does a grease gun put out and what is that piston made of? Adding to this, I've heard of people cracking heads doing this.

One old farmer trick is to pour Coca-cola down the spark plug hole. Never tried this myself.

The best way is ATF or Marvel Mystery and alot of patience. If you get in a hurry you'll start breaking things.

Chris B.

 

[Chris J.]

The LAST thing I want to do is damage the piston or rings, although from what I'm seeing (and hearing here), the rings may be an issue.

Again, thanks to all for a lot of good advice, & I'll try to get a photo of what I can see through the exhaust port. In brief, I can part of the piston & one ring. Yes, a photo would definately help.

Aw ra best!

 

[Chris J.]

I got the cylinders to move, but had no luck freeing the pistons. I tried a rust & corrosion oil (I forget the name) for about 2 1/2 hours yesterday. Will try a different oil this week. I received the cylinders & ignition system this morning; all look good.

 

[Chris J.]

My gallon of Kroil arrived today (thanks to Paul for the info). I'm going to set the saw up level, give each cylinder a few of ounces, and let it sit for a few days (ScottR ).

I have a line on two NOS pistons, but without rings. Does anyone know which Disston models used 3 ring pistons? Aw ra best!

 

[Bill G]

I have a line on two NOS pistons, but without rings. Does anyone know which Disston models used 3 ring pistons? Aw ra best!

Chris,

When you get done I would be interested in your source. I need some 211 parts namely jugs.

Bill

 

[Kleek]

Best stuff I have ever used on stuck tractor engines is good old Coca-cola. Nasty stuff on rust. Works best before you try anything else. Just dump it down the exhaust and in all spark plug holes. Broke loose a lot of big bore 2 cyl John Deeres.

 

[Chris J.]

If the Kroil doesn't work :bang: I'll flush out the jugs, and try the Coke-diet, or Classic ?

Bill, I got very lucky because a shop doing some house cleaning on old parts founds a few parts (it'd sure be nice if they kept right on finding them). The prices are reasonable, but mind you they ain't giving them away. I recall saying something about winding up with the most expensice DA211 ever .........

Aw ra best!