Originally Posted by
flybyjohn
This is my opinion and only an opinion, I always take an unknown engine completely apart and clean it 100% before just loosening it up and starting it. And to do this, most of the time it is the easiest and sometimes required to pull the back plate and dunk the whole thing in the crock pot with antifreeze. I have had liners that wouldn't budge until a few hours in the crock pot, then they just pulled right out.
Ok now for the reasons to pull it all apart and put it back together cleaned.
1. If it is a ringed engine, the ring might be seized tight to the piston
2. Caster chunks in the carb could get stuck in the needle valve and cause all kinds of headaches.
3. You might find a lot more than just dried caster in the engine, I have had what looked like rusty gravel come drizzling out of some engines.
4. You can throw in a set of bearings if it takes them for a few bucks while it is apart and know for sure there wont be a problem with them.
5. You will have a nice brand new looking engine to start up when you get it back together.
6. If the engine was in good shape to begin with, it will run good because there won't be any caster chunks slowing down the bearings or being tossed around inside.
7. You will have peace of mind that there was nothing foreign in the engine and what kind of shape it is in before lighting it up.
8. It gives you something else to add to your list of things to do.
And that's about all I have that I can think of right now.
I am with you 100% everything that you said is a true fact.
I have tried different methods to clean and free up an old engine, but I always come back to the crock pot and antifreeze, So far it has worked the best for me ,others may have had different experience's. Also the way I look at things if the engine is froze chances are the bearings are toast and like you said as cheap as they are I always plan on sticking in a new set just for good measure, also if it is ringed engine I may decide to add a bowman ring too. Just my humble opinion.