Hello, i have a ring that is stuck, i tried heating the engine while adding oil to it but it did not work, should i put it in the crock pot with anti- freeze overnight, thanks for any info....[sm=72_72.gif]

Stuck in the cylinder or stuck in the ring land on the piston?

Bill

Sorry about that, its stuck in the piston not the cylinder, Thanks...

Crockpot? Maybe. -But would it be that difficult to pull the sleave and ring and clean it up proper? If you are sure it's stuck that is.

A guy posted here about an engine that the piston was siezed in the cylinder on and he recommended antifreeze over night or (if you can avoid the fumes) heated. I've never tried it. I would probably apply a moderate amount of propane torch heat to it. If it's stuck from baked on castor oil some guys will advise you to soak it in fuel overnight. Personally, I would soak it in lacquer thinner overnight and resort to a propane torch as a last resort.
What ever you do don't pry on the ring because you might break the it or gouge the ring groove (ring land) in the piston. If you are going to replace the ring a broken ring makes a good cleaning tool for cleaning out the ring groove. Careful here. If you are going to use the ring as a cleaning tool be sure to file the end of the ring smooth and slightly radius the inside corners of the ring that rests in the ring groove toward the piston so that you don't gouge the piston groove. Does that make sense?[sm=confused.gif]

Good luck.

Bill

I bought a used engine that was rusted tight. I don't think anitfreeze would have done the trick. But, I didn't try that.

Bill

Bill, thanks for the info, i hate to take it apart, its like new someone ran it and put it in the basement for a long time, castor and a little rust, bad combo !!! I'm sure its stuck, i have three of these- even a new one- i think i'll put it in the anti-freeze tonight on high, its in the garage it dissolves castor and removes alot of rust !!! If this does not work, its take apart time... Ill let you know what happens.... thanks to all....

If you boil antifreeze it will discolor your engine

I'm headed to the garage - i'll put it on low [X(], i'm glad you said that, tomorrow morning would have been sad with a discolored engine !!!! By the way the puller from harbor freight is awesome, thanks for the info, it was on sale for 29.99, even better

If you have a ball bearing crank you MUST take it apart. If you suspect that rust is the culprit your bearings are toast. What kind of engine is it?
Try the anti freeze trick though because you won't be able to get it apart if your don't get it freed up. Keep the faith I got a rusted up Enya from Auctioland that was rusted tight. She's fine now. Just be patient and don't force anything and ask questions here. Thease guys know their stuff.

Bill

I use acetone to free up engines that have been gummed up with castor from years of sitting around. I did this yesterday with an old Merco 61 that had just arrived in the mail (would you believe a gift from an extremely generous American?). I pour a teaspoon or so of acetone down the carb to get it to the bearings and conrod then slosh it around before putting some pressure on the prop until there's a tiny bit of movement. Once you get that bit of movement it doesn't take long before it's turning free. But on the off chance it had a stuck ring (or rings in this case ) I pour enough acetone into the cylinder, with the engine inverted of course, to get a hydraulic lock then fairly gently force the piston into the lock so the pressure forces acetone into the ring grooves. By rocking the prop so it goes in and out of the hydraulic lock it'll work the acetone through and dissolve the castor.

I'm working on an engine at the moment that has a stuck piston ring. This is excellent advice, thanks Brian

See that! We're not ALL ugly Americans Mate. Blimey, acetone indeed. I'll remember that bloke! Seriously, I alway have lacquer thinner, acetone and denatured alcohol on hand. I don't get castor gunked engines much and mine don't get that way. Nooooooooo, I get RUSTED engines. I've had good luck with lacquer thinner and when I run out of Jim Beam . . . If I get in a stickey wicket I'll try acetone. Thanks mate. Actually, I've made E-mail friends with one of your countrymen but I can't tell you his name because his wife is the jealous kind.

Cheers,
Bill

If it is frozen from old castor oil, it is likely that the rings are not stuck, and that there is no rust. The castor protects the engine from rust, and though it may cause the piston to freeze in the sleeve, it will free up as soon as it is warm. So even if you free up the engine so that it will turn over, the congealed castor may cause the rings to stick cold, but they will free up as soon as the engine warms up.