075. What's it worth?

[Graham]

You may already know this, but when you've got it, if it won't turn because it's seized, don't try putting much force on, just take the plug out and stick some diesel in, then leave it a few weeks. If it still won't turn with gentle pressure, take the pot off and check the crankshaft turns (which works so long as you're not stuck at TDC), rotate it so it's as far out as it will go and try gently twisting the pot, rocking both ways. If it still won't go, heat up the pot with a hot air gun, as hot as you can get it, twisting as you go. Once it's as hot as you can get it, give it a bit more force.

 

If it won't go at this point, my next move is to put the pot back in place (spaced slightly on blocks if it's stuck at BDC) and, since these ones have the plug in the top, put in the biggest diameter wooden rod that will fit (shaved down bit of oak usually in my case), rest it on the top of the piston, mark how far in it goes and give it a sharp whack with a wooden mallet. If there's some movement, leave it soaking in diesel again for a bit, if not, I give up! Using hydraulic force via a modified fitting in the plug hole works very well apparently, but I don't have the necessary fitting and to be honest I haven't had a stuck engine yet that didn't yield to some part of the above.

 

Alec

 

Thanks for info. Hopefully it'll free up easily.