This site uses cookies to maintain login information on FarmallCub.Com. Click the X in the banner upper right corner to close this notice. For more information on our privacy policy, visit this link:
Privacy Policy

NEW REGISTERED MEMBERS: Be sure to check your SPAM/JUNK folders for the activation email.

seized motor

The Cub Club -- Questions and answers to all of your Cub related issues.
Forum rules
Notice: For sale and wanted posts are not allowed in this forum. Please use our free classifieds or one of our site sponsors for your tractor and parts needs.
FIRSTCUB
Posts: 30
Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2019 8:36 am
Zip Code: 29651

seized motor

Postby FIRSTCUB » Fri Oct 04, 2019 6:21 pm

As you can tell by the user name, this is my first Cub. I have read the procedures on lubing and 3rd gear and have been doing it a few times a day since Tuesday. My main concern is about the piston locations. It seems that all 4 pistons are very close to the same position from the top of the head/spark plug holes. They are all roughly 1 inch from the top of the spark plug holes. That just seems odd to me.

Obliviously I can't spin the motor to see the stroke or how they work. Does this sound correct, or should I go a head and pull the pan and check the mains ? Thanks in advance.

SPONSOR AD

Sponsor



Sponsor
 

Jim Becker
Team Cub
Team Cub
Posts: 17240
Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2003 2:59 pm
Zip Code: 55319
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: MN

Re: seized motor

Postby Jim Becker » Fri Oct 04, 2019 6:56 pm

Pistons 1 and 4 should be in the same position. Pistons 2 and 3 should be in the same (some other) position. 1 and 4 travel the opposite direction of 2 and 3. So the only place they will all be the same is at 1/2 way in their travel. Stroke is 2 3/4 inches. So they will all be in the same place at 1 3/8 from the top.

User avatar
Glen
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 6113
Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2012 7:33 pm
Zip Code: 00000
Tractors Owned: 1956 Farmall Cub with Fast Hitch, F-11 plow, Disc, Cultivator, Cub-22 mower
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: Wa.

Re: seized motor

Postby Glen » Fri Oct 04, 2019 7:00 pm

Hi,
If you are reaching in through the spark plug holes to feel the pistons, with a screwdriver, or something, the pistons are not straight below the spark plug holes. You might be hitting the block, and the valve areas, if you are reaching straight in.
The pistons are to the right side of the engine from the spark plug holes.
Angle the screwdriver to the right and it should go down into the cylinders, if some of the pistons are down.
Below are pics from TM Tractor of the engine block, and head. You can see where things are under where the spark plug holes would be, if the head was on the engine.
There are 3 rows of head bolts, front to rear. The spark plug holes are between the left and center rows of head bolts. :)
Attachments
Cub Block 3.jpg
Cub head .jpg
Last edited by Glen on Fri Oct 04, 2019 7:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

ntrenn
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 804
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:55 pm
Zip Code: 47119
Skype Name: ntrenn
Tractors Owned: 63 Cub 221833 in family since '69
65 Lo-boy 19648 with an un-stuck #4 - it lives!!!
144 Cultivators with disc hillers
193 Plow
42C mower
59L mower mounted on the Fcub
23A Disc - lost possession
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: Indiana

Re: seized motor

Postby ntrenn » Fri Oct 04, 2019 7:07 pm

I have been in the same place that you are in. Pull the pan and unbolt the rods one at a time. In my case I only had one piston stuck in its bore. (Assuming you already have the head off. If not you will surely want to pull it)
Here’s hoping you get as lucky as I did...the rod and main bearings were fine with just one stuck piston.
Something new to me, but probably not unique to Cubs was the ring end gap. My tired old tractor had 0.120 end gap when the spec is in the 0.020 range...(0.012 to 0.017) shows how much wear they had.
Good luck with your journey...many of us have taken a similar path.

FIRSTCUB
Posts: 30
Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2019 8:36 am
Zip Code: 29651

Re: seized motor

Postby FIRSTCUB » Fri Oct 04, 2019 7:25 pm

Thanks for the replies and info guys, I definitely do not feel like I am totally in the dark now. I will jump in with a fresh start/mind in the morning. I will update. Thanks again for the help !

FIRSTCUB
Posts: 30
Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2019 8:36 am
Zip Code: 29651

Re: seized motor

Postby FIRSTCUB » Fri Oct 04, 2019 7:31 pm

Glen, I think you just helped my broken heart ! I now see/feel what you are talking about, and with Jim and the others info....I think I am fine. Cyl 1 and 4 and 2 and 3 are good. I will sleep better !

tst
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 5188
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:08 pm
Zip Code: 12514
Circle of Safety: Y

Re: seized motor

Postby tst » Fri Oct 04, 2019 7:53 pm

make sure that it not just the valves are stuck before tearing in to the engine

inairam
5+ Years
5+ Years
Posts: 2810
Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2015 10:24 am
Zip Code: 19342
Tractors Owned: 1948 6v - Dozer
1949 with kub klipper belly mower. mag 6v - Mom
1950 with plow, 54 blade, mott mag 6v - Roxanne
1953 54 blade, c22, wood 42 6v
1957 6v - barn Queen
1965 lo-boy with c-3 mower 12 v - Loboy
1974 Horse II 12 v c-2
1975 with woods 42-6 12 v - Horse
1979 long strip 12 v stuck engine
130 with international 1000 loader 6 v
1969 140 with bush hog tow behind mower 12 v
Terramite T-6 4WD Backhoe Perkins diesel
Memberships: Rough and Tumble Engineers Historical Association;Chapter 8 IH Collectors; IH Collectors Worldwide
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: Glen Mills PA

Re: seized motor

Postby inairam » Fri Oct 04, 2019 8:25 pm

tst wrote:make sure that it not just the valves are stuck before tearing in to the engine


And check the starter and fan.

I would keep trying the lub too. It took me 4-5 weeks of penetrating oil in the spark plug hole and rocking the rear wheels before I got a block to loosen up

Start with easy before you pull the head and pan.
When you only have 9 horsepower you need to know the names of all of the ponies!

Eugene
Team Cub Mentor
Team Cub Mentor
Posts: 20344
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2004 9:52 pm
Zip Code: 65051
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: Mo. Linn

Re: seized motor

Postby Eugene » Fri Oct 04, 2019 9:17 pm

inairam wrote:
tst wrote:make sure that it not just the valves are stuck before tearing in to the engine
And check the starter and fan. Start with easy before you pull the head and pan.
Before you pull the pan and head, remove the panel under the intake/exhaust manifold.

You should be able to lift any unstuck valves with a screwdriver since it only takes 26 lbs. to compress a Cub valve spring.
I have an excuse. CRS.

FIRSTCUB
Posts: 30
Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2019 8:36 am
Zip Code: 29651

Re: seized motor

Postby FIRSTCUB » Sat Oct 05, 2019 10:12 am

I have already removed the starter (Tuesday when I got it) and the fan is free. I am going to get some more oils and apply more directly to the top of the pistons now that I see the sweet spot. I will give it more time this way before I remove the valve cover.I can see several open valves. Thanks again.

FIRSTCUB
Posts: 30
Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2019 8:36 am
Zip Code: 29651

Re: seized motor

Postby FIRSTCUB » Mon Oct 07, 2019 12:14 pm

20191001_134734.jpg


Here is a pic of my project.

xrcr
Cub Star
Cub Star
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Aug 06, 2019 12:45 pm
Zip Code: 63348
Tractors Owned: 1950 Cub
1957 Farmall 400
1973 Farmall IH544

Re: seized motor

Postby xrcr » Wed Oct 09, 2019 3:16 pm

Going through the same steps on my new to me. Keep us posted. All this information is great

FIRSTCUB
Posts: 30
Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2019 8:36 am
Zip Code: 29651

Re: seized motor

Postby FIRSTCUB » Thu Oct 10, 2019 9:34 am

XRCR, sill no progress. Now that I feel good about piston positions, and just waiting I cleaned the inside of the tank(which was actually not in bad shape) and installed a new settlement bowl asm. I have cleaned the carb (IH) and made sure the float didn't leak and just need to set/adjust it. I also saw how the carb body warps and mine was indeed warped. I have it straightened out. I dropped the starter off yesterday at the local starter/alternator shop to see if it can be fixed at a reasonable cost. I am going to go a head and make a new fuel line as one of the nuts on mine is worn out and almost round.

I am just trying to get it ready for starting if the engine finally breaks loose. I am not going too deep with other stuff until I see where I am with the engine and compression etc. I am not a real patient person so trying to break this engine loose is wearing on me. It was a week this past Tuesday. I will give it some more time and then probably remove the valve cover.

Thankful for this site and the helpful people for sure. There has been nothing so far I haven't been able to search and find answers to. Keep me posted on your journey as well !

User avatar
ddlebail
Posts: 41
Joined: Wed Jul 17, 2019 6:35 am
Zip Code: E1N6B5
Tractors Owned: :
1960 Farmall Cub
1979 Ford 1700 4X4
Location: Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada

Re: seized motor

Postby ddlebail » Fri Oct 11, 2019 10:44 am

Did you check/change the engine oil?
What did the oil look like that was originally in it?
If it was contaminated with water, the bottom end may be corroded and contributing to the lock up.

Eugene
Team Cub Mentor
Team Cub Mentor
Posts: 20344
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2004 9:52 pm
Zip Code: 65051
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: Mo. Linn

Re: seized motor

Postby Eugene » Fri Oct 11, 2019 11:55 am

FIRSTCUB wrote:I am not a real patient person so trying to break this engine loose is wearing on me. It was a week this past Tuesday. I will give it some more time and then probably remove the valve cover.
Patience. Patience. Patience. Give the engine time to break loose.

Spray solvent under the open valves. Try to get the spray on the valve stems. Cub engines have a tendency to stick valves if they set for very long.

Story. My Grandfather's WC Allis Chalmers had a stuck motor. I worked on breaking the pistons loose for 6 months. Never did get the engine free. Bought another WC with free engine. Gave the stuck engine to a family friend who owned a WC. We placed the engine in a 55 gallon drum and the new stuck engine owner filled the drum with waste oil.
I have an excuse. CRS.


Return to “Farmall Cub”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 21 guests