[Farmall] stuck push rods

[Robert L. Holtzer]

  On 8/13/2010 6:49 PM, William Ransom wrote:
> It turned out it was the cam followers that were stuck. My brother David and
> I got them unstuck today. The rear-most valve was also stuck. I took the oil
> filter off to make it easier to get to the cam followers, and I found some
> water in the oil filter base. Since there was water there, I thought there
> would probably be some in the oil pan. I drained the water out of the oil
> pan and put the plug back in when oil started to come out, but I think the
> oil should probably be changed. I had never even loosened the plug in the
> oil pan since I changed the oil in 2001. I think the water in the oil was
> probably the main problem. Anyway, I have a new problem now -- with the
> starter switch. When I tried to crank the engine with the starter today,
> nothing seemed to happen. I checked with a volt meter and found that the
> battery was still charged and the battery cables conducted electricity from
> the battery. The last time I pushed the button on the starter switch, I saw
> a spark near where the wires are connected to it, so then I disconnected the
> battery.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Robert L. Holtzer"<rholtzer at earthlink.net>
> To: "Farmall/IHC mailing list"<farmall at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 11:50 PM
> Subject: Re: [Farmall] stuck push rods
>
>
>>    On 8/12/2010 3:03 PM, William Ransom wrote:
>>> Just before I started asking about how to install the generator belt, I
> bought a starter and put it on the Farmall M. The starter cranks the engine
> all right, but I noticed that cranking the engine didn't seem to blow any
> air out the smokestack, and also closing the choke didn't affect the sound
> any. (I would expect that with the choke closed, the air going through the
> narrow openings in the carburetor would make a noticeable sound. I know it
> did when I closed the choke while coast-starting the tractor in 2004-2006.)
> Also, when I went to time the magneto after filing the points, I couldn't
> feel any air coming out the spark plug hole, so I couldn't tell whether it
> was on the compression or exhaust stroke. Because of all this, I thought
> there was likely some kind of problem with the valves, so I took the valve
> cover off. When I took the valve cover off, I found that all but one of the
> push rods seem to be stuck up, holding the valves open. Only one valve
> opened and closed as!
>>    I!
>>>     turned the fan. Do you have any suggestions for how to get them
> unstuck?
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>>>
>> Push rods, valve lifters and/or rocker arms stuck?  It is easy enough to
>> pull the rocker arm shaft to check.  May just need a good cleaning.  As
>> I recall there is considerable room around push rods and head/block so
>> it would take a lot of gunk to get them stuck.  At any rate, if the
>> rocker arms are not the problem, I'd pour an ounce or so of Rislone down
>> each push rod and let it soak for a day or so.  I've found that Rislone
>> can loosen stuck rings.  It also is compatible with engine oil.
>>
>> Bob Holtzer
>>
>>
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>
I replaced the starter switch with a solenoid.  Won't pass the correct 
police but it substantially improves starting.  Also did this on my MD.  
Use heaviest cables you can also.

Nine years between oil changes does seem a bit much!  Glad you got 
things unstuck.

Bob Holtzer