[Farmall] stuck push rods

[William Ransom]

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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