From:Duane Taylor Electronic:duane -A- taylorclassiccycles.com
Subject:RE: frozen piston Date:Mon Nov 9 11:21:40 2009
Response to:13165

FROZEN PISTON:
I'VE HAD GOOD LUCK FINDING GREAT LOOKING ENGINES WITH
THE FROZEN PISTON SYNDROME. NOT INTENTIONAL BUT TRUE.
GOAL IS--SAVE THE CYLINDER, LOWER END AND ROD.

FINESSE METHOD:
HEAD OFF AND IF PISTON IS PART WAY DOWN YOU KNOW THE CRANKPIN IS OFF CENTER SO BEATING ON THE PISTON MAY WORK AFTER SOAKING WITH YOUR FAVORITE SPIRITS. MINE IS WD-40.
IF NO MOVEMENT AFTER REPEATED SOAKING AND BEATING FOR A FEW DAYS YOU KNOW THE RINGS AND PROBABLY THE PISTON ARE FUSED TO THE CYLINDER.
DRY THE TOP OF THE PISTON, MARK A CIRCLE 3/8 IN FROM THE CYLINDER WALL. CENTER PUNCH EVERY 1/2 IN. AROUND THE CIRCLE. DRILL HOLES ALL THE WAY AROUND. USE A SHARP,
3/8 IN WOOD (YES) CHISEL TO BREAK THE WEBS BETWEEN THE HOLES AND REMOVE THE TOP OF THE PISTON. USING A CUTTING TORCH, MELT THE ALUMINUM PISTON PIN BOSSES ENOUGH TO EXPOSE THE PISTON PIN AND CUT IT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROD HEAD. CAREFUL NOT TO RUIN THE ROD!!!!
REMOVE THE CYLINDER TO BENCHTOP AND WITH CARE YOU CAN CHIP AWAY AT THE PISTON REMNANTS. ONCE YOU GET PAST THE RINGS THAT ARE FUSED TO THE CYLINDER, THE REST OF THE PISTON WILL COME OUT EASILY.
I HAVE HAD THE MISFORTUNE TO DO A DOZEN OR SO. TOTAL TIME IS 2-3 HOURS, NOT COUNTING THE PRE-SOAK, PRE BEAT AND TIME OUT SWEARING, SNARLING AND COFFEE.
GOOD LUCK. YOU NEED PATIENCE.
DUANE TAYLOR

----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS -----
This one is driving me nuts. Recently got a hold of a barn find 175 scat. Piston froze in the cylinder of course. not nothing very unusual. can not get it to budge. have soaked it in pb blaster and marvel mystery oil for a week now and it will not move. do not want to put undue stress on the internals from beating the thing to death.. Bore scoped the case and looks really good. Any Idea out there? Gonna do a rebuild on it and split he cases, but it would be nice to get some movement just for giggles sake, before pulling it apart.