lister D piston stuck

hi all

i was wondering if anyone could help be i'm restoring a 1946 (ish) lister D it has been stuck down a disused railway tunnel in the forest of dean for quite a while (i don't know how long), it had filled with water. i have stripped it down but i can't get the piston out it is stuck half way up the cylinder i have tryed hitting it with a hammer and a block of wood even tryed a sledge hammer hand it didn't move 1mm .

all answers welcome

tim

i assume you have got the head of by sounds of it ...

as its halfway down thats on your side ...

Get a stove like a camping stove simular next to engine and an old saucepan ( largeish ) and fill with oil something like engine oil and stick it on gas mark high ! when the oil starts to bubble but not over do it as will catch fire and if does just put it out by putting a peice of ply or sheet of tin over to cut off oxygen .. Then pour into cylinder and leave it to soak for a couple of days . Wouldnt hurt also to go in from crankcase door and douse everything with paraffin or diesel around big end and underside of piston a good squirt . and leave to soak .

may also be easier if you was to unbolt the crank a ring of bolts behind the flywheel and pull out with flywheel on for now and that should make it easier .

matt

As Matt says take off the flywheel ....it gives more scope for violence if needed.

Matt has suggested boiling oil as a penetrant, any kind of "creeping" fluid...... ie....diesel,paraffin,plus gas etc will help to break the bond. Secret then is patience and time.

billy i have found the hot oil works best ... or hot anything the heat seems to help , but a few times i have set fire to oil and paraffin when heating it  

so its just being careful .

a picture would help too for us too see .

matt

Heat does certainly help.Getting heat behind the piston as well as on the piston and around it at the same time before acts of violence with a log a little smaller than the bore with a fairly heavy hammer (4lb) or so.

Shock and heat combined will move it......I prefer to soak in diesel for a while but have used hammers when all else has failed.

Hi people sorry i can't post an image because i am a brand new member and new menbers can't upload image or links for 7 days for some reason. any way thanks for you help so far i will try your suggestions as some as i can.

tim

You can upload your pictured using a media host likr photobucket and copy and paste picture using a link .

Matt

hi all

here is a long awaited photo.

Hi Tim - I probably speak for a load of us to say we're looking forward to seeing movement! Hot oil is good but be bloody careful - not the kind of project for the kitchen table

Let us know how you go and patience will be your best friend. Letting it soak for a week then doing it all over again is pretty normal!

Best of luck

Hamish

StewartH wrote:Hi Tim - I probably speak for a load of us to say we're looking forward to seeing movement! Hot oil is good but be bloody careful - not the kind of project for the kitchen table

Let us know how you go and patience will be your best friend. Letting it soak for a week then doing it all over again is pretty normal!

Best of luck

Hamish

Yes do it outside but make sure on a trolley so you can move it in the shed after as the weather not too good this time of year is it ...

matt