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Rust seized pistons, best mixtures to use to free, and ATF questions

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    Rust seized pistons, best mixtures to use to free, and ATF questions

    I always hear people saying to use a mixture of automatic transmission fluid and penetrating oil, or automatic transmission fluid and acetone, etc to free up rusted piston rings. What is it that is so special about ATF that helps with this? Is a straight mixture of PB Blaster or other penetrating oil just as good? Or is there some miracle cure as far as rust and the ATF?
    '77 GS750 920cc heavily modded
    '97 Kawasaki KDX220R rugged terrain ripper!
    '99 Kawasaki KDX220R​ rebuild in progress
    '79 GS425stock
    PROJECTS:
    '77 Suzuki PE250 woods racer
    '77 GS550 740cc major mods
    '77 GS400 489cc racer build
    '76 Rickman CR1000 GS1000/1100
    '78 GS1000C/1100

    #2
    This 7,000 mile 1st week of production June 1976 GS750B is my last parts bike to break down now. The bike was in pretty bad shape after sitting outside for so long, but I am really wanting to tear down the bottom end in hopes that the transmission, shift forks, and especially the crankshaft may be in usable condition. I don't have too much hope for everything as the cylinder head looked to have had water sitting in it on the exhaust camshaft/valve side (the mo st rusted up camshafts ive ever seen in an engine!!!), and I think the bike may have been crashed into a body of water of some sort, as the handlebars were bent and the ignition cover was broken, and I did 1.5 or 2 cups of water out of the oil pan as well.

    I pulled the head, but I absolutely cannot get the cylinder block to budge. I dumped a fair bit of PB Blaster and engine oil down through the spark plug holes before pulling in the head, and I still could get nothing to move at all. Most recently, I took my oxy acetylene torch and tried to heat up the ring area of the pistons and the sleeves, and I still could not get the block to budge. Usually I can get a seized piston engine to rotate the crankshaft once I break loose the base gasket and can lift the cylinders despite the piston rings all being seized, but the base gasket may also be stuck extremely well here. I filled up the cylinders with PB Blaster again, and will give it another shot with this method. I wasn't sure if I should try mildly heating the base gasket area with my oxy acetylene torch as well, or if that was unheard of.

    The only other really really stuck engine that I have unseized so far seemed to be very very stuck, but I could get the crankshaft to rotate enough after breaking loose the base gasket, to get a ratchet strap under the cylinder block, and I suspended the entire engine underneath my workbench hanging from a ratchet strap suspended from my bench vise, and used a block of wood and a hammer to pound the pistons down through the cylinders. Looking at the cylinders afterwards, I could probably run them and have acceptable compression as they weren't rusted too terribly, just a little pitting at the top of one cylinder...

    This one is far worse...
    I do have a GS1000 engine as well that was sitting for awhile with no head on it in a warehouse, so I can put this method to use once more in the near future...
    Last edited by Chuck78; 06-18-2018, 10:36 PM.
    '77 GS750 920cc heavily modded
    '97 Kawasaki KDX220R rugged terrain ripper!
    '99 Kawasaki KDX220R​ rebuild in progress
    '79 GS425stock
    PROJECTS:
    '77 Suzuki PE250 woods racer
    '77 GS550 740cc major mods
    '77 GS400 489cc racer build
    '76 Rickman CR1000 GS1000/1100
    '78 GS1000C/1100

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by Chuck78 View Post
      I always hear people saying to use a mixture of automatic transmission fluid and penetrating oil, or automatic transmission fluid and acetone, etc to free up rusted piston rings. What is it that is so special about ATF that helps with this? Is a straight mixture of PB Blaster or other penetrating oil just as good? Or is there some miracle cure as far as rust and the ATF?
      I just saw this video recently where a guy tested a bunch of penetrating oils on rusty lug nuts and studs, and the best product in terms of the least torque needed to loosen the nuts was Liquid Wrench, followed by ATF + acetone. Heating the nuts with a torch worked better than both of those. (You can see a chart with his results at 8:35.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUEob2oAKVs

      Granted this was on a different application than frozen piston rings, but rust is rust, right? (grin)

      Comment


        #4
        If you have acetone and ATF on hand and no spray penetrating oil then it makes sense to mix up a batch. I'd just use the spray though if you have some. Heating with a torch should help but you may have to get primal to get the pistons free at this point.
        Ed

        To measure is to know.

        Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

        Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

        Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

        KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by Nessism View Post
          I'd just use the spray if you have some. Heating with a torch should help but you may have to get primal to get the pistons free at this point.
          I think I may really just have to get primal after some substantial soaking with top grade penetrating oils... Kroil was one of the more obscure ones that i have heard some extreme praise of. They sell it at some of my HVAC suppliers. Rusted fan motor shafts are a pretty serious application for serious penetrating oils, when trying to save and reuse fan cages / fan blades...

          A 10lb sledge and some blocks of wood will be in the near future of this early production GS750... I'm really trying to save the bare cases at least for the very low engine production number. The clutch area parts were not so useable, but I'm really hoping to save a little more out of the low miles bottom end.
          I got a good and nearly brand new 1980+ 18-pole stator and matching rotor out if it at least... wild to imagine the original regulator&rectifier and headlight switch stator phase disconnect loop caused total destruction if the original 12-pole stator in less than 7,000 miles!
          '77 GS750 920cc heavily modded
          '97 Kawasaki KDX220R rugged terrain ripper!
          '99 Kawasaki KDX220R​ rebuild in progress
          '79 GS425stock
          PROJECTS:
          '77 Suzuki PE250 woods racer
          '77 GS550 740cc major mods
          '77 GS400 489cc racer build
          '76 Rickman CR1000 GS1000/1100
          '78 GS1000C/1100

          Comment


            #6
            Kroil does work wonders if you can get your hands on some. I had a swing arm pivot bolt on a t500 that wouldn’t budge with any of the other penetrating oils or mixtures you’ve already mentioned - and I was giving it a thorough beating. A few days of kroil and it popped right out. I’ve had lots of success with various other stuck nuts and bolts too. I dunno could have been combination of all of them and the right amount of time, but a lot of people swear by it. It’s not cheap though.
            I have mine in a spray bottle; it always creeps down the sides of the bottle or drips out the nozzle a bit just sitting. Maybe other oils would do that too, I don’t know because I don’t have any others in a spray bottle like that, but the stuff really creeps.
            -1980 GS1100 LT
            -1975 Honda cb750K
            -1972 Honda cl175
            - Currently presiding over a 1970 T500

            Comment


              #7
              I also swear by the ATF and good hardware store grade acetone 50/50 mix, but it sounds like the use of brute force is in order here.

              Sad to see the conditions some of these old bikes sat in, and the stories they’d tell if they could talk!

              Crazy about the stator too but given the sub par electrics, stupid headlight loop and wiring that Suzuki and other late 70’s/early 80’s manufacturers used, its not too surprising.

              I fried the 4500 mile original stator and tiny R/R on my 83 750ES when I upgraded to all LED’s thinking visibility was more important and that less electrical strain would benefit the aging battery, ended up replacing all of it, including my new LED headlight bulbs!

              Good luck with the fight. A BFH and block of wood, your torch and oil concoction of choice and some muscle is likely your best bet. Heat, soak, beat and repeat...
              ----------------------------------------------------------------
              2014 BMW F800GSA | 1981 GS850GX | 1982 GS750T (now the son-in-laws) | 1983 GS750ES | 1983 Honda V45 Magna (needs some love) | 1980 Yamaha GT80 and LB80 "Chappy" | 1973 and 1975 Honda XL250 projects

              Comment


                #8
                With the head off you might have to collapse the pistons to free it up. Drilling holes into the piston tops and chiseling it out enough to free up the rusted rings will save the cylinder and crank also the cases. But I feel the pistons are already gone right now anyway. Keep us informed.
                1980 Suzuki GS550E, 1981 Suzuki GS 1100EX all stock, 1983 Suzuki GS 1100EX modified, 1985 GS1150E, 1998 Honda Valkyrie Tourer, 1971 Kawasaki Mach lll 500 H1, 1973 Kawasaki Mach lV 750 H2.

                Comment


                  #9
                  +1 on atf and acetone. Be careful I had a bad reaction to some on my arm.
                  The GS toys:
                  79 GS1000L 1st bike sold many moons ago...
                  78 GS550
                  81 GS650G The son's
                  82 GS650GL parts bike
                  85 GS700ES in progress
                  85 gs700E parts bike
                  82 GS1000GL in pieces
                  80 GS1100L in progress

                  Comment


                    #10
                    In the past I've thought of using narrow steel strips to run thru where the head bolt studs are going thru head and ratcheting straps to keep from replacing a base gasket.
                    Maybe with the strips running thru cylinder block ratched to the upper frame with all the engine bolts removed except maybe the bottom rear, gravity and whatever concoction of penatrating oil might free it up with weight of the bottom end constanly pulling down.

                    Or with the steel strips running thru cylinder block pulling up against the upper frame spine, running a 2 by chunk of wood or the like behind cylinders with and adjustable bar clamp on both sides stood off the lower frame rails under constant tension over a few days.

                    Probably won't work, but just a thought.
                    GS\'s since 1982: 55OMZ, 550ES, 750ET, (2) 1100ET\'s, 1100S, 1150ES. Current ride is an 83 Katana. Wifes bike is an 84 GS 1150ES

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Rust takes up a lot of space, expanding to wedge components in place. Aluminum oxide does the same thing, and forms when rust and water touch aluminum. Oil, including penetrating oil, does not get rid of metal oxides. I would not dare use electrolysis given the metal pairing. Nor would I use vinegar, naval gelly or any strong base, again for the sake of aluminum.

                      If I were faced with heavily rust seized pistons I would pour a chelating agent down the bores and let it sit nice and cozy over a hot light bulb. The stuff they sell where I live is Metal Rescue. Surface prep involves degreasing because this is an aqueous solution. Dilution and temperature have to be correct.

                      The big ends, wrist pins, and every bearing in the bottom end are presumably rust seized as well. I am unsure as to the best way of degreasing and derusting a sump. If I had the space and budget I would get a rotating engine stand.

                      Gradual even heating, as opposed to a blowtorch, should be used to expand the block. New penetrating oil may be reapplied. You can shrink pistons down relative to the hot bore by cooling them.

                      Then you get to have some fun with a block of wood and a hammer.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Hard to imagine this thread without the mention of "Marvel Mystery Oil". It seems like forever, anytime the words seized or stuck eng. came out, "Marvel Mystery Oil" was the go to remedy.
                        1983 GS1100E, 1983 CB1100F, 1991 GSX1100G, 1996 Kaw. ZL600 Eliminator, 1999 Bandit 1200S, 2005 Bandit 1200S, 2000 Kaw. ZRX 1100

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by rphillips View Post
                          Hard to imagine this thread without the mention of "Marvel Mystery Oil". It seems like forever, anytime the words seized or stuck eng. came out, "Marvel Mystery Oil" was the go to remedy.
                          Same for Coca Cola, the old timers didn't need $15 a can chemicals to do what they had on hand did just as well.
                          1980 Yamaha XS1100G (Current bike)
                          1982 GS450txz (former bike)
                          LONG list of previous bikes not listed here.

                          These aren't my words, I just arrange them

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Hard to imagine that he is still looking for a solution, since the thread was started in June!
                            Ron
                            When I die, just cremate me and put me in my GS tank. That way I can go through these carbs, one more time!
                            1978 GS750E - November 2017 BOTM
                            1978 GS1000C - May 2021 BOTM
                            1982 GS1100E
                            1999 Honda GL1500SE

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