The Ford Barn

Brian · 07-31-2022, 01:41 AM

I am currently working on rebuilding a 1907 Humber engine. This thing is a four cylinder Tee head arrangement [a non removeable head], with each cylinder assembly being individually bolted onto a two piece aluminum crankcase. Pistons [cast iron] are stuck inside three of the [cast iron] cylinders. I've managed to remove the last one. I've been soaking each cylinder assembly in penetrating oil, but have had no success [yet!] in freeing these pistons up. So, with this cylinder arrangement, I am unable to get to the top of the pistons to hit them downwards and out the bottom of the cylinders. And hitting the conrod in order to move the piston upwards to hopefully free it is not working [it did work on the one]. Can any of you guys offer advice as to any other steps I can take to facilitate piston removal? Thanks.

bbrocksr · 07-31-2022, 02:41 AM

If it is a four stroke engine with the valves closed make an adapter to screw in the spark plug hole with a grease fitting in it and hydraulic it out with grease or oil or both.
A lever action grease gun will develop a lot of pressure.
Once you get the pressure on it heating the cylinder will help.
Bill

KiWinUS · 07-31-2022, 02:56 AM

Careful using hydraulics as Bill suggested. A great idea but hydraulic force can destroy almost anything. Brian I would suggest soaking with a mixture of brake fluid and mineral spirits or diesel. Give it a week keep adding above then set it on fire. May need to add some rags. I won’t be hot enough to damage but the different expansion rates hopefully will help you get it apart. Patience my son! May take a couple of tries. Good luck.

Brian · 07-31-2022, 03:43 AM

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Thanks Tony, now you mention fire, I recall a thread on here some time back where a member set fire to a flathead block to aid disassembling it. I certainly get the patience bit. This engine is real primitive, we started with some engine parts, parts out of at least two engines, but not enough to build a complete engine. Progress has been slow, lots of guess work. And then, a coupla weeks ago, the owner of this wonderful machine located another, virtually complete engine! It is in much better condition than what we started with, and I've certainly got more of an idea as to how it should be now....man, I wish he'd had this engine from the start! Never mind, anyway, I have removed the barrels from the crankcase with the pistons rusted into them, hence my original question.
In a coupla weeks I'm gonna hot these things up! Cheers.

07-31-2022, 01:41 AM	#1
Brian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Masterton, New Zealand Posts: 3,834	off topic I am currently working on rebuilding a 1907 Humber engine. This thing is a four cylinder Tee head arrangement [a non removeable head], with each cylinder assembly being individually bolted onto a two piece aluminum crankcase. Pistons [cast iron] are stuck inside three of the [cast iron] cylinders. I've managed to remove the last one. I've been soaking each cylinder assembly in penetrating oil, but have had no success [yet!] in freeing these pistons up. So, with this cylinder arrangement, I am unable to get to the top of the pistons to hit them downwards and out the bottom of the cylinders. And hitting the conrod in order to move the piston upwards to hopefully free it is not working [it did work on the one]. Can any of you guys offer advice as to any other steps I can take to facilitate piston removal? Thanks. __________________ Unfortunately, two half wits don't make a whole wit!

07-31-2022, 02:41 AM	#2
bbrocksr Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Yakima Washington Posts: 913	Re: off topic If it is a four stroke engine with the valves closed make an adapter to screw in the spark plug hole with a grease fitting in it and hydraulic it out with grease or oil or both. A lever action grease gun will develop a lot of pressure. Once you get the pressure on it heating the cylinder will help. Bill

07-31-2022, 02:56 AM	#3
KiWinUS Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Charlotte NC KiWi-L100 available here Posts: 2,960	Re: off topic Careful using hydraulics as Bill suggested. A great idea but hydraulic force can destroy almost anything. Brian I would suggest soaking with a mixture of brake fluid and mineral spirits or diesel. Give it a week keep adding above then set it on fire. May need to add some rags. I won’t be hot enough to damage but the different expansion rates hopefully will help you get it apart. Patience my son! May take a couple of tries. Good luck.

07-31-2022, 03:43 AM	#4
Brian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Masterton, New Zealand Posts: 3,834	Re: off topic Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks Tony, now you mention fire, I recall a thread on here some time back where a member set fire to a flathead block to aid disassembling it. I certainly get the patience bit. This engine is real primitive, we started with some engine parts, parts out of at least two engines, but not enough to build a complete engine. Progress has been slow, lots of guess work. And then, a coupla weeks ago, the owner of this wonderful machine located another, virtually complete engine! It is in much better condition than what we started with, and I've certainly got more of an idea as to how it should be now....man, I wish he'd had this engine from the start! Never mind, anyway, I have removed the barrels from the crankcase with the pistons rusted into them, hence my original question. In a coupla weeks I'm gonna hot these things up! Cheers. __________________ Unfortunately, two half wits don't make a whole wit!