Morris Minor Owners Club

Tried to turn over an old 1098 engine yesterday (by hand and with the starter motor - it's out not in a car BTW) to find it was seized. The head's off, and the problem seems to be No. 4 cylinder, rusty stains on the cylinder wall. Just now it's in the shed with penetrating oil in the bores for the night, having had the bore walls scoured with a wire brush and drill. The question - if I clean out the cylinders with a hoover and a large magnet to catch bits of metal. am I going to cause massive damage (if I free it) by simply putting it back together? I'm not desperately interested in longevity, the hope is to run it while I rebuild the 1275 properly, and I'd sooner not rebuild this one too. Any 'seized engine' advice gratefully received... I've only ever freed up an MZ125 before, and there's a few more parts on a Morry engine!

Hello Andrew,

I'm sure you will be able to free the engine OK, and I wouldn't be overly concerned about the debris as it will blow out of the exhaust. Once the bores are rusty, the rings will not seal so well unless they were honed smooth again. As it is a short term engine I would anticipate no problems running it for a while as long as the crank is reasonably sound.

Alec

Great - it was running until 7 or 8 months ago, so fingers crossed... That'll teach me to turn them over while they're out of the car.

bigginger wrote:Tried to turn over an old 1098 engine yesterday (by hand and with the starter motor - it's out not in a car BTW) to find it was seized. The head's off, and the problem seems to be No. 4 cylinder, rusty stains on the cylinder wall. Just now it's in the shed with penetrating oil in the bores for the night, having had the bore walls scoured with a wire brush and drill. The question - if I clean out the cylinders with a hoover and a large magnet to catch bits of metal. am I going to cause massive damage (if I free it) by simply putting it back together? I'm not desperately interested in longevity, the hope is to run it while I rebuild the 1275 properly, and I'd sooner not rebuild this one too. Any 'seized engine' advice gratefully received... I've only ever freed up an MZ125 before, and there's a few more parts on a Morry engine!

See - Kate knows about MZ engines seizing up...

When i last had a siezed engine i poored good old Coka Cola in the bores and a few days later it was nice and shiny and i was able to turn it over.

Other i used on farm stuff was 50/50 diesel and creasote (not sure if it is spelt like that..

thinking about it sure a bit of jennolite on the piston would also remove the rust

Coke eh? Good call - I'll try it if penatrating oil doesn't shift it.

bigginger wrote:Coke eh? Good call - I'll try it if penatrating oil doesn't shift it.

to be honest penetrating oil probably tastes better too.
BARMAN! make mine a rum and holts please...
and a packet of sudan 1 crispies please...

Coke eh? Good call - I'll try it if penatrating oil doesn't shift it

works well on old rusty tools and did wanders on the rear brake caliper on my old golf gti when it siezed up

and a packet of sudan 1 crispies please...

Mmm - those sudan 1 flavoured crisps will grow on you - quite literally!

Well, penetrating oil for 12 hours, a block of wood and a trusty rubber Birmingham Screwdriver did the trick. Cheers for your thoughts.

The rings may be seized on the pistons - I suggest you soak it all in diesel for as long as you can, which seems to be able to free off stuck rings.