The Ford Barn

Tom Wesenberg · 10-21-2010, 02:00 PM

This is a tool I just got done making to help with stuck engines and to use for turning the engine during assembly when rebuilding. I used my angle grinder to cut the helix of a broken starter drive about 1/8" beyond the pinion. I then welded the helix and pinion to a piece of 5/8" steel shaft, slipped on a thick washer, greased it and slipped it through a broken end plate I'd saved. I then slipped on a large nut and welded that to the shaft. The end plate just had a little of the alingment ring broken off, but I don't like broken parts on a good rebuilt starter.

By installing this in place of the starter I can use a large wrench to bump the flywheel back and forth on a stuck engine, or it would make turning the engine over during a rebuild a lot easier.

This is not my original idea. I saw it years ago on Jim Mason's website under "HOMEMADE TOOLS".

joe plumber · 10-21-2010, 02:20 PM

Cool tool Tom.

V4F · 10-21-2010, 03:44 PM

very nice tom .................... steve

George, Iowa · 10-21-2010, 04:32 PM

This just goes to show everyone....don't throw anything away. Tom will know how to make a tool out of it. Thanks TOM! Great Idea!

zzlegend · 10-21-2010, 06:44 PM

Perfect Tom.

James Rogers · 10-21-2010, 07:00 PM

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If I need that when I rebuild a motor, I did something wrong, too tight. Still a good tool for engines that have sit for a long time and are stiff or stuck.

Glenn C. · 10-21-2010, 08:04 PM

Great idea Tom ! I will build one up for our shop.

RockHillWill · 10-21-2010, 08:39 PM

Nice work Tom, and just in time. I thought I had every tool .

Russ/40 · 10-22-2010, 12:28 AM

Amazingly simple, and yet very powerful tool. Great idea.

Ray64 · 10-22-2010, 11:17 AM

You DA Man

Rich in Tucson · 10-22-2010, 12:32 PM

I went to look at an engine an acquaintance in DE wanted to sell. He was busy with a similar homemade tool trying to turn the engine over with about a 5 foot bar. A few seconds later, it was unstuck alright, but had a distinct "clunk" with every revolution that diminished in intensity quickly. Stuck rings, he declared.

When the head came off, there sat the top of #3 piston at the top of its bore and cleanly parted from the bottom of the piston and the rod.

Mind the force!

Wuudie · 10-22-2010, 02:33 PM

Necessity is the mother of invention- Patent it.

My Pop and uncle had an old tool they used to get stuck tractor engines free. two 12 oz bottles of Coke.

I seen them do this on an old John Deer. It was over 30 years ago, but I remember them doing this. Poured them in the oil fill, drained the pan then put oil back in and sure enough that bucket started up. Smoking, but they got em going. Has anyone heard of this???

Course- it could have been me being a youngen and my pop and uncle playing one of thier jokes on me. I remember this days specifcially cause my uncle gave me some Chewing tabacco and me getting sick.

Plus I never knew this at the time, but found out later. Pop worked at the steel mill and you never knew what type of liquid/lubricant he smuggled out of the mill in his empty bottles/lunch box. Which leads to another story of my sister in law taking a sip of brake fluid at Christmas dinner, but that was well worth it!

Stillrunners · 10-22-2010, 11:02 PM

cool...good job!

RichPA · 10-23-2010, 06:34 AM

a few years ago I was at a snowmobile shop and the old timer was cleaning a gas tank with Coca Cola. He said it works on anything rusted, never tried it. I think if an engine is that stuck it should be taken apart.

RockHillWill · 10-23-2010, 07:21 AM

Coke is a very good, quick acting solvent for tire rubber as well. I used to be involved in a motorsports activity and during a pit stop window cleaner was not always good enough as you didn't have time to sit there and scrub the windshield. I would some times just reach back and snatch a spectators coke and dump it on the windshield and off we'd go.

Wuudie · 10-23-2010, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockHillWill

Coke is a very good, quick acting solvent for tire rubber as well. I used to be involved in a motorsports activity and during a pit stop window cleaner was not always good enough as you didn't have time to sit there and scrub the windshield. I would some times just reach back and snatch a spectators coke and dump it on the windshield and off we'd go.

Would you buy those spectators a replacement coke you took?

FlatheadTed · 10-24-2010, 03:52 AM

Nice one Tom ,

Glenn C. · 10-24-2010, 11:51 AM

Possibly one slight improvement would be to install a grease fitting on the boss side.
Still a great idea for a tool !!

Tom Wesenberg · 10-24-2010, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenn C.

Possibly one slight improvement would be to install a grease fitting on the boss side.
Still a great idea for a tool !!

I gave that a lot of thought and was tempted to install a 1/4-28 zerk, but for no more revs than this tool will make I think the grease I packed it with will outlast me.

ronn · 08-19-2013, 11:05 AM

Rich,
the force be with you......

10-21-2010, 02:00 PM	#1
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	A handy tool to help with stuck motors This is a tool I just got done making to help with stuck engines and to use for turning the engine during assembly when rebuilding. I used my angle grinder to cut the helix of a broken starter drive about 1/8" beyond the pinion. I then welded the helix and pinion to a piece of 5/8" steel shaft, slipped on a thick washer, greased it and slipped it through a broken end plate I'd saved. I then slipped on a large nut and welded that to the shaft. The end plate just had a little of the alingment ring broken off, but I don't like broken parts on a good rebuilt starter. By installing this in place of the starter I can use a large wrench to bump the flywheel back and forth on a stuck engine, or it would make turning the engine over during a rebuild a lot easier. This is not my original idea. I saw it years ago on Jim Mason's website under "HOMEMADE TOOLS".

10-21-2010, 02:20 PM	#2
joe plumber Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 820	Re: A handy tool to help with stuck motors Cool tool Tom.

10-21-2010, 04:32 PM	#4
George, Iowa Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ames, Iowa Posts: 133	Re: A handy tool to help with stuck motors This just goes to show everyone....don't throw anything away. Tom will know how to make a tool out of it. Thanks TOM! Great Idea!

10-21-2010, 06:44 PM	#5
zzlegend Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Reseda, Calif. Posts: 2,188	Re: A handy tool to help with stuck motors Perfect Tom.

10-21-2010, 07:00 PM	#6
James Rogers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 3,104	Re: A handy tool to help with stuck motors Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) If I need that when I rebuild a motor, I did something wrong, too tight. Still a good tool for engines that have sit for a long time and are stiff or stuck.

10-21-2010, 03:44 PM	#3
V4F Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ca. Posts: 2,522	Re: A handy tool to help with stuck motors very nice tom .................... steve __________________ V4f

10-21-2010, 08:04 PM	#7
Glenn C. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Didsbury Alberta Posts: 838	Re: A handy tool to help with stuck motors Great idea Tom ! I will build one up for our shop.

10-21-2010, 08:39 PM	#8
RockHillWill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rock Hill, S.C. Posts: 985	Re: A handy tool to help with stuck motors Nice work Tom, and just in time. I thought I had every tool . __________________ Uncle Bud says "too soon old, too late smart!"

10-22-2010, 12:28 AM	#9
Russ/40 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, California Posts: 3,505	Re: A handy tool to help with stuck motors Amazingly simple, and yet very powerful tool. Great idea.

10-22-2010, 11:17 AM	#10
Ray64 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Grafton,OHIO Posts: 727	Re: A handy tool to help with stuck motors You DA Man

10-22-2010, 12:32 PM	#11
Rich in Tucson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 374	Re: A handy tool to help with stuck motors I went to look at an engine an acquaintance in DE wanted to sell. He was busy with a similar homemade tool trying to turn the engine over with about a 5 foot bar. A few seconds later, it was unstuck alright, but had a distinct "clunk" with every revolution that diminished in intensity quickly. Stuck rings, he declared. When the head came off, there sat the top of #3 piston at the top of its bore and cleanly parted from the bottom of the piston and the rod. Mind the force!

10-22-2010, 02:33 PM	#12
Wuudie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Easton, PA Posts: 261	Re: A handy tool to help with stuck motors Necessity is the mother of invention- Patent it. My Pop and uncle had an old tool they used to get stuck tractor engines free. two 12 oz bottles of Coke. I seen them do this on an old John Deer. It was over 30 years ago, but I remember them doing this. Poured them in the oil fill, drained the pan then put oil back in and sure enough that bucket started up. Smoking, but they got em going. Has anyone heard of this??? Course- it could have been me being a youngen and my pop and uncle playing one of thier jokes on me. I remember this days specifcially cause my uncle gave me some Chewing tabacco and me getting sick. Plus I never knew this at the time, but found out later. Pop worked at the steel mill and you never knew what type of liquid/lubricant he smuggled out of the mill in his empty bottles/lunch box. Which leads to another story of my sister in law taking a sip of brake fluid at Christmas dinner, but that was well worth it!

10-22-2010, 11:02 PM	#13
Stillrunners Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 62	Re: A handy tool to help with stuck motors cool...good job!

10-23-2010, 06:34 AM	#14
RichPA Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: rowland PA Posts: 186	Re: A handy tool to help with stuck motors a few years ago I was at a snowmobile shop and the old timer was cleaning a gas tank with Coca Cola. He said it works on anything rusted, never tried it. I think if an engine is that stuck it should be taken apart.

10-23-2010, 07:21 AM	#15
RockHillWill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rock Hill, S.C. Posts: 985	Re: A handy tool to help with stuck motors Coke is a very good, quick acting solvent for tire rubber as well. I used to be involved in a motorsports activity and during a pit stop window cleaner was not always good enough as you didn't have time to sit there and scrub the windshield. I would some times just reach back and snatch a spectators coke and dump it on the windshield and off we'd go. __________________ Uncle Bud says "too soon old, too late smart!"

10-24-2010, 03:52 AM	#17
FlatheadTed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auckland Posts: 4,700	Re: A handy tool to help with stuck motors Nice one Tom , __________________ http://www.flatheadted.com Flathead Ted brake Floaters ,

10-24-2010, 11:51 AM	#18
Glenn C. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Didsbury Alberta Posts: 838	Re: A handy tool to help with stuck motors Possibly one slight improvement would be to install a grease fitting on the boss side. Still a great idea for a tool !!

08-19-2013, 11:05 AM	#20
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,784	Re: A handy tool to help with stuck motors Rich, the force be with you......