(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Surface rust on steel connecting rods, engine sat up

B

blue_tractor_man

Member
I finally got the oil pan off the Kohler L600 generator I have been working on. It is an inline flathead engine with cast iron pistons, and apparently steel connecting rods. The engine sat up in a garage, and there must have been enough moisture to cause rust. There is a lot of surface rust on the rods, but not much anywhere else. Will that rust hurt anything? Will it fall off and cause problems, stay there forever, or slowly dissolve in the modern oil?

cvphoto6299.jpg


cvphoto6300.jpg


<img
 
If you remove rod, you'll have to remove piston. Will the rings reseat or will you have to replace them too and have cylinders honed?
 
If your not planning on taking the engine apart I would just clean them as good as you can, maybe rub them with a little steel wool or scrub pad just to get any loose stuff off.
 
I wouldn't worry about it, not to the extent of taking it apart just to clean the rust off.

If you do try cleaning them up, be very careful not to leave residue from the cleaning media behind, like sand or dust from Scotchbrite. I would probably use something like a plastic kitchen scrub pad, then thoroughly clean the engine from underneath with an air siphon sprayer.
 
That is really weird ? the rest looks spotless ? I guess I'd likely get some sort of small wire brush either brass or steel ? and try to get off the worst of it that is loose and flush it all the best I could with a garden sprayer with kerosene. Then maybe put some engine oil on stuff in there like cam and bearing areas and button it back up.
 
Since the piston pin bushing is lubed by splashing oil, I would be more interested in why no oil is getting up there, and oiling the pin bushing. Maybe look into the oil weight. Stan
 
I didn't read the article carefully. It had sat for a while. When it does run oil will be splashing everywhere. I don't think I would do anything with the rods. When oil gets on the rods it will stop the rust, and hold what rust there is to the rods. I think you will be fine, just run it. Stan
 
wipem down with a clean rag and run it. Most likely there is just moisture there with some water condensation. If you try cleaning them without pulling the rod bolts out and wiping the crank down you will likely cause more harm than good. If any thing you clean them with will probably damage the bearings and then the crank.
 
It shouldn't hurt anything to spray some oil up on the rods to reduce future rusting. If you don't put hundreds of hours per year on this engine, and the rest of the engine is in good condition, I wouldn't do anything more until the rest of the engine is ready for an overhaul.
 
Clean what you can with a wire brush or something. I then wouldn't worry if you have an oil filter. Doesn't the oil have to go through the filter before getting to the engine? May want to put a powerful magnet on drain plug to pick up some of the rust. May want to drain oil after a few hours and look for rust.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Best Way to Remove Surface Rust From Hydraulic Cylinder
Replies
14
Views
2K
GordoSD
G
jd2cyl1943
Here's the story of my JD Bs restoration up to this poi
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
jd2cyl1943
jd2cyl1943
jd2cyl1943
The story of my Bs restoration up to this point.
Replies
6
Views
985
jd2cyl1943
jd2cyl1943
J
TO-35 engine puzzler
Replies
8
Views
2K
john connell
J
A
Need advice 2N purchase
2
Replies
27
Views
3K
Caryc
C
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top