Found engine rebuilt '73 - how to proceed

outbackrider400 · Apr 22, 2016

Found a hercules 4 cylinder IXK engine '46 that was rebuilt in '73.
Machine shop tags still attached, pistons still have factory inventory
numbers on the piston heads. Everything inside looks good from looking
in the spark plug holes. Was never reinstalled.
I sprayed some pblaster in the cylinders
and put a little force on the crank and it turned over, I would say
it was mildly stuck from sitting for 43 years.
I have only turned it only a few times by hand crank. I am planning to
drop the pan and and oil up the bearings, etc. maybe
drop some 2 stroke oil into the cylinders, any suggestions on what else to do?

Stuffed in top of the manifold was a paper dated April '73
"Hank Aaron drove in 3 runs with his 674th career home run"

ss55 · Apr 22, 2016

On some engines with a distributor driven oil pump, you can remove the distributor and insert an adapter to spin the oil pump with a drill to "pre-lube" the engine without tearing it down. On other engines you can connect a hand sprayer or pressure pot to the oil galley to "pre-lube" a dry engine engine. The oil pressure gauge port is often a good place to connect to the oil galley.

Steve@Advance · Apr 22, 2016

A lot depends on how well it was stored.

Dropping the pan is probably a good idea, but more so to check for contamination from water, rodents, insects, or whatever might have found it's way in there. Also check any and all openings, intake and exhaust ports, oil galleys, coolant ports, anywhere bugs can nest, or anything that doesn't belong could have found it's way in there.

That you were able to turn it through, good chance the cylinders were clean, but if you can, peek in the plug holes just to be sure.

Then when you get it running, go through the usual first run procedures, retorque the head bolts and set the valves.

Steve@Advance · Apr 22, 2016

Also, want to prime the oil pump while the pan is off.

outbackrider400 · Apr 22, 2016

Thanks for the input. Seems it was stored in a
heated area, as it had no rust inside.
I'm planning on using it on an Oliver
HG crawler that I have.
Any thoughts on what oil to begin with?

Steve@Advance · Apr 22, 2016

That engine would have probably wanted straight 30 weight for summer use. I would use a 30 weight or 15w 40 diesel oil with the CI-4/SL rating.

That is the closest you can get to the oils with zinc additive needed for engines with flat tappets.

Found engine rebuilt '73 - how to proceed

outbackrider400

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ss55

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Steve@Advance

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Steve@Advance

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outbackrider400

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