Tractor that has set up awhile

JEC

Member
I bought a John Deere 40 that is one of those "supposed to have ran" in the not too distant past types of deals.
I"ve never bought anything before that does not run at all. Starter is dead, but almost started a few times when I banged on it. Motor is not stuck. Should I remove plugs and put some type of lubricant in to soak while the starter is off at the shop? Thanks in advance
 
can't hurt to put some older atf type f or dex/merc 3 in it. course i woulda done that prior to turing engine over to prevent broke rings and all..e tc.

remember to remove spark plugs prior to turning her over again so the oil will be expelled and not hydro lock her.
 
Thanks, I"m pretty new with old tractors and didn"t know to put anything in cylinders until I read up on a stuck tractor. I don"t "think" it has set up too long. Gas is good, plugs look like a good running motor. No antifreeze in oil or oil in antifreeze, or water in motor. Guy I got it from got it in on a trade and he doesn"t know much about it other than what people told him. How much do you suggest to put in cylinders?
 
Is the problem really the starter? Before you remove the starter, check the solenoid and check the battery cable, especially the contact area at the other end of the ground cable!
 
Jeez! I misread what you said!

Anyway, I think a couple of tablespoons in each cylinder is about right. Again, whatever amount, just make sure you squeeze it back out.
 
Fill the cylinders with ATF put the plugs back in and then pour ATF down the exhaust pipe. Let it sit a couple days that way. Then pull the plugs out and turn the engine over. If you can rig a way to catch the ATF then that is all that much better so as not to make a big mess. The ATF will free up sticking rings and valves and that in turn will bring compression up a good bit. As for the starter if tapping on it helped it then may need new brushes
 
I use any type of ATF and since I have Chev truck I use the Dextron type of ATF and has worked just fine for over a decade and I have freed up many struck engines with it
 
Sounds like you might have lucked out. Since it is not stuck. Good advice with the ATF in the cylinders, however any gas left in it is almost certainly not good. The stuff with ethanol in it sometimes will go bad in as little as three months if not treated. Might as well save yourself trouble and drain it &put some fresh in it. Most likely the carb will need a good cleaning, but it may start and run without it. You may have some stuck valves too. If they are the ATF may free them.
 
split the quart between the 4 cyls, and save some for the gas tank and the oil.

a few ounces in each cyl is plenty.

adding it to the gas will help upper cuyl lube.

adding it to the oil prior to change.. but after running, will help witht he drain out.

on a new to me machine.. I have added 1/4 quart to a gallon of gas for testing. 1 quart in crankcase. and another quart split betweent he cyls.

atf is cheap and decent stuff.
 
and? what's the big deal on a typo?

if he can't figure out how many cyl's it has. he needs to hang it up before he starts.
 
(quoted from post at 15:30:33 05/02/13) The John Deere 40's that I have seen are two (2) cylinders. LOL

Us Ford guys all know that those putt putts really have four cylinders but are actually missing on two!!
 
If you put ATF in the cylinders, do turn the engine over slowly when you go to pump it back out through the plug holes. I had an engine soaking with ATF one time and I hit the starter to blow it out. Had to clean ATF off of everything that was hanging on the south part of the west wall of the shop, plus cleaning it off the wall. Jim
 

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