Reviving a flooded CK35

[KyleB83]

My father in law has a CK35 that was under water.. COMPLETELY under water.. I need something to do on my off days that makes me want to cuss and pull out more of my hair, so I decided to take a crack at seeing about reviving this thing.

Hopes aren't very high since its been more than a few months, but at least it doesn't cost anything to take stuff apart right?

The last time I was at his property, I did toss a battery in it, just to see if the engine would turn over.. Lets just hope it needs a starter since that didn't happen.

Im obviously going to check/drain/change the oil and filter, but what else would I need to try before attempting to turn the engine over? I was going to pull the starter off and see if I can turn it by hand with a big pry bar and make a decision from there before I even mess with the oil. If it is locked up, is there any of these magic oils at the local auto parts store that would be worth a try?

Im pretty sure this thing is going to be permanent yard art, but it's at least worth the time it takes to yank the starter to see right?!

 

[K5lwq]

If it ran once it will run again. Just depends on how much time and money you want to spend.

How far under water? Over the exhaust or in 3 or 4 feet? I would not try turning over with the starter to begin with. Use a wrench on the main pulley bolt. So you can go slow.

If it is frozen up, remove the head and fill cylinder with motor oil. Allow it to soak, then use a block of wood and hammer to drive on top of the pistons. It will free up.

Drain all fluids including fuel tank. Make sure all water is out of the system and put fresh fluids in. Then start trying to get it running.

 

[KyleB83]

it was completely submerged over the hood.. off the top of my head, I am not sure where the exhaust is on his tractor. It wasn't running at the time, which may help, but it was still a submarine

 

[K5lwq]

Just take your time and think it through. Most likely you will need to pull the head. After you free the engine, make sure to get all the oil of the top of the cylinder before trying to start the tractor. Hopefully no water got into the injector pump.

Keep us updated on progress and take pictures along the way. Will be interesting and helpful for others that find themselves in this situation.

 

[5030]

With a large enough wallet you can revive anything. All comes down to your financial resources.

 

[rademamj1]

I lived in Houston for 5 years, and saw many cars and diesel trucks under water to roof top level. Except for the leather interiors, most of the engines came out just fine.

Just dont start anything for 5 days after the vehicle was first pulled out, to give the engine time to dry out.

Fully drain the fuel tank at the fuel filter, as this is lowest point of the fuel system. Fully replace the fuel filter and prime it (fill it) with diesel before installing. Connect fuel line from fuel tank and fill with diesel.

Check starter electrical contacts for corrosion and also replace starter if needed. Clean out the ignition switch with WD40 and then try to give the tractor a start. Hopefully it starts, and just let it run for 30 minutes to further dry out the engine compartment.

Good Luck.

 

[jabelding]

First remove loader if it has one. Make sure to pull all 3 glow plugs before trying to turn it over if you don't you will hydro lock a cylinder and could bend one of the connecting rods. Once you have drained all the fluids and put in fresh pull glowplugs and turn over with the starter until no more moisture comes out. After that put new diesel in prime the injection system put glowplugs back in and see if it will fire. once it is running operate everything for a few mins and then shut down and change all the fluids again while they are still warm. everything will probably be quite frothy so you will need to let it drain a couple of days. After that put all new fluids in again and then run it up to operating temp for a couple of hrs and check for frothy oil and hyd fluid if none then good to go if still frothy then would suggest changing all the fluids again.

 

[BertZegers]

This is what I think. First drain the tank and get all the fuel out, up to the fuel filter. Than get the air filter out. Than drain the engine oil to get the crank case empty. Since it has been a few months, I think there will be no water left on top of the pistons, but there might be some water left in the intake. Take the glow plugs out. Try to turn the engine over by hand a few times. If that succeeds, put a few drops of engine oil in each of the cylinders. Take the starter off and take it apart, take pictures, clean, grease and put together, than bench test starter. (you might have to replace the solenoid) Use a new fuel filter, let new diesel fuel feed to the filter before connecting the fuel line to the filter, to get clean fuel in the system. (very important)
Put the starter back and try. If the engine turns over, and nothing blows out of the glow plug openings anymore (other than atomized diesel), put the glow plugs back in and try starting. If it starts, run it till warmed up. Than change engine oil and filters again, and take care of the rest of the tractor.

Better still, ship it off to me

 

[LouNY]

My father in law has a CK35 that was under water.. COMPLETELY under water.. I need something to do on my off days that makes me want to cuss and pull out more of my hair, so I decided to take a crack at seeing about reviving this thing.

Hopes aren't very high since its been more than a few months, but at least it doesn't cost anything to take stuff apart right?

The last time I was at his property, I did toss a battery in it, just to see if the engine would turn over.. Lets just hope it needs a starter since that didn't happen.

Im obviously going to check/drain/change the oil and filter, but what else would I need to try before attempting to turn the engine over? I was going to pull the starter off and see if I can turn it by hand with a big pry bar and make a decision from there before I even mess with the oil. If it is locked up, is there any of these magic oils at the local auto parts store that would be worth a try?

Im pretty sure this thing is going to be permanent yard art, but it's at least worth the time it takes to yank the starter to see right?!

It shouldn't be too bad to get it going;
I'm assuming that this is a hydrostatic drive tractor.
I would;
1) pull the glow plugs
2) pour a bit of atf blended with acetone 50/50 into each cylinder, however much fits in
3) start draining all the oils engine and transmission, front axle dif and drop boxes
4) drain the fuel tank and system
5) pull the starter disassemble and clean it maybe even give it new brushes and lube the bearings
6) fill the rear end and transmission 3/4 or more full of diesel fuel, also the front axle drops and diff
7) the engine would be optional but I'd give it a couple of gallons also
8) roll the tractor back and forth several feet several times, vigorously a few times, could even rig a tow bar from the drawbar to a truck;
want that diesel to slosh and splash all around in those cases.
9) if that engine has a bleeder valve on the injection pump open that install a new fuel filter, then try and push fuel into and thru that pump,
if you can get fuel to and thru the injection pump ( or is this an electric common rail system)
10) now I would try and roll the engine over preferably with a wrench on the front balancer bolt
11) if she will turn over your almost ready to go
12) dump the diesel out of everything
13) fill everything with the proper fluids
14) button everything up
15) start it up
16) after she starts and is running move her around get all the fluids circulating and warmed up
17) if she sounds decent and moves
18) drain and replace all the fluids again
19) enjoy

 

[airbiscuit]

It shouldn't be too bad to get it going;
I'm assuming that this is a hydrostatic drive tractor.
I would;
1) pull the glow plugs
2) pour a bit of ATF blended with acetone 50/50 into each cylinder, however much fits in
3) start draining all the oils engine and transmission, front axle dif and drop boxes
4) drain the fuel tank and system
5) pull the starter disassemble and clean it maybe even give it new brushes and lube the bearings
6) fill the rear end and transmission 3/4 or more full of diesel fuel, also the front axle drops and diff
7) the engine would be optional but I'd give it a couple of gallons also
8) roll the tractor back and forth several feet several times, vigorously a few times, could even rig a tow bar from the drawbar to a truck;
want that diesel to slosh and splash all around in those cases.
9) if that engine has a bleeder valve on the injection pump open that install a new fuel filter, then try and push fuel into and thru that pump,
if you can get fuel to and thru the injection pump ( or is this an electric common rail system)
10) now I would try and roll the engine over preferably with a wrench on the front balancer bolt
11) if she will turn over your almost ready to go
12) dump the diesel out of everything
13) fill everything with the proper fluids
14) button everything up
15) start it up
16) after she starts and is running move her around get all the fluids circulating and warmed up
17) if she sounds decent and moves
18) drain and replace all the fluids again
19) enjoy

That is an EXCELLENT answer!