Cleaning stuck engines

Periodically there will be questions posted on this board about how to unstick engines. They seem to be mostly from people getting back into modeling after some time away. When this happened to me I purchased some Chevron Hobby Products "Perfect Engine Cleaner" at the local hobby store, which sells mostly RC products, for about $6.00 for 16 oz. It works great!!! One 30 minute soak and scrub with a toothbrush and the engine is usually clean. I have cleaned about 10-12 engines and the only thing to watch is not to put any enameled heads, etc. into the solution. For only a few engines this is the way to go without having to buy a crock pot, antifreeze, and having to store it. Be sure to follow written instructions and observe normal safety considerations. If you're going to be doing more than a few engines the crock pot & antifreeze is the way to go. Mel

Mel,

A large percentage of my "Stuck" engines will easily turn over after setting the engines' backplate on a 75 watt light bulb for about 15 minutes. If it's really gunky this will free it up for easy disassembly.

Some of the air-tool oil retards firing of a diesel. You have to rinse is out good or it just won't pop. I thought I was losing my touch starting diesels until George Aldrich told me about the oil.