Waukesha ICK67C military genset - nasty engine project.

[Mac Leod]

I have a waukesha ick67c...military genset...I finally got it home and I need help. water got down the carby for a very long time...2 cylinders were full of garbage, rust and junk...the engine is aluminum...it has iron sleeves, these have blistered and are falling out in chunks. the pistons are also pretty well shot, water got down the valves into the crankcase.it is very stuck. the marvel schebler carby is missing parts. the intake/exhaust manifold (1 unit) is very well gone. I would really like to se this engine running though I have been told that it is not likely. I am going to need advice, parts, ideas, theories, grunt logic, encouragement...this is WAY over my experience level...I though the jaeger was difficult. Any one who has any advice, parts, help...please come forward... it is in very sad shape...much worse than I realized when I bought it...also, my wisconsin THD, I thought it would be an easy fix...it has a thrown rod, out the crank case...HELP!!!!

thank you very much

Mac Leod

[Kevin O. Pulver]

Mac, you sound as crazy as I am. Here is some advice. You can fix anything.
It is fun to fix things that are so bad. BUT ask yourself. It is worth it?
Let's say you got the thing for nothing, and it will take $500 worth of parts and 400 hours to get the thing restored. If the thing is only worth $400 when you're done, and there are other engines that you like better, it might not be worth the trouble. You must decide, how much you like it, how rare they are, what it's worth when it's done, what it will cost you to finish it.
I'm not against dumping your time into it, but if you dump a bunch of money into it and then come across an engine you like better, you might wish you had saved your money and will be trying to sell it for a loss to recover some cash. Having said all that, I'm not saying you shouldn't do it, I'm just saying weigh your options. Maybe you could trade it to someone for something else.
I have started to fix up rough engines and by the time I bought a bunch of parts, I realized I should have sold IT for parts, and bought another engine like it, I would have been money, time, and junk ahead. OR you could make some sort of non-running engine art out of it. A mail box holder or a large paper weight or flower planter.
Consider wisely Grasshoppa. Let us know what you decide. Kevin

[Leonard Keifer]

I agree with Kevin. It's fun to try to bring something back that looks like a piece of junk. On the other hand you should look at what the restored unit might be worth if you ever decide to sell it. Maybe the one you have has some recoverable parts that can be used to finish up someone elses project. At some point some of these old engines have to be given up for dead and parts transplanted to other less critical engines. If you sink too much money into the engine you're kind of stuck with it unless you take a big loss. Unless you make the parts most of your repalcement parts will probably come from someone else's dead engine.

Just my opinion, you have to make the final choice.

I have to admit I have a couple of engines that I've spent way too much on to ever make back my investment but I had fun at the time.

[Mac Leod]

I realy want to restore this engine...I figure if I can save this, there is no engine too difficult. I know it will not be cheap...but I have been looking forward to this project for a very long time. it is my goal to put this engine into a lawn tractor...25 hp...hooha. time is not an object and I belive seeing the engine run again will make all the effort worth while...the engine was cast march 1944...it will run again...I hope

Thanks

Mac Leod (hope you like the pictures)
the 3 bits of metel are from the cylinder wall

[Ihorse]

Mac---I have restored several tractors and engines that everyone said -[WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?]--my advice to you before you start--is to check around and see if there is parts-and help available--[me] for instance may be able to help you with some machining or cast repair--for little cost or maybe free, to a good cause--that being said--take the time.effort to dissamble, and then access where you are at, and re-examine-decide-and go for it/or not. one more thing--if you go for it--try NOT to obcess about the time/money you spend-just look at the end game-and how good you will feel when you compare the before and after pictures-
my 3 cents worth--and worth every bit,
d,j,

[RHudson]

reminds me of a story about a boy hunting with his great-great grandfathers orginal rifle. over the years the stock, barrel, sights, and lock had been replaced. but it was still his great-great grandfathers rifle.

on the other hand i like seeing the before and after pictures of basket cases that have been brought back to life.

[Andrew Mackey]

If you read the GEM, check out the Nov. 1995 issue - the artical entitled MY Kohler Light Puzzle. You will see a true to life Basket Case restoration. The Kohler C Light plant was 6 large boxes, and a Bushel Basket full of parts spread over a 5' x 8' trailer for 5 years. About 750 hours and in the area of $750 later I have a running unit! Seriously , if the cylenders are rusted to pieces, they may have swaged (expanded) the bolck to the point that new cylenders will not seal to the block - they will leak water into the crankcase, oil to ground and compression everywhere but in the combustion chamber! Take a good look at your starting point. If the block and crank are bad, then the rest won't help you
Another engine may be a better start, using this one as a parts unit.
Andrew

[Gasengin]

It can be fixed, but at what cost? Spending a lot of time and money on an engine is fine if it is going have corresponding amount of value in the end. From looking at the pictures, it would cost as much (unless you can get free parts and machine work) to get this engine running as a nice flywheel engine would sell for at an auction sale. If you decided you still wanted to get one like this running, in time you likely could find another engine in much better condition.

[hit-n-miss166922]

Hello from wisconsin!!! Wish you luck in the restoration of the Waukesha "ICK" engine . First it had 10-12 HP, also about a coupla hundred thousand were built in many different configurations thats what the letters and numbers after the ICK stand for. This was a military engine which makes it hard to get correct parts and opering manuals and also correct parts. Former Waukesha employee!!!!

[BWegher]

That's just metal junk that was an engine. You have nothing to do except learn your lessons and move on to something worth while.

[Larry]

Regretfully.. MAC, this Engine is beyond Repair,I Also Enjoy bringing Engines back to LIFE,, I wouldn't even remotely consider this One as a restoration Project, They REALLY do get too Bad to restore.... Larry

[Alan Bowen]

Hi Mac,
I agree, That one is beyond repair. Or at least that is what I would say to a reasonable person. 8>))
Remember me???
I own a MacLeod engine.
Alan Bowen

[Kevin O. Pulver]

Whoever lives near Mac, we need some serious intervention here!
Someone needs to go over and take him out and find something else to restore. He is not thinking clearly now and needs our help. Kevin

[Mac Leod]

well, I understan the many comments on both sides...and I can see where the guys against the restoration are comming from...it is in really bad shape..but, might there be a light at the end of the tunnel???---I droped the pan,and what to my surprise, the lower end is in good shape, lots of oil, a bit of water, no rust lots of oil...did i mention lots of oil. the internals look fine, so it would seem I just need a new set of pistons, cylinder/valves, and cylinder head. I will post pics later, what do you all think?

thanks

Mac Leod

[Mac Leod]

heres the crankcase...I know I am a new guy, and am over my head, I also know most guys would not touch this with a 10 foot pole, oh well...about the cost... DJ is right, I have decided that I BELIEVE THIS ENGINE CAN BE SAVED...cost, the heck with it...time...I have the rest of my life...if it takes years of hunting for parts, I will do it...I will just have "filler projects" in between...(these statements are not guarantied to be correct...we will see over time...)

Thanks

Mac Leod

[Kevin O. Pulver]

Mac, you are mad as a hatter! But so are the rest of us I guess. IF you can wait and find cheap parts I say go for it. But if you blow a bunch of money on it, I guarantee you will find a better engine later for a lot less money than you spent restoring the thing. So be careful! Kevin

[Mark B]

As the saying goes, How do you eat an elephant?
One bite at a time?

[TomFG]

Around here, we would call that engine a "boat anchor". 30 years ago my grandfather gave my dad a much nicer looking F-12 Farmall engine block for a anchor to moor the pontoon boat out away from shore. Of course my grandfather broke a head bolt on his F-12 a few years later, and sent me to the lake with a pipe wrench to remove a head bolt from the murky depths... lucky for me it was only about 4 feet deep..... but just deep enough I had to hold my breath for each turn of the wrench.

[BobRR]

Tom I think it was a boat anchor that should have been thrown back in BobRR

[Mac Leod]

well, I found a place that has NOS parts..Way out of my price range...time to wait for a parts engine... you guys looking?

thanks

Mac Leod