Help! My A's engine is "stuck"
 

Hi all,
I have just received my A's engine back from having the flywheel balanced and centred, as well as a new clutch and clutch pressure plate installed.
I put the engine into the car, and when I came to trying to set the timing using the crank, the engine will not budge one iota. The gears are in neutral.
What can the problem be?
Kind regards
Mike
Johannesburg, South Africa
1930 Sport Coupe

Re: Help! My A's engine is "stuck"
 

Try loosening the starter bolts. Jack one rear wheel and see if its free. Let us know what happens.

Re: Help! My A's engine is "stuck"
 

When the flywheel was installed it is possible that the dowell retainer (metal plate with 4 holes for flywheel bolts)could have been left off, this could cause the flywheel bolts to bottom out on the rear main part of the block locking the engine

Was work done inside the engine? ---if so perhaps the bearings are too tight

Re: Help! My A's engine is "stuck"
 

What Kurt said is right, sorry, forgot about that. Removing the front bellhousing inspection plate, those bolts can be looked at.

Re: Help! My A's engine is "stuck"
 

Wrong bolts used on remounting the starter possibly hitting the flywheel locking the engine up. Definately would not be the first time that has happened. Rod

Re: Help! My A's engine is "stuck"
 

agree w/ Kurt

Re: Help! My A's engine is "stuck"
 

And the prize goes to Patrick for hitting the nail on the head! The wrong bolts fastening the starter motor.....
Thanks once again to all for your help
Kind regards from sunny South Africa
Mike

Re: Help! My A's engine is "stuck"
 

Good, glad it was easy. I like easy. Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every once in awhile.

Re: Help! My A's engine is "stuck"
 

In my experience, more often than not the answers to problems with a Model A are pretty simple, because the car itself is simple. Ford had in mind that people would have to fix these things themselves, and designed them accordingly. The one-bolt carb is a perfect example of that thinking. We modern, more complicated folks tend to overthink the problems sometimes.