29 Roadster issue
 

Putting this out for what you may think the issue will be. Roadster was towed to me with following story. It was driven last year and parked in garage. Went to start 2 weeks ago and could not get it to run.

I first checked for spark and found none. Bypassed ignition switch and had spark. Engine fired up but on # 1 cylinder only. Pulled plugs and found rust on bottom of # 2,3. Did compression test and got 60 lbs #1,
0 #2,
0 #3,
0 #4
Squirt of oil onto top of all pistons and compression rechecked with same results
Visually can see all pistons going up and down through spark plug holes

My next plan is to pull the head. I can picture a blown head gasket even a stuck valve but not affecting all 3 cyl to 0 pressure.
Let me know what you think and I will advise what I see when head comes off

Re: 29 Roadster issue
 

Sounds to me like the valves are stuck open. Rust on the plugs sounds like maybe a blown head gasket to start with when last ran.

Re: 29 Roadster issue
 

You may want to first pull the valve chamber cover and observe the valves going up and down. If they don't go down then you could try heat and penetrating oil to see if you can fix the non existent compression pressure.

If you can get the car started by doing this then you could look for bubbles in the radiator (fill it up to the top) or water in the oil. Try re torquing the head nuts before pulling the head.

Re: 29 Roadster issue
 

Yup, I would leave the head on, we had a cletrac crawler to gather sap, when it missed, dad would pull the side cover & put a stick pry down on the valve & get it working, squirts on all from oil can & continue on

Re: 29 Roadster issue
 

My first experience with anything more than a lawnmower engine was a Cletrac tractor. I was about 12 at the time. The old man down the street said I could have it if I could get it started. I did, and drove it home on the dirt road in front of our house.

Re: 29 Roadster issue
 

IMHO, a compression test tells you very little. Do a Leak-Down test on all the cylinders to get a more accurate tell of where the compression is going.

I also am assuming you have verified the valves are actually moving during the rotation of the crankshaft. If not, maybe a timing gear??

Re: 29 Roadster issue
 

Watch the valves for going up and down through the spark plug holes, quicker and easier than pulling the side cover.

Re: 29 Roadster issue
 

Cylinders 2,3,and 4 all have the exhaust valve stuck open. Lifters are operating normally. I could not get the valves to free up. Started pulling head but it is stuck also. Ordered special head puller tool and hope that helps


Des

Re: 29 Roadster issue
 

PB Blaster on valves, let it soak and slowly pry back and forth. all will come loose wo pulling head.

Re: 29 Roadster issue
 

Too late head nuts all removed

Re: 29 Roadster issue
 

It will be easier to check the valve action, and to correct any problems, with the head off.

Re: 29 Roadster issue
 

What I find odd is, the car 'ran' only a year ago?
I can't see all of that happening in one year. These cars are too resilient to act up like that, in THAT short of time.
I wonder if the car was a Hurricane Helene victim? Did you buy the car or just working on it helping a friend?
Something isn't playing out there is more to this story than you are being told?.

Re: 29 Roadster issue
 

Depending on the clearance between the valve stems and the guides, gunk from the fuel can get in there and keep the valves from seating. It could also be rust. The valves sticking due to gunk problem is more prevalent with a fresh rebuild where the clearances are tight.

Re: 29 Roadster issue
 

I am working on the car for someone else. He has had the car for 3 years with limited driving each year. His adult son saw me in a parking lot driving my A and approached and asked if I could help getting it running again. Sometimes I volunteer too much according to my wife. Well, regardless I am commited

Re: 29 Roadster issue
 

Ethonal gas can cause those symptoms.

Re: 29 Roadster issue
 

I use ethanol but then again I drive mine almost daily

Re: 29 Roadster issue
 

If the engine hadn't been thoroughly warmed up before putting it away for the winter then it could have got a bunch of condensation in the cylinders causing the valve stems and/or guides to rust up.

It probably cranked over fairly quickly with 3 valves stuck open.

Re: 29 Roadster issue
 

It did crank fast and when it fired up it sounded like an early John Deere running on 1 cylinder