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Old 01-16-2019, 09:16 PM   #1
Terry, NJ
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Default OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

This problem started last summer! My Town sedan with it's new engine ($$$) and was siting for a while and I like to start it now and then. So I hooked it up (Electrically) and started cranking. It started, ran for 30 sec., a minute. Not long! Restarted it again, same thing. Again and again. Each time it ran for less duration. Finally, it locked up. Nothing will get it to turn. I removed the radiator and the head and with a 1 3/8", 3/4 drive socket and breaker bar and lots of MMO, I tried to break it free, No Go! Someone suggested tapping a block of wood on top of the pistons, again Nothing! I have jacked the wheels, put it in 3rd and tried to turn it, nothing! I am contemplating using and old starter with two 12V (24V) batteries. I also heated the cylinder walls (not the pistons) to expand them slightly, no luck! Anyone got a solution? I have never seen an engine so thoroughly seized.
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Old 01-16-2019, 09:22 PM   #2
Fred K-OR
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

Speaking about wood, I used a 4 x 4 with a heavy hammer on my T that was rusted and it moved. But don't know if that would help you. Have you taken the pan off yet?
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Old 01-16-2019, 09:29 PM   #3
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

Did it have oil and water? If it did, sounds like the piston to bore was too tight to start with.
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Old 01-16-2019, 09:41 PM   #4
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

Better ?? Who Rebuilt It ??..
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Old 01-16-2019, 09:42 PM   #5
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

If you fix it, your wallet is about to become much thinner.
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Old 01-17-2019, 12:02 AM   #6
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

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Since you don't know what part is stuck it is time to do a bit of diagnosis. Take the pan off and start pulling bearing caps and try to move the pistons. If they move loosen the mains a bit and try to turn the engine. keep testing each moving part till you find what is stopping it.
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Old 01-17-2019, 12:45 AM   #7
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

In any case, Terry, there are only 3 things that will stick a motor like that. Mains, Rods, and pistons.

Pistons, if not enough clearance, or dry, lack of oil.

Mains, and rods, lack of clearance, or dry, lack of oil.

What has happened, so far, I would tear it down, and check those things. When an engine starts, and pulls down, and stops, it needs checked.

If you try to get it to turn over, and not check, you will wish, you had.

No engine should be set up tight, that you have it stuck, or difficult to turn over.

Herm.
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Old 01-17-2019, 01:30 AM   #8
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

The fact that it ran for 30 seconds more than once may suggest more than one problem , 1st problem sounds like fuel ,now its locked up could be a separate problem like starter bolt jammed fly wheel , have you removed the starter to see if can be turned, if not try rotating engine by screw driver on ring gear ,no luck & you can push vehicle out of gear then its a tear down , 2 minutes with out oil don,t think would seized it up ,take plugs out before trying too, good luck,
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Old 01-17-2019, 09:30 AM   #9
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

My engine was rebuilt by a company recommended by a local restorer (1970 era), 3000 miles later(10 years) the rear main was crumbs, 2 other local people had engines done the same place but not installed, we decided to take a look---the first one had oil grooves, hole drilled for oil, but the wadding was still in the pipe, the next engine didn't have oil grooves or the hole drilled, these were assembled by the rebuild shop short blocks, they could have the same problem you are having if they were started, also that shop set the engines up real tight -I had to pull on the hand crank to help the starter get it moving--this was over 25 years ago ,don't know if the place is still doing babbitt work or still open
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Old 01-17-2019, 10:21 AM   #10
Terry, NJ
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

I have delibertly refrained from using the name of the rebuilder until it can be shown that he is at fault. I guess I have to pull the pan and find out. Terry
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Old 01-17-2019, 10:34 AM   #11
Ernie Vitucci
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

Good Morning...I would be tempted to take the car with engine back to the engine rebuilder if it is not too far away. Make an appointment first and ask to be allowed to be part of the process to figure out what has happened. Depending on who did the work, they might be very helpful in figuring out the problem. Ernie in Arizona
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Old 01-17-2019, 03:04 PM   #12
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

Herm is correct..

Did you push in the clutch a number of times BEFORE you started the engine the first
time....??

If not, it COULD burn up the thrust and kill the rear main..
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Old 01-18-2019, 02:07 AM   #13
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

Re"Did you push in the clutch a number of times BEFORE you started the engine the first
time....??

If not, it COULD burn up the thrust and kill the rear main.."


Ok that is a new one. How would not pressing in the clutch a number of times kill the rear main?
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Old 01-18-2019, 07:07 AM   #14
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

I hope you have already tried to turn it with the starter removed, or at least, try to turn the engine backwards before you take much apart. Third gear, push backwards.
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Old 01-18-2019, 07:30 AM   #15
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

Starter is stuck. I would bet when it seized you pressed on the starter button and it felt like stepping on a rock with no response from the starter or engine. Try to remove the starter and if you can't get it out of the bellhousing easily, put the car in 3rd and roll it backwards or just rock it mightily till the bendix releases. Been there, done that.
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Old 01-18-2019, 09:05 AM   #16
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

I would agree with dreamworks. The starter is stuck on the flywheel
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Old 01-18-2019, 09:11 AM   #17
Terry, NJ
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

No James, The starter is out! The head is off! That thing should spin like a top!
Solutions Tried
Oil in Cylinders, motor oil, MMO, WD40, fuel oil.

Attempted to turn engine with 3/4 drive, 1 3/8 socket and 3/4" breaker bar with 2' pipe. I'm afraid of breaking the crankshaft bolt or the crank it's self.

Put it in 3rd gear and , with wheels jacked up, tried to turn the engine through the drive line.

Made an Ash block to fit the cylinder and tried to move each piston with it and a 4 lb hammer.

Needless to say, but I don't want to damage this new engine.
Terry




Quote:
Originally Posted by James Rogers View Post
Starter is stuck. I would bet when it seized you pressed on the starter button and it felt like stepping on a rock with no response from the starter or engine. Try to remove the starter and if you can't get it out of the bellhousing easily, put the car in 3rd and roll it backwards or just rock it mightily till the bendix releases. Been there, done that.
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Old 01-18-2019, 09:27 AM   #18
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

Quote:
Needless to say, but I don't want to damage this new engine.
Terry
Sadly it sounds like it may already be damaged.
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Old 01-18-2019, 10:32 AM   #19
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

From your post 17 I would say that you have no choice but to tear it down. I have an engine that sat after the rebuild for 20 years or so and it is severely stuck. I am now in the process of soaking every component in various products like MMO to free things up. Hope to hear your answer to this problem. Jack
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Old 01-18-2019, 11:05 AM   #20
d.j. moordigian
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Default Re: OK! Oldtimers, Gimme your best answer, Stuck Engine

Quote:
Originally Posted by redmodelt View Post
Re"Did you push in the clutch a number of times BEFORE you started the engine the first
time....??

If not, it COULD burn up the thrust and kill the rear main.."


Ok that is a new one. How would not pressing in the clutch a number of times kill the rear main?
Since the input shaft bearing is a "little louse",..not a precision bearing, and
the splines in the disc are a little sloppy, you COULD get the transmission to
bolt up. But it could be loading the crankshaft forward putting high pressure
on the rear of the thrust face. Had a customer do this on a race engine,..
burnt the rear main and stuck the engine..
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