The Ford Barn

Mundrwood · 11-24-2022, 05:33 PM

Hello
I have a rebuilt engine for 1930 Model A and finally finished install last week. Today went to crank the engine by hand to set the timing and could not find the dimple on the timing gear, took out a spark plug #1 and hand cranked, piston is not moving but the hand crank turns. It's been about 6 months since I got the engine back from the rebuilder. Should I take out plugs and remove starter, oil the cylinders and then try again?

Mark Underwood
Gig Harbor, WA

Tacoma Bob · 11-24-2022, 05:43 PM

MMMM So I take it the engine has not been fired since you got it back. I would pull the rest of the plugs and slowly hand crank again to see if all the pistons are in fact moving. Did you get a warranty from the builder? Best contact him before anything is removed to avoid any potential warranty issues.

J Franklin · 11-24-2022, 05:56 PM

Busted crankshaft? That would be odd,. Was the timing gear moving?

alexiskai · 11-24-2022, 06:44 PM

Yeah, put a flashlight in through the hole for the timing pin and see whether that gear is moving. That’s the most likely spot for problems. You can also put the car in gear and push it back and forth, see if the piston moves.

Gary WA · 11-24-2022, 07:01 PM

Are you sure you were looking at piston and not the valve? you could remove side timing cover and look to see if indeed timing gear etc are moving. Or like stated above push car in gear, might be just tight but you said couldn't find the dimple so i assume it is turning over.

LeonardS · 11-24-2022, 07:12 PM

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Is the crankshaft nut just turning inside the crankshaft? Stripped threads in the crankshaft snout?

J Franklin · 11-24-2022, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeonardS

Is the crankshaft nut just turning inside the crankshaft? Stripped threads in the crankshaft snout?

That would be a rare find!

LeonardS · 11-24-2022, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Franklin

That would be a rare find!

Pistons not moving is also rare

eagle · 11-24-2022, 08:21 PM

If the piston is near the top or bottom it takes quite a bit of crankshaft movement before the piston moves a lot. I think you need to re-check this, the crank turning with no piston movement on a rebuilt engine is really pretty close to an impossibility unless it was gross incompetence by the builder. Even gross imcompetence really doesn't cover that bad of an error.

J Franklin · 11-24-2022, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeonardS

Pistons not moving is also rare

A broken crank is certainly less rare than that part being stripped completely.

LeonardS · 11-24-2022, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Franklin

A broken crank is certainly less rare than that part being stripped completely.

A broken crankshaft on a newly rebuilt engine that hasn’t run. That would certainly be a rare occurrence!

Synchro909 · 11-24-2022, 11:07 PM

A broken crankshaft is not at all unknown but as has been said, on an engine that hasn't even run????
I think we need to be looking elsewhere.

J Franklin · 11-25-2022, 01:09 AM

Well one thing for sure, it will be interesting what gets found.

john charlton · 11-25-2022, 02:18 AM

Take the small timing cover off be aware there is a oil pan bolt up from underneath , When you turn the crank you can see if the timing wheel rotates . This is a very very odd never ever heard of this before .

John in rare sunny morning Suffolk County England .

Fullraceflathead · 11-25-2022, 03:10 AM

Pull the oil fill tube out and you can see the crankshaft you may need a flashlight you will be able to see the crankshaft moving or not moving

Kurt in NJ · 11-25-2022, 09:03 AM

perhaps it is stuck valves, they are more visible through the spark plug hole, there still isn’t a reply from the original poster

Fhane · 11-25-2022, 09:07 AM

I would not take anything apart just yet. As others have said, a piston not moving is highly unlikely. Remove all four plugs. Normally you would do this to inspect the plugs prior to timing. Now the engine should turn over easily. Hold you thumb down on one of the spark plug holes and have someone hand crank the engine a few turns while the thumb is in place against the hole. If no resistance is felt get in touch with the engine builder. If you start removing parts your engine builder will probably be hard to deal with.

Big hammer · 11-25-2022, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mundrwood

Hello
I have a rebuilt engine for 1930 Model A and finally finished install last week. Today went to crank the engine by hand to set the timing and could not find the dimple on the timing gear, took out a spark plug #1 and hand cranked, piston is not moving but the hand crank turns. It's been about 6 months since I got the engine back from the rebuilder. Should I take out plugs and remove starter, oil the cylinders and then try again?

Mark Underwood
Gig Harbor, WA

Any update ? A very strange issue you have there !

nkaminar · 11-25-2022, 10:42 AM

Weird. Is the pulley in front moving when hand cranking? Maybe the hand crank is not engaging correctly? I am also interested in learning what is found.

Try turning the engine over with the flywheel ring gear and a screw driver, or the starter.

Synchro909 · 11-25-2022, 04:38 PM

The OP has only 2 posts. Is this thread serious or is he just stirring us up?

11-24-2022, 05:43 PM	#2
Tacoma Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,025	Re: New Rebuilt Engine - Pistons not moving MMMM So I take it the engine has not been fired since you got it back. I would pull the rest of the plugs and slowly hand crank again to see if all the pistons are in fact moving. Did you get a warranty from the builder? Best contact him before anything is removed to avoid any potential warranty issues.

11-24-2022, 05:56 PM	#3
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,964	Re: New Rebuilt Engine - Pistons not moving Busted crankshaft? That would be odd,. Was the timing gear moving?

11-24-2022, 06:44 PM	#4
alexiskai Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Mebane NC Posts: 2,356	Re: New Rebuilt Engine - Pistons not moving Yeah, put a flashlight in through the hole for the timing pin and see whether that gear is moving. That’s the most likely spot for problems. You can also put the car in gear and push it back and forth, see if the piston moves.

11-24-2022, 07:01 PM	#5
Gary WA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Clinton,WA/Whidbey Island Posts: 4,105	Re: New Rebuilt Engine - Pistons not moving Are you sure you were looking at piston and not the valve? you could remove side timing cover and look to see if indeed timing gear etc are moving. Or like stated above push car in gear, might be just tight but you said couldn't find the dimple so i assume it is turning over. __________________ www.whidbeymodelaclub.com

11-24-2022, 07:12 PM	#6
LeonardS Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jamestown, ND Posts: 657	Re: New Rebuilt Engine - Pistons not moving Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Is the crankshaft nut just turning inside the crankshaft? Stripped threads in the crankshaft snout?

11-24-2022, 05:33 PM	#1
Mundrwood Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Gig Harbor, WA Posts: 4	New Rebuilt Engine - Pistons not moving Hello I have a rebuilt engine for 1930 Model A and finally finished install last week. Today went to crank the engine by hand to set the timing and could not find the dimple on the timing gear, took out a spark plug #1 and hand cranked, piston is not moving but the hand crank turns. It's been about 6 months since I got the engine back from the rebuilder. Should I take out plugs and remove starter, oil the cylinders and then try again? Mark Underwood Gig Harbor, WA

11-24-2022, 08:21 PM	#9
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: New Rebuilt Engine - Pistons not moving If the piston is near the top or bottom it takes quite a bit of crankshaft movement before the piston moves a lot. I think you need to re-check this, the crank turning with no piston movement on a rebuilt engine is really pretty close to an impossibility unless it was gross incompetence by the builder. Even gross imcompetence really doesn't cover that bad of an error. __________________ "There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."

11-24-2022, 11:07 PM	#12
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: New Rebuilt Engine - Pistons not moving A broken crankshaft is not at all unknown but as has been said, on an engine that hasn't even run???? I think we need to be looking elsewhere. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

11-25-2022, 01:09 AM	#13
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,964	Re: New Rebuilt Engine - Pistons not moving Well one thing for sure, it will be interesting what gets found.

11-25-2022, 02:18 AM	#14
john charlton Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,304	Re: New Rebuilt Engine - Pistons not moving Take the small timing cover off be aware there is a oil pan bolt up from underneath , When you turn the crank you can see if the timing wheel rotates . This is a very very odd never ever heard of this before . John in rare sunny morning Suffolk County England .

11-25-2022, 03:10 AM	#15
Fullraceflathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Chillicothe, Missouri Posts: 1,176	Re: New Rebuilt Engine - Pistons not moving Pull the oil fill tube out and you can see the crankshaft you may need a flashlight you will be able to see the crankshaft moving or not moving __________________ "If I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses." -Henry Ford "Primitive technology is not a design flaw" 1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup 1930 Gordon Smith Air Compressor 1941 Willy's Pickup 1960 Thunderbird-For Sale 1964 Buick Riviera 2x4 425 1965 Pontiac GTO, 455 Super Duty 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10, V-10 Viper 1977 Charger Jet Boat,460 Ford,Jacuzzi Jet Front Engine Nostalgia Dragster,Supercharged 296 "Fullrace Flathead" Ford Engine Build up on DVD ask

11-25-2022, 09:03 AM	#16
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,159	Re: New Rebuilt Engine - Pistons not moving perhaps it is stuck valves, they are more visible through the spark plug hole, there still isn’t a reply from the original poster

11-25-2022, 09:07 AM	#17
Fhane Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Stuart Florida Posts: 149	Re: New Rebuilt Engine - Pistons not moving I would not take anything apart just yet. As others have said, a piston not moving is highly unlikely. Remove all four plugs. Normally you would do this to inspect the plugs prior to timing. Now the engine should turn over easily. Hold you thumb down on one of the spark plug holes and have someone hand crank the engine a few turns while the thumb is in place against the hole. If no resistance is felt get in touch with the engine builder. If you start removing parts your engine builder will probably be hard to deal with.

11-25-2022, 10:42 AM	#19
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,901	Re: New Rebuilt Engine - Pistons not moving Weird. Is the pulley in front moving when hand cranking? Maybe the hand crank is not engaging correctly? I am also interested in learning what is found. Try turning the engine over with the flywheel ring gear and a screw driver, or the starter. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

11-25-2022, 04:38 PM	#20
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: New Rebuilt Engine - Pistons not moving The OP has only 2 posts. Is this thread serious or is he just stirring us up? __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.