Engine problem

W

willobs

Senior Member
Went to look at a local club members 31 2dr. He was going slow and engine locked up,full of oil no overheat. He said he had been hearing noise like fan rubbing. With starter off engine turns ccw very easy by flywheel or fan, if it goes clock wise turns very little and metal to metal. He has checked u joint and clutch. I thought front pulley was sticking out, nut was tight, took side timing gear cover off turned over fiber gear is fine. Thanks for any advise
 
As suggested often, try looking at easy things first.

a. Try removing all four (4) plugs to reduce compression resistance.

b. Then try rotating engine again and listen carefully.

c. With a flashlight, look inside the combustion chamber while engine is slowly rotated.

Once had a valve head break off of the valve stem which slide into the combustion chamber while going slow ...... engine and wheels locked up while in gear ...... however, engine would not rotate CW or CCW in this particular case.

Sounds interesting ..... let us know what you find.
 
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Engine turns ccw very easy almost like no compression, no noise. Can even turn with the fan will turn complete turn only ccw, rotor turns
 
Hi Will,

Is this correct?:

1. The starter, the side timing cover, and the distributor body were removed for observation of moving engine parts. **(See below also).

2. Then turned engine "very" easily with the fan CCW, (i.e., in the opposite direction from normal running), whereby it was observed that the flywheel also turns CCW, and the timing gear turns CW, and rotor turns CW because the engine is turning CCW.

3. Next, the engine turns very slightly CW then stops with a noticeable "clunk" .


** (Starter "off" to some may mean the starter switch was not depressed and if the starter is not physically "off" of the vehicle .... for example, could the ring gear be binding on the starter gear.)

Sounds like a problem where one might possibly need to go home to grab a lantern and a lunch prior to fixing same.

Please keep in touch.
 
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Yes starter is off vehicle, owner just called he pulled the pan all looks good
I was thinking something in clutch or catching on flywheel the one way turn had me this kind get a broken rod, most everything should lock bothways
 
Heard of more than once (years ago), about lots of old caked oil left in the bottom of the Model A flywheel housings mixed in with nearly a handful of starter Bendix bolts caused by a well worn flywheel ring gear that sheared off many starter bolts.

All of a sudden, one or more of these starter bolts would get rearranged and get hit by the ring gear.

Just one of many overheard vintage wild guesses from many miles away where we can neither hear nor see what is going on.
 
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Just thinking, "maybe" it has insert bearings??? "Maybe" bearing shells are worn & one tries to climb over the other one & locks it in one direction only???
Bill W.
 
H. L. Chauvin said:
Heard of more than once (years ago), about lots of old caked oil left in the bottom of the Model A flywheel housings mixed in with nearly a handful of starter Bendix bolts caused by a well worn flywheel ring gear that sheared off many starter bolts.

All of a sudden, one or more of these starter bolts would get rearranged and get hit by the ring gear.

Just one of many overheard vintage wild guesses from many miles away where we can neither hear nor see what is going on.
Click to expand...

I thought i remember someone on here once had this happen but instead of stopping the engine it punched a hole in the flywheel housing...
 
Did you rotate the engine with the pan off? Does it lock up on a TDC or not? If so pull the head and inspect.
 
I would put a strong magnet on the flywheel ring gear and turn the engine over to see if it picks up some hardware. My first guess is a bolt jammimg in the ring gear, but you'd think if this happened while the engine was running, it would poke a hole in the housing.
 
Drop the pan, pull the head. It does not sound good at all. My guess (and i pray I'm wrong) is that something major went bad in the engine.
 
Thanks for the update. So many times a person asks a question and we get no feedback on what the problem or fix was. Getting feedback is how I learn and can maybe pass on someday.

Glad you found your problem:cool::cool:
 
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