Flat head Motor Stuck

J

jerryv

Junior Member
34 ford motor stuck, was running 4 years ago, parked it in garage, now I tried to start it and it won't turn over. Filled the cylinders with penertrating oil 3 months ago, however it still is stuck, Does anyone know and easy way to free it without taking it all apart? jv18@verizon . net
 
Put in high gear. Try rocking forward/backward. May be enough to unstick whatever's stuck. Might be stuck valves.

Jack E/NJ
 
Just a gut feeling, but if it doesn't free off quite easily by rocking like described above - then you might need to plan to pull the motor - If it is really stuck then rings will be sticking and the motor will smoke.
The hard thing to do would be to pull the motor and just clean and free everything off (I'm thinking rings here) without getting into a full rebuild.

I dunno - only you know the condition of the motor - is it an old smoker or a low miles rebuilt unit - all needs to be taken into consideration.

Mart.
 
I'm sure that many will disagree with this,but we unstick engines with drained out motor oil,the groatier,the better.When the engine does finally unstick,the rings will not be stuck.We have used this simple,cheap treatment many times with great success.The only engine that refused to unstick was a V8 Studebaker.When I finally gave up and pulled it,one connecting rod was so stuck in a piston that after putting the piston in a vice,the rod sounded like atuning fork when hit with a hammer. James
 
did you pull the plugs before trying to start engine? you just may-outside chance-have hydraulic lock caused by oil in the cylinders, but probably stuck rings from sitting, use some MMO in the cylinders and try to rock like Jack said
 
James wrote>>>after putting the piston in a vice,the rod sounded like atuning fork when hit with a hammer.>>>

Now that what us wrist-pin cognoscenti call "really stuck". 8^)

Jack E/NJ
 
My flathead was stuck after sitting for 16+ years in a wet barn. I dont know much at all about engines, but I got mine unstuck and it runs great now. I pulled all the rusty plugs out, and poured transmission fluid, (its all I had laying around) in each hole, then let it sit for about 1 week, then put a big crescent wrench on the crank nut and worked it back and forth slowly till it broke free, it was tough. Changed oil, replaced starter, points, plugs, wires, cleaned carb, blew out fuel line and gas tank, rebuilt fuel pump, tried it and she fired right up!
 
I found doing the above and filling the cooling system with boiling water assists with unsiezing stuck engines I have had success with this personally, but only once, worth a try.;)
 
I pulled the head on my flathead one time and it was the same problem as listed above a stuck starter bendix that did not retract...rocking it back and forth did not help this one it was bound to the flywheel...I pulled the starter off and the engine turned freely by hand....got it running and had the same problem took a rubber malet and tapped the starter and you could hear it retract....put the starter back in and snugged it down without torking bolts and it started every time......gone the other route also....gump
 
I like to pull the heads at least for a look. Mine had some cracked rings (unstuck by a previous owner with a breaker bar). I'm glad it didn't start (low compression). I didn't notice them til I pulled a piston.
 
Mark; yes good info. I like the hot water, by Fairlane, I would put some heat under the engine, like a camp stove under the oil pan , and radiator, good if the oil boils, but do be safe, also MMO. in all cylinders and rock it back and forth, ...Please let us know how it all works , and another one lives.. "I hope"...OLD...BILL
 
One thing that gets overlooked is the possibility of a stuck valve or valves. I purchased a motor once that the previous owner had tried to start by towing the vehicle then engaging the clutch. It turned all right but it drove a valve stem through a lifter top and busted the cam shaft. That valve just wasn't ready to move yet. It took me a lot of time to get that old turd apart but it finally gave up after pulling the crank, cam, and lifter out and whacking it through from ther other side. All the pistons came out easy on that one since they popped free at the clutch dump. It was just the valves that were frozen up heavy duty.

Break a leg on that one.
Kerby
 
"34 ford motor stuck, was running 4 years ago, parked it in garage, now I tried to start it and it won't turn over. Filled the cylinders with penertrating oil 3 months ago, however it still is stuck, Does anyone know and easy way to free it without taking it all apart?"

I'll tell you how to free it up IF you can tell me HOW STUCK it is.

If you filled the cylinders 3 months ago with penetrating oil ... and it's still stuck ....

... and you're not interested in pulling the intake and heads????

You have a 1934 Ford.

Reminds me of the old joke about the cop who goes up to the car on a Lover's Lane, shines his flashlight in the window and says, "What's going on in there?"

The guy inside says, "Nothing! Nothing!"

The cop replies, "Well, you hold the light and let a man in there!"

Rotor has suggested a step in the right direction. Remove the intake and make sure each valve is free. Remove the heads and check the condition of each cylinder. You might have to rap each piston to loosen it.

Some engines are "lightly" stuck ... others are welded stuck.

... a '34 qualifies for some extra effort.
 
Had a 35 block that was so stuck so I dropped the crank, slipped out the pistons, removed all the valves, the camshaft was frozen solid!!!
 
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