Motor Suddenly Stuck

braol

braol

Senior Member
This is really weird: I've been driving my '31 Model A all summer. Last time was 4 days ago. I get in the car tonight and it started to turn over for a split second and then stopped. I thought the battery was dead but light are good. I then, with the brake off, I then tried to rock the car in gear with the plugs out and the engine won't spin. I can't hand crank the engine either...like it's seized. I never heard of a perfectly fine running car suddenly suffer a seized engine. the last time I drove it I literally drove around the block and then home, not like I was on some long road trip and melted the engine down without oil in it or something. Any ideas?????
 
Check and see if the starter is hung in. Unbolt the starter, you may hear a big snap as you loosen the bolts, which would be the Bendix returning. Or it could be a bad Bendix. Either way, that's what I would check next.

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Sounds like your starter bendix got jammed, a fairly common occurence with these cars. What I was taught to do was to put the car in 3rd gear and push from the back to unjam it which has worked for me.
 
chrs1961815 said:
Sounds like your starter bendix got jammed, a fairly common occurence with these cars. What I was taught to do was to put the car in 3rd gear and push from the back to unjam it which has worked for me.
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Ok, before I break something let me make sure: push it from the BACK? Just making sure before I do something stupid...
 
I never had any luck rocking the car to release the stuck bendix,If I had the problem I would back out the three bolts and kick the starter and you would hear a loud snap.I don't thing I can lift my leg that high anymore.
 
I will update this evening/tomorrow on my success or failure. It HAS to be the starter. If not, I know what I'll be doing this Fall...engine pull. Eeeek.
 
Once you get starter loose look closely at the shaft and check to be sure that it is not bent.

A bent shaft will be more likely to hang up in the future.
 
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1931 flamingo said:
BEFORE you remove the starter, "bang" it with a hammer. Might free it up. JMO and has worked for me.
Paul in CT
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Alright!! Actually fixing it with a hammer would be great...how often can you REALLY fix something by just banging on it with a hammer?!
 
Do not push it forward. That will just jam it more or break something. Push the car back and don’t bang on anything.
 
I put mine in 2nd gear and get a friend in front and me in back and rock it back and forth hard and it pops right back , get in and start it up. dont be afraid to rock it hard. take keys out of car !!!!!
 
This is one of those times when a block of wood and a very large whammer is your friend

I had one stuck so tight that i had to take out the three bolts , then wail on it, the all of a sudden sproing! Rocking the car wouldn't budge it.
 
Closure: The hammer wouldn't do it and neither would rocking the car. I removed the starter bolts (and it was still wedged in there), whacked on it again with the hammer, and finally resorted to rocking both the car and the unbolted starter. Finally it went SNAP and I was on the road again. As the kids were clamouring for ice cream and a Model A ride I deferred the starter shaft checks until next weekend.

Thanks ALL for the comments and tips.
 
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