Engine seized???

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Engine seized???
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Pletcher on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 - 09:53 pm:

I started up my 26 T Sunday afternoon. It started well, and I backed it out unto the drive way. Before guests came I moved it back into the garage. Later I tried to start it and give rides. The starter would not turn the engine. I decided to crank it. When I lifted on the crank, the engine would not turn. It felt like one could lift the car by the crank. I tried to turn the engine by engaging the lever and rolling the car. That wouldn't work either. Could the engine be hung up on the starter? Any other possibilities?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rion Schulze on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 - 09:58 pm:

I had the same problem once after my T shut off. After much trouble shooting, I made a last ditch effort to raise the left rear wheel and with much effort and force, pull the wheel in reverse, jerking it and all of the sudden it freed up. Never knew what the problem was.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Thode Chehalis Washington on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 - 10:02 pm:

Sounds like it could be a hung starter. Put it in high gear (brake lever forward) and try to rock the car forward and back. If that does not, maybe pull or loosed the starter.

Jim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James Michael Rogers on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 - 10:02 pm:

Put the car in high gear and rock it back and forth. You should hear a clunk when the starter releases. Might have to rock it pretty hard.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Wells on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 - 10:22 pm:

Same thing happened to my car once only. I rocked it in high gear as the others mentioned. Problem solved.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Zibell on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 - 10:23 pm:

If you do pull the starter, this is just a friendly reminder to remove the Bendix first.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Pletcher on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 - 10:33 pm:

Thanks, everyone. I mentioned in the opening post that I tried rocking the car with the brake lever forward. I guess I was too gentle. it sounds like that worked for you fellows.

I have to say I was pleased with how easy it started Sunday. It was stored all winter, but started as soon as the carb filled. I usually turn the engine over a few times with the key off and the choke pulled. Then key on, no choke, and hit starter.

I'm hoping for some decent weather. I'm not used to scraping snow of windshields on April 15.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Verne Shirk on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 - 10:42 pm:

Has the engine been rebuilt recently? We had a problem like that and it was the unfinished fit of the wrist pins in the piston. They were too tight and had seized.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Pletcher on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 - 11:07 pm:

Verne, It's an old restoration. My father-in-law did it in the mid '70s. The car runs well and is a daily driver in the summer.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By R. S. Cruickshank on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 - 11:50 pm:

Larry, if when you stopped the engine the last time and didn't hear a clunk or when you tried to start it it didn't clunk, I think the guys are correct that the starter is locked. However, if by chance you heard a clunk it could be a magnet or part of a magnet locking the flywheel against the pan. Rocking it will not usually release it. Experience is a good teacher!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron on Thursday, April 17, 2014 - 06:46 am:

Larry - how'd you make out?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Pletcher on Friday, April 18, 2014 - 06:19 pm:

I'm still having trouble. I tried rocking the car in high gear both forward and back. At times I could feel a wheel beginning to slip on the garage floor. I either need a friend to help or I have a bigger problem. Just not sure. Tomorrow I may have a chance to get a couple of friends to help.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry VanOoteghem on Friday, April 18, 2014 - 07:09 pm:

Larry,

Remove the bendix cover and see if the starter bendix is in the engaged position. If it is, you can turn the shaft counterclockwise, (when viewed looking from the back towards the front of the car), to disengage it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By R. S. Cruickshank on Saturday, April 19, 2014 - 12:47 pm:

Larry, have you been able to free up the engine?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Val Soupios on Saturday, April 19, 2014 - 12:56 pm:

I had it happen to me on the one car that has a starter and no amount of rocking would free it up. I had to take the Bendix cover off to free it up. I took that opportunity to slot the cover to make installation and removal of the cover easier thinking that this was going to be a chronic problem. Apparently having the slot in the cover cures the problem as it never happened again.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Pletcher on Saturday, April 19, 2014 - 09:58 pm:

Time is my problem now. It will probably be a week until I can get back to the T. I am a volunteer at the local high school, taking two small cars to Shell's mileage competition in Houston. We will compete with a fuel injected 50cc Honda, and a Yanmar diesel. This will be our fourth year at Houston. We won the diesel class in 2011 and 1012. We feel both cars are capable of doing 1200 mpg, but that depends on the drivers and our ability to coast. Hopefully I can get back to working on the T when I get back.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Clayton Swanson on Sunday, April 20, 2014 - 10:03 am:

1200! really? i thought my 91 crx-hf was good at 55mpg


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Thode Chehalis Washington on Sunday, April 20, 2014 - 11:01 am:

1200 in nothing, 2013 results from:
http://www.shell.com/global/environment-society/ecomarathon.html



Some amazing results but not really very useful vehicles.

Jim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Pletcher on Sunday, April 20, 2014 - 11:05 am:

To be fair, this is a "run and coast race". We must average 15 mph. Teams typically run up to 20+ and coast down to 12, and then repeat. Last years car could run to 20 and coast to 12 and average 15. Our best diesel was 1276 mpg two years ago. Our best coasting gas car did 1200 mpg.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Pletcher on Sunday, April 20, 2014 - 11:14 am:

You're right. Laval University's car is amazing. High school and college compete together, placing us at a disadvantage. The good thing is the amount of learning that goes on during the preparing of the car. Many of our kids go on to engineering schools, which pleases us.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Clayton Swanson on Sunday, April 20, 2014 - 10:08 pm:

how do they do the run? circle track? who can drive 3000 miles without stopping, which would hurt the results


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Pletcher on Monday, April 21, 2014 - 06:41 am:

The competition runs on a .6 mile course on city streets. The start finish is a 5 block straight in front of the George R Brown Convention Center. Shell volunteers measure gas consumption by volume - measured before and after the run. The cars run 10 laps making it a 6 mile event. The cars must average 15 mph.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Pletcher on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 - 09:43 pm:

Didn't think I'd have the time, but I tried freeing the starter this evening. I tried a wrench to turn it counter clock wise as was suggested. It turned out that light tapping with a wood block did that nicely. I spun the starter briefly before putting the cap back on.

But I have a bigger problem. When cranking the starter, I hear a heavy rattle in the crank case. I pulled the transmission cover but all I can see is the back side of the flywheel. I'm not sure what to do next. I'm afraid I'm getting beyond my pay grade. I'm worried about a magnet laying in the crank case. Am I missing any other possibilities?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andy Loso St Joseph, MN on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 - 09:59 pm:

Something from the starter bendix? Does your magneto work? You might try removing the starter, BENDIX FIRST. Then hand crank the car and see if the magnets pick it up and bring it into view through the starter hole?


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