Motor Stuck?

[neds29]

Well, I've been pleasantly fussing around with my '29 CCPU- rebuilt the water pump, installed a new radiator and hoses, and put in new front motor mount springs, all of which were missing. To fit the motor mount springs I jacked up the front of the motor after removing the rear mount bolts. Everything went together just fine, but now the engine seems stuck and won't turn over. Something "popped" when I jacked up the motor and now I wonder what damage I may have done. It ran fine before I fixed it :-). Nothing appears to be obviously wrong, and I've pulled the plugs to verify that there's nothing in the pistons causing obstructions.
Any thoughts or ideas?
Thanks, Ned

[Rusty Homestead Fl]

Can you turn it over by hand? (with the hand crank) If so, you may have a starter problem. You may have to pull the starter to check further.

[newshirt]

Is it possible that the starter just got stuck on the flywheel ring gear and needs to be dislodged? Rock the car back and forth while in high gear?

[Tom Wesenberg]

What do you mean by something popped? Did you hear something crack or break?

[neds29]

I should have mentioned that I've pulled the starter (twice) and now have it out. It's fine. Tried to rock it back and forth while in gear too. Nothing. Crank won't do anything either. It's really stuck! Is there anything behind the motor (clutch, etc.) which can get out of alignment if you jack up the front of the motor? I had it jacked up pretty hard to fit the motor mount stuff in. Very perplexing as it ran fine prior to my messing with it.

[neds29]

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Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

What do you mean by something popped? Did you hear something crack or break?

Just a "pop" of sorts. Hard to describe, impossible to say from where, except it seemed to be from behind the motor.

[Tom Wesenberg]

The front of the motor shouldn't have to be jacked up too much to replace the mount and/or springs. Did you remove the throttle linkage before you jacked up the motor "hard"?
Could the flywheel cover have cracked? Maybe an old starter bolt is jammed in the flywheel teeth?

[willobs]

Mabee some interference with the front pulley from installing front mount springs? I would check everything done before this happened!

[Brentwood Bob]

was the water pump free with clearance when you reinstalled it? You want it to turn with no gasket when cold. then when you install the gasket between the head and the water pump You will have proper clearance.
Does the hand crank fit into the front pully indicating proper alignment after you installed new springs?

[Brentwood Bob]

Another thought, you might have the front yoke too tight. The castellated nut should only be on tight enough to install the cotter pin assuming you have the correct OEM nut.

[colin1928]

Check the flywheel housing for damage or something jamming the flywheel

[Brentwood Bob]

the lower inspection plate is removed to look for something that should not be there like a loose starter bendix bolt wedged in the bottom of the flywheel.

[James Rogers]

My theory. Someone previous, lost a bendix bolt in the flywheel housing. When the engine was jacked up in the front, this bolt shifted to the rear and got under the teeth of the flywheel and jammed it. The only way to get it out is to remove the motor or the transmission and remove it. You could also remove the starter and use a large screwdriver or medium prybar to rotate the engine backwards by prying the flywheel by the teeth on the starter hole to dislodge the bolt. Once the bolt is loose you might be able to get it out by using a strong magnet or a glob of grease on the flywheel and rotate it to pick up the bolt.

[tbirdtbird]

i think you are onto something.....
maybe an inspection mirror would help....

[neds29]

Just did what James suggested and it seems to have freed up the motor! Maybe if I get a magnet and fish around the bell housing I might be able to get whatever it might be out of there since I'd rather not pull the motor, especially after getting things properly installed. I'll keep you posted.
Thanks, Ned

[Tom Wesenberg]

Buy or make a magnet on a bendable wire so you can form it to curve around the flywheel and try to pick up some loose hardware. I would think fishing around through the top cover would be the best way to try to remove the old hardware.

[James Rogers]

Now that the flywheel is loose and the motor turns, lets try to get that bolt out. Remove the wishbone and use a magnet glued to a coathanger through the hole by bending it to search around inside the bellhousing. If you can't find it that way, try the same thing through the starter hole. It is going to be tough because the magnet will try to stick to everything but you can do it.

This is kind of like loosing a band nut in the transmission of a Model T. You think what you are doing is tough, try fixing that once. I bet you won't drop one again.

[montanafordman]

I have a harbor freight 2-in-1 pickup tool that has saved my bacon numerous times. I paid a couple dollars for it years ago and is one of those cheap Chinese tools that's actually worthwhile. It has a flexible body/shaft to it with a button on one end, and retracting "claws" on the other end with small magnets on either side of the "claws." When I was working on my F150 I dropped a throttle body/intake bolt down underneath the intake manifold between the cylinder heads and was able to fish it out with this tool fairly quickly (blindly too might I add). I have had numerous other instances like that one so if you can find something like this I would recommend it.

http://www.harborfreight.com/24-inch...ool-94162.html

[neds29]

Harbor Freight here we come. There's one right down Warner in Tempe. I wasn't the one who dropped whatever it is down the bellhousing, but I most certainly get it out. Thanks for the all of tips guys. I will let you know how it works out.
Ned

[Purdy Swoft]

I have had good luck appling a big blob of thick grease on the flywheel and turning the engine over with the hand crank while someone watches, through the hole where the starter would mount. When the flywheel comes back around, usually the bolt will be stuck in the blob of grease. If you've got thick grease, it won't cost a cent with this method.