The Ford Barn

ron103140 · 10-20-2015, 05:25 AM

I drove my roadster into the garage last night, every thing sounded fine. I closed the fuel valve off and let the engine run out of fuel. I went to start it this morning and it is completely locked up. Can't budge it with hand crank. Plenty of battery. I did check the oil and found it to be way over filled. Why I don't know. Before I start screwing something up that doesent even relate to my problem, I am asking for your advice as to where to start looking for the trouble. The engine has a "C" head, a "B" carburator and intake. No other changes. Thanks for any help in advance. Ron

Mike V. Florida · 10-20-2015, 05:36 AM

Remove the plugs and see if it turns over.

SeaSlugs · 10-20-2015, 05:49 AM

smell the oil, if it smells like gas the engine is hydrolocked or youve been running entirely too rich.

oil could be overfilled due to headgasket blown and filled with water, could have also filled a piston or two with water.

so yes pull the plugs and see if you can turn it over with the crank.

gweilbaker · 10-20-2015, 06:01 AM

Could the starter be jammed? Put in 3rd, key off, and rock car by pushing forward and backward.

Mitch//pa · 10-20-2015, 06:23 AM

starter stuck or remove the fan belt

James Rogers · 10-20-2015, 06:39 AM

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gweilbaker is correct. Sometimes the starter will lock up without making a sound. It will feel like you are pushing on a rock instead of the starter button.

1crosscut · 10-20-2015, 06:44 AM

After removing the plugs turn the engine over with the hand crank. If the head gasket has leaked (my suspicion since the oil level is high) and filled a cylinder up water will squirt out of the plug(s) and make a hell of a mess for you if you use the starter.
Did you pop the radiator cap and check the water level?

chap52 · 10-20-2015, 07:07 AM

1crosscut x2. Is the oil "milky", is the radiator level low?

Will N · 10-20-2015, 07:17 AM

I vote for hydrolocked. Check the radiator water level.

Tom Wesenberg · 10-20-2015, 08:02 AM

The first thing I'd do, since the oil shows too full, is crack open the oil drain plug and see if antifreeze comes out. If it does then pull the pan and head so you can clean out the pan and check for a blown head gasket or cracks, etc.

I did mention seeing antifreeze in the oil pan because I know no one would use plain water in the cooling system.

kenparker · 10-20-2015, 08:18 AM

As Tom says, Crack the Drain Plug and see if water/antifreeze comes out. It is not unusual for a tablespoon of water to be in the very bottom of the oil pan. What you are looking for is more than a tablespoon. The water atin the bottom of thepan raised the oil lever. Also remove the plugs - carefully. If your headgasket has leaked overnight, one or more of the cylinders will be full of water - hydrolocked.

I had to replace a customers engine - '31 model S Coupe- last spring because it had hydrolocked in the fall of 2014. Not knowing what the problem was, He let it sit all winter. Come spring when the problem was finally diagonosed, cylinder walls were rusted and the rings were stuck to the cyl walls. The plugs were also rusty.

We replaced the engine and I have since rebuilt his damaged engine. The bottm end was not damaged.

Gist of this is do not let the water sit in the engine where it does not belong. Water in the cylinders is a NO_NO. ken

Tom Wesenberg · 10-20-2015, 08:28 AM

Ken's right about getting the water/antifreeze out as quickly as possible. Also don't turn the engine over until any water/antifreeze is completely drained from the pan, so the oil pump doesn't pick it up and spread it to the bearings and valve train. Remember, it will also be in the dipper tray, so I'd pull the oil pan before turning the engine over.

Rainmaker Ron · 10-20-2015, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gweilbaker

Could the starter be jammed? Put in 3rd, key off, and rock car by pushing forward and backward.

You nailed it with the stuck starter! Please note that pushing forward in High gear will release the bendix. Pushing backward will only lock tighter.

Rainmaker

tbirdtbird · 10-20-2015, 10:19 AM

"stuck starter!"
does not account for way over full oil......

Marshall57 · 10-20-2015, 05:10 PM

If you have any doubt, change the oil. Take a look at it and make sure it is all good, no water and doesn't smell like gas. Changing the oil might be needed and it's cheep insurance when in doubt.

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 10-20-2015, 05:48 PM

Geez, it sure would be easy for someone's head to start spinning as fast as a windmill reading some of these answers huh!

Some good thoughts to ponder though....

700rpm · 10-20-2015, 07:48 PM

Try the easy stuff first.

ron103140 · 10-21-2015, 06:30 AM

What a lot of knowledge. I am very happy to be a Ford Barner. I had no clue where to start checking my problem. Now I do. The thing I don't understand is how it can lock up so tight that I can't budge it at all with the crank. It won't move a fraction. I'll pull the plugs first to check for water, then crack the oil pan drain to see if water is there. The oil is not milky so this had to have happened overnight. Thanks all for the help and I will let you know the findings here I hope. Ron

James Rogers · 10-21-2015, 09:45 PM

Starter locked.

jw hash · 10-21-2015, 11:18 PM

before you go into a lot of work, put the car in high gear with the emergency brake off and try rocking the car back and forth. if it has water on top of a piston it will turn over backwards and if the starter is the problem it should break it loose.

10-20-2015, 05:25 AM	#1
ron103140 Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 74	Engine locked up I drove my roadster into the garage last night, every thing sounded fine. I closed the fuel valve off and let the engine run out of fuel. I went to start it this morning and it is completely locked up. Can't budge it with hand crank. Plenty of battery. I did check the oil and found it to be way over filled. Why I don't know. Before I start screwing something up that doesent even relate to my problem, I am asking for your advice as to where to start looking for the trouble. The engine has a "C" head, a "B" carburator and intake. No other changes. Thanks for any help in advance. Ron

10-20-2015, 05:36 AM	#2
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Engine locked up Remove the plugs and see if it turns over. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

10-20-2015, 05:49 AM	#3
SeaSlugs Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central, IL Posts: 3,968	Re: Engine locked up smell the oil, if it smells like gas the engine is hydrolocked or youve been running entirely too rich. oil could be overfilled due to headgasket blown and filled with water, could have also filled a piston or two with water. so yes pull the plugs and see if you can turn it over with the crank. __________________ 1929 Model AA - Need long splash aprons!

10-20-2015, 06:01 AM	#4
gweilbaker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lindenhurst, IL Posts: 792	Re: Engine locked up Could the starter be jammed? Put in 3rd, key off, and rock car by pushing forward and backward.

10-20-2015, 06:23 AM	#5
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: Engine locked up starter stuck or remove the fan belt Last edited by Mitch//pa; 10-20-2015 at 06:42 AM.

10-20-2015, 06:39 AM	#6
James Rogers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 3,104	Re: Engine locked up Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) gweilbaker is correct. Sometimes the starter will lock up without making a sound. It will feel like you are pushing on a rock instead of the starter button. __________________ http://www.model-a-ford-4bangers.com/

10-20-2015, 06:44 AM	#7
1crosscut Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 1,907	Re: Engine locked up After removing the plugs turn the engine over with the hand crank. If the head gasket has leaked (my suspicion since the oil level is high) and filled a cylinder up water will squirt out of the plug(s) and make a hell of a mess for you if you use the starter. Did you pop the radiator cap and check the water level? __________________ Dave / Lincoln Nebraska

10-20-2015, 07:07 AM	#8
chap52 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Marana Arizona Posts: 1,776	Re: Engine locked up 1crosscut x2. Is the oil "milky", is the radiator level low?

10-20-2015, 07:17 AM	#9
Will N Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,101	Re: Engine locked up I vote for hydrolocked. Check the radiator water level.

10-20-2015, 08:02 AM	#10
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Engine locked up The first thing I'd do, since the oil shows too full, is crack open the oil drain plug and see if antifreeze comes out. If it does then pull the pan and head so you can clean out the pan and check for a blown head gasket or cracks, etc. I did mention seeing antifreeze in the oil pan because I know no one would use plain water in the cooling system.

10-20-2015, 08:18 AM	#11
kenparker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Van, Texas Posts: 1,122	Re: Engine locked up As Tom says, Crack the Drain Plug and see if water/antifreeze comes out. It is not unusual for a tablespoon of water to be in the very bottom of the oil pan. What you are looking for is more than a tablespoon. The water atin the bottom of thepan raised the oil lever. Also remove the plugs - carefully. If your headgasket has leaked overnight, one or more of the cylinders will be full of water - hydrolocked. I had to replace a customers engine - '31 model S Coupe- last spring because it had hydrolocked in the fall of 2014. Not knowing what the problem was, He let it sit all winter. Come spring when the problem was finally diagonosed, cylinder walls were rusted and the rings were stuck to the cyl walls. The plugs were also rusty. We replaced the engine and I have since rebuilt his damaged engine. The bottm end was not damaged. Gist of this is do not let the water sit in the engine where it does not belong. Water in the cylinders is a NO_NO. ken

10-20-2015, 08:28 AM	#12
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Engine locked up Ken's right about getting the water/antifreeze out as quickly as possible. Also don't turn the engine over until any water/antifreeze is completely drained from the pan, so the oil pump doesn't pick it up and spread it to the bearings and valve train. Remember, it will also be in the dipper tray, so I'd pull the oil pan before turning the engine over.

10-20-2015, 10:19 AM	#14
tbirdtbird BANNED Join Date: May 2012 Location: inside your RAM Posts: 3,134	Re: Engine locked up "stuck starter!" does not account for way over full oil...... __________________ '31 180A

10-20-2015, 05:10 PM	#15
Marshall57 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Elko Nevada Posts: 217	Re: Engine locked up If you have any doubt, change the oil. Take a look at it and make sure it is all good, no water and doesn't smell like gas. Changing the oil might be needed and it's cheep insurance when in doubt.

10-20-2015, 05:48 PM	#16
BRENT in 10-uh-C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern Tennessee Posts: 11,508	Re: Engine locked up Geez, it sure would be easy for someone's head to start spinning as fast as a windmill reading some of these answers huh! Some good thoughts to ponder though.... __________________ . BRENT in 10-uh-C . www.model-a-ford.com ...(...Finally Updated!! ) .

10-20-2015, 07:48 PM	#17
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,902	Re: Engine locked up Try the easy stuff first. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

10-21-2015, 06:30 AM	#18
ron103140 Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 74	Re: Engine locked up What a lot of knowledge. I am very happy to be a Ford Barner. I had no clue where to start checking my problem. Now I do. The thing I don't understand is how it can lock up so tight that I can't budge it at all with the crank. It won't move a fraction. I'll pull the plugs first to check for water, then crack the oil pan drain to see if water is there. The oil is not milky so this had to have happened overnight. Thanks all for the help and I will let you know the findings here I hope. Ron

10-21-2015, 09:45 PM	#19
James Rogers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 3,104	Re: Engine locked up Starter locked. __________________ http://www.model-a-ford-4bangers.com/

10-21-2015, 11:18 PM	#20
jw hash Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auburn Washington Posts: 2,552	Re: Engine locked up before you go into a lot of work, put the car in high gear with the emergency brake off and try rocking the car back and forth. if it has water on top of a piston it will turn over backwards and if the starter is the problem it should break it loose.