I'm looking for advice here, I'm worried I might have locked up my motor.

I haven't driven my 85 f150 in about 2 or 3 weeks and was trying to move it out of my driveway. Normal starting procedure for me after that amount of time might require starter fluid and possibly a quick recharge to the battery. I did both.

Once I was done with all that, I attempted to start it and was able to turn it over about 8 or 9 times, got very close to getting it running then on the 10th attempt it only had a single click and zero motor or starter turnover.

I checked the battery, I think it was at 12.46...a little low but not terrible. I reattached the charger to get the battery back up over 12.6.
I started to snoop around further. Fuel is recent and should be fine, oil is fine (perfect level, great color).

Batter was back up over 12.6 so I attempted again, only a single click.
I used a breaker bar on the motor to try to get things moving and couldn't move it at all. I doubled checked and triple checked to make sure it wasn't in gear. Tried again, stuck.
I thumped the starter, tried again to turn it over. Single click.
Tried the breaker bar again, nothing. Can't budge it.

I'm super worried that I may have locked up the motor.

I've heard hydrolock possibly?

If you're able to respond, please remember I'm a marketing guy who can change brake pads, so I'm surely not an ace-mechanic. So please try to use small words

Also, I'm going to respond with a few videos.

 

Quick clip…

 

@Tonto Kowalski When hydrolocked, motor will turn backwards with a breaker bar on the crank. Also, it'll turn either way with the plugs out. Don't smoke while turning over with the plugs out.

 

Yea, I've tried clockwise and counterclockwise...I can't get it do budge either way.

To check for hydrolock properly, I'd need to take out all 6 plugs and then try to hand-crank, in either direction?
-Thanks for the tip on not-smoking

 

IS IT POSSIBLE that my starter is somehow a total POS and has the flywheel locked up?
Causing me to not be able to rotate things?

 

I don't believe the starter can lock the engine.

You try hitting the starter with a hammer and see if that will/would release anything that might be stuck with it.

Are you sure the battery terminal are clean and tight ?

 

Do you have the capability to have the battery load tested? I've had plenty of batteries show good voltage on a multimeter, but as soon as a load starts to pull amps, the voltage drops too quickly to run the starter (I think I'm currently seeing this myself). I am especially suspicious of this because the batteries have been sitting a while. Try jump starting it. If you are concerned about hydrolock, pull the plugs before your first try.

 

Timing chain can stretch or break, and wad up jamming the crank.

 

It's okay. We don't judge. And don't be so hard on yourself. You still have a potentially very important role in society. When the zombie apocalypse comes, we need people we can feed to the zombies to keep the rest of us safe.

It has been my honor to stand up for you.


And I'm going to respond through the medium of interpretive dance.

First, in the immortal words of Douglas Adams:

Don't Panic!

The odds of causing major damage during a start attempt? Practically zero. You're not going to seize a piston to a cylinder wall under such cold and slow motion.

What size breaker bar are you using? It takes a lot of effort to turn the crankshaft with the spark plugs installed. I'd say you'd want at least a two-footer.

I'd suggest first pulling the spark plugs so you're not fighting compression. Give the breaker bar another try.

If still no joy, remove the starter. I wonder if it somehow jammed against the flywheel. Undo two bolts and you'd know.

​​​​​​​If the crankshaft still won't spin with the plugs and starter removed, then we can consider panicking. But until then? No...

 

Lets hope that's the worst of it.

 

Don't scare the poor guy! He mentioned 6 spark plugs, so it’s a straight 6. Timing gears, no chain.

 

What if the gears broke and a tooth is jammed in there and stuck...hey it could happen...maybe someday, pigs will fly LOL

 

I skipped over some of the posts but yes 6 plugs thinking 300 six and it would have gears.
Did you hear any bad noises just before it stopped and would not turn over?

And yes a starter could jam up the works.
Pull all six (6) plugs and see itit will turn over by hand and if not undo the starter from the bell housing and try again by hand.

Is the truck auto or manual?
If manual and feel brave put it in gear and rock it a little.
If the starter is jammed it may break it and parts fall to the bottom of the bell housing.
That is why it is best to unbolt the starter.
Dave ----

 

Why do you think the starter is a POS ?

You may want to pull the bolts and see if its OK.

 

Or maybe while he had his backed turned, some YouTube prankster filled the crankcase with quick setting cement. Lots of possibilities, but probably best to concentrate on the more likely scenarios. At least for now…