Free up frozen engine?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 808
Likes: 2
From: east central Illinois
Free up frozen engine?
The engine in my truck has been frozen since I got it. My dad and I have tried a few things to free it up but no luck yet. We took the spark plugs out and lifter cover off. We poured penetrating oil in the spark plug holes and around the lifters. The valves are free. Dad jacked up one of the rear wheels and tried to turn it. It wouldn't budge. He also hooked a battery up to the starter. Still nothing.
He said he could get his tractor out and drag me down the driveway while I let the clutch in and out to see if that helps. That seems like a pretty violent last resort. Of course, he has a lot more experience with this than I do. Any suggestions for freeing up my engine? Anything we should avoid doing?
Thanks!
Kevin Kessler
1953 Ford F-100
He said he could get his tractor out and drag me down the driveway while I let the clutch in and out to see if that helps. That seems like a pretty violent last resort. Of course, he has a lot more experience with this than I do. Any suggestions for freeing up my engine? Anything we should avoid doing?
Thanks!
Kevin Kessler
1953 Ford F-100
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 808
Likes: 2
From: east central Illinois
Free up frozen engine?
OK, I'll check that. I also did a search of this board's archive and found some good tips. We'll try gently rocking the truck back and forth to see if that does anything. I suppose popping the clutch won't hurt if I let it out slowly. We've been putting PB Blaster on the lifters and automatic transmission fluid in the cylinders. I guess we just need to show a little more patience. 
Kevin Kessler
1953 Ford F-100
Kevin Kessler
1953 Ford F-100
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 2
From: Southern New Hampshire
Free up frozen engine?
What engine are we discussing here?
Generally, you can put a big breaker bar on the crank snout nut and try moving it in reverse first.
If you get any movement then go the other direction. Keep going back and forth until it frees up.
With the heads on I like to fill the bores with diesel fuel and let it sit for a week.
With heads off PB Blaster works great.
And a BIG yes about the frozen starter.
Before dragging it with the tractor ( absolute last resort since that can easily break things) try hitting the starter with 12 or 24V. But ONLY after you get it reasonably free with the breaker bar.
Generally, you can put a big breaker bar on the crank snout nut and try moving it in reverse first.
If you get any movement then go the other direction. Keep going back and forth until it frees up.
With the heads on I like to fill the bores with diesel fuel and let it sit for a week.
With heads off PB Blaster works great.
And a BIG yes about the frozen starter.
Before dragging it with the tractor ( absolute last resort since that can easily break things) try hitting the starter with 12 or 24V. But ONLY after you get it reasonably free with the breaker bar.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 808
Likes: 2
From: east central Illinois
Free up frozen engine?
It's a 215ci overhead 6 with the head still on. Would it help to pull the head? Which direction should I turn the crankshaft nut to go in reverse? Counterclockwise? Is this the nut up front by the radiator? Also, I should have asked this before but how do I check the starter? Thanks for the help!
Kevin Kessler
1953 Ford F-100
Kevin Kessler
1953 Ford F-100
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 2
From: Southern New Hampshire
Free up frozen engine?
Pulling the head is a pain but may be necessary.
Be sure you get a Service Manual since there is a procedure required.
But first try freeing it up.
The bolt is down inside the lower pulley/damper. If the engine is really stuck then going CCW on the bolt will actually loosen it. I like to do a gentle back and forth motion with a breaker bar and a 3-4' length of pipe over it. Torque spec is 50-55 ft lbs.
Remove all the plugs, starter and belts to minimize compression and any external drag.
Make sure the tranny is in neutral and that the pressure plate is not frozen to the flywheel.
Be sure you get a Service Manual since there is a procedure required.
But first try freeing it up.
The bolt is down inside the lower pulley/damper. If the engine is really stuck then going CCW on the bolt will actually loosen it. I like to do a gentle back and forth motion with a breaker bar and a 3-4' length of pipe over it. Torque spec is 50-55 ft lbs.
Remove all the plugs, starter and belts to minimize compression and any external drag.
Make sure the tranny is in neutral and that the pressure plate is not frozen to the flywheel.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: Seattle USA
Free up frozen engine?
With the sparkplugs out and a rear wheel jacked up and the tranny in neutral, try taking the flywheel cover off and using as big of a pry bar on the starter teeth (leveraging against the bell housing). Be careful that the truck is fully blocked while you are under it. You could possbily (with the help of a second person) try using a breaker bar on the crankshaft pully nut in the same direction as the breakerbar leverage on the starter teeth.
Short of all of that, you may need to pull the head and inspect for rusty cylinders. If you find that, a liberal dosing and soaking of PB blaster and tapping on the pistons with a wooden mallet may be in order. All of that failing. I'd disconnect the rod caps and see if the crankshaft can be turned (if even ever so slightly). If so, try tapping the pistons down one at a time until the rod caps are re-aligned with the crank.
Just my 2cents. I hope this helps.
Short of all of that, you may need to pull the head and inspect for rusty cylinders. If you find that, a liberal dosing and soaking of PB blaster and tapping on the pistons with a wooden mallet may be in order. All of that failing. I'd disconnect the rod caps and see if the crankshaft can be turned (if even ever so slightly). If so, try tapping the pistons down one at a time until the rod caps are re-aligned with the crank.
Just my 2cents. I hope this helps.
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