Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[matchlessg80cs]

Hi - I wonfder if any one out there can help. I recently bought a 28 Morris Cowley 2 seater that was well restored and regularily used until 5 years ago. Got it home, charged the battery - it turned over well (+ on the starting handle) but refused to start - spat back etc so timing was out I guess.

Went back less than a week later and it appears the engine is locked solid - not a scrap of movement at the starting handle, starter motor just clunks as it can't move the crank. Took the cover off the starter motor / dynamo and the chain is free - the mag turns OK. Put it in gear and rocked it forwards / back wards - gears work/clutch Ok. So it must be the engine - bores seized ?? - how could they over a matter of a week ?

Any ideas ???

Thanks in advance...

Al

[47Jag]

Pull the spark plugs and try turning with the handle again. It's a long shot but you may have a hydraulic lock IE the cylinder with the valves closed has filled with water from a blown head gasket.Removing the plugs will let the water escape.

Art

[matchlessg80cs]

Thanks - have taken the plugs out & have put penetrating oil down the bores / over the valves. Still locked solid ......

[fiatguy23]

Hi Al, I read this from another thread on this forum but apparently Coke (the real stuff, no knock off immitations) works really well for this. Pore a generous amount down each cylinder and let it sit for a while. apparently it works wonders! Only thing is, its a mild acid, so it needs to be cleaned out of the engine or neutralised somehow, I'm not sure how though. Maybe someone else on here can provide some answers?? I have seen videos on youtube where coke can be used for rust removal so in theory if there is water in the bores it would work ideal for removing the rust!

It could also be a stuck valve but if that was the case you would think that a little bit of movement would result in turning the crank handle. Maybe just remove the valve cover and just have a general look, see if anything looks amiss.

We have a 1925 morris cowley roadster too btw!

Good luck,

Brodie.

[Kelsham]

I would only use Coke if i intended to strip the engine afterwards.

It seems odd that it should seize after only one week.

I would remove the timing chain if accesible? and see if its stuck valves.

Diesel down the bores is a more conservative approach than Coke.

I had a problem once on a Ford V8 sidevalve. After a long period out of use when I tried to start it, the top of a piston detatched and jammed the engine. I could turn the engine back and forward a littlle.

I presume the engine is a sidevalve. It should be easy to remove the head and get a better look.

Regards Kels.

[MVPeters]

It is a bit odd to seize after a week - I'd be looking for a mechanical jam-up rather than 'seizure' too. Is the starter jammed in mesh?

Here's a new un-seizing formula from a Volvo forum:

50/50 diesel & acetone.

It's not clear if you sniff it, drink it or run your Lear Jet on it!
_________________
Mike - MVPeters at comcast.net
2002 MINI Cooper 'S'

[norustplease]

I can't imagine that this is corrosion based if it turned over freely just a few days previously. It must be some kind of mechanical interference. A valve jammed shut can cause a locked engine, since the cam can't shove the pushrod down.
You will probably have to face up to some stripping down. Try looking in the valve chest as a starter and see what moves if you rock the car in gear. Failing that, it could be debris in the combustion chamber, but unfortunately the only way of seeing that (unless you can borrow an endoscope) is to take the head off.
This might be prudent anyway if the engine has been stood for several years.
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1953 Citroen Traction
1964 Volvo PV544
1957 Austin A55 Mk 1
Boring Tucson SUV

[welder]