Turning engine over by hand

[chrisvdv]

I have a machine sitting here that I thought was free but now appears stuck. I got it to turn maybe a quarter of a turn with the starter and then stuck. What is the best way to apply a bit of force to the crank to see if I can free it? Tried a bar on the front pulley and promptly broke the pulley neck without even trying, so that was a good start...however, better to discover the pulley was toast now than AFTER putting her back together. I could put a pipe wrench on the front of the keyed crank, but surely that would be a BIG mistake??
I have already tried dragging it in first gear, but where it sits is muddy, so not much traction there to help me.
Thanks in advance.

[spectra]

With it turning a quarter turn before it got stuck I would be careful you might have a mechanical issue with out knowing what engine it is hard to say what that might be. Have you pulled the plugs and oiled the cylinders? might just need a little penetrating oil to help get it moving since it had already turned a little. The other two methods I use besides the turning the crank is taking off the starter and turning the flywheel but have not done that on a stuck engine try not to break anything. Second method is turning the drive-shaft or pto all of these can cause damage if you not careful so good luck.

[chrisvdv]

OK, I will oil through the plugs holes and try a very gentle back and forth on the driveshaft and see what, if anything, happens. Thanks.

[Blake Malkamaki]

High gear will give you more leverage to move the engine if you tow it back and forth. Just be really careful as you can do a lot of damage if you don't know what is seizing the engine up.

Blake

[chrisvdv]

Couldn't get to drive shaft since some #@! has welded the cover to the frame! Yes, Blake, maybe I should just take the head off and take a peek before rocking her in top gear. Thanks...

[spectra]

If it an HG or OC-3 taking the head off will not show much just the cylinders with the IX engines your not going to drop a valve or anything and make it lock up. You would be better off pulling the front end off and the bottom end although it would not hurt to take the head off. Depending on what you are doing with this and how much you want to put into it might be a good time for a rebuild.

[phoenix]

HI make shure starter motor is not at fault bendix could have stuck

[Jack in NB]

I've had some success on other units removing the starter and using a heavy screwdriver to pry against the ring gear teeth. Carefully, though, so as not to chip a tooth.

Forget whether or not the teeth are accessible from the hole on the IXB - the starter drive pulls in from the back side.

[chrisvdv]

Well, took off starter and moved flywheel notch at a time back and forth getting stuck, but springy stuck, at same point. Could here cracking noises? Got a torch to peer inside...TONS of rodent nesting material and a cache of nuts! Imagine the fun of getting them all out with long nose pliers...there's probably some still in there. Burned out most of the grassy, mossy nesty stuff.
OK, back to a notch at a time on the flywheel, better but still that springy spot. Sometimes I could get past it with a wee bit of force (OK a lot of force), sometimes not.
Talked to Landis Z. He said check valves...well they all lifted and moved nicely after taking off side cover.
OK...finally have to bite the bullet and remove the head. Well, lo and behold if that wasn't chock full off buckwheat seeds!! And in two cylinders a pile a charred remains deep enough to impeded the pistons throw!

Now all back together and turns freely with starter. Just need to time the new magneto and I am confident she will fire up nicely. was just about to give up and part her out!

[Blake Malkamaki]

It never fails to amaze me why on earth a varmint would want to travel through an exhaust pipe, though a manifold and through a tight open valve just to get into a totally dark cylinder to build a nest. And the air in there sure can't be very good either with a momma and litter of baby micies all breathing away! But I've seen it happen several times.

You're lucky they didn't destroy the cylinders from their liquid debris.

Blake

[oliverchris]

I get a lot of snakes squirming about all over my OC3 - especially under the one with the back tarp! I usually shoo them away, but one time I saw one lying the head (hood was off) and wondered how hot it could get before leaving 
I swear to God it nearly cooked itself 

And while we are at it, here's a Robin's nest on my OC3 Trencher

[440roadrunner]

Years ago  I installed a used oil furnace in a friend's  shop.  Made  "homemade"  double wall stack,  and put a "China cap"  on top.

One day we fired it up and heard a ruckus.  Looked in,  couldn't see or hear,  fired it again.  Must've fired it for 10 seconds.  Anyhow,  pulled loose the stack,  and here a starling  had gotten in between the cap of the "China cap"  and down the stack.   Even after all that fire,  it flew right out