Need your expert advice on engine

[Dan]

My Waggie has been sitting in my garage since last winter because it was running really rough (not driveable). Last month I figured out with your help that the timing chain needed to be replaced. It had about 1 1/4" of slack in the chain! I replaced the chain and gears, rebuilt the oil pump, and replaced the oil pan gasket. I've got it pretty much back together, at least enough to start it. It's taken me a long time because I don't have a lot of spare time to work on her (but at least the parts were cheap)....

Anyways, I fired it up today, and I did get it to start, but it ran really rough and wouldn't stay running unless I gave it a little gas. The fact that it started at all is a good sign, right? It wouldn't have started at all if the cam and crank were was mis-aligned, right? Anyways, I was going to see if adjusting the ignition timing would help by turning the distributer, and I tried starting the engine again. It won't turnover at all now. The battery may be low, but it feels more like the engine is seized or something. I couldn't turn the engine at all from the damper bolt. I going to charge the battery overnight and try again, but if the engine is stuck, how do I get it rotating again? What would have caused it? Thanks.

[Shake N Bake]

Did you pack the oil pump with vaseline to 'prime' it?

Andy

[OBX-AUTOMOTIVE]

PULL THE PLUGS...AND TRY IT BY HAND AGAIN!!!! smile.gif

[andy d]

did you over advance the dizzy?. that, combined with a weak battery,would make the engine hard to turn over. if you are reeeeeal lucky,that could be it.

[Dan]

Yes, I packed the oil pump gears with vaseline. If I am off on the distributor or cam/crank timing, it wouldn't have started at all, right?

[kreb]

i put the dizzy in once with it being one plug off. it started but ran like crap. maybe move the wires one over clockwise and then counter clock wise and see if it helps.

benjamin

[jasonthomasfrance]

For the timing, get a timing light, shoot it, see if that's it. Maybe it just has bad gas?

[ June 30, 2002, 06:40 PM: Message edited by: jasonthomasfrance ]

[OBX-AUTOMOTIVE]

YOU SAID THAT IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER BY HAND!!!!!RIGHT?.... :confused: smile.gif

[jasonthomasfrance]

Oh good question... You can't turn the crank by hand?? Even with a longer ratchet or breaker bar? That could be bad... Maybe charge the battery up, see the little girl will crank?

[Dan]

Yes, I can't turn it by hand. If I use a longer breaker bar is there any chance of busting the bolt? The would be baaaad.

Kreb - I'm thinking that I have the same situation as you did, having the distributor one step off. Hopefully I can get the engine freed up and try again.

:mad: :mad: :mad:

[Dan]

BTT. Anyone else have any ideas on getting the engine to turn?

[Crazy_Jeepman]

I am a little concerned, you should have no problems turning engine by hand. Was there any sounds that went along with this poor running? I am wondering if it is locking up on you due to oil starvation, or you may have had a more serious problem prior to the timing chain being replaced. Do as Gary mentioned PULL all the spark plugs and try to turn it by hand see if it makes a difference. Did you have oil pressure when it ran? It can run if timing chain was installed a little off, depends on how much. Good Luck ;)

[1BADJP]

When you pull the plugs, squirt a little (dont be afraid of it) transmission fluid into the cylinders, this will help free up the rings and pistons, let soak overnight and than try turning the next day. Try turning by hand first with the plugs out. Don't worry about the oil in the cylinders, it will burn off without affecting anything. It will smoke for a while---so don't run in the garage with the exhaust facing the kitchen---wife gets real mad when that happens!
If you can try to spin engine from the flywheel in either direction till you free it up. You can snap the damper bolt if you put too much torque to it. Also take all the belts loose...you can wrap a belt (the kind that holds up your pants) around the crank pulley, use an adjustable wrench and spin it till belt gets tight, use a pipe wrench on the adjustable to turn....good luck

[Dan]

Thanks again. I'm heading out of town for the holiday so I'll try this when I get back. I'm not sure what the oil guage showed when it was running, but it was not knocking or making a lot of metal-to-metal noise, just misfiring badly. I didn't run it long because it was running so poorly. I shut the engine off and was going to try to adjust the distributer. I started cranking the engine again and it seemed like it was almost going to start again when I could hear it just sort of stop. Then nothing. I don't think it is bound up too seriously, but serious enough for the starter to not budge it.

When I put the timing set on, the dots on the gears seemed to match up perfectly, so I'm hoping at least that part is ok.

I'll try taking out the plugs and try the ATF fluid trick and see if that works. I'm not going to pry on the center bolt anymore for fear of putting too much torque on it. Besides, I can only go in one direction with that bolt, otherwise the bolt just wants to loosen up and unthread.

Thanks all for your help!!! This is a great board full of helpful people. I'll let you know when I get it running (or if I need more help).