Van rolling on handbrake.

[bigladwigan]

Hi all, I'm sure it's down to compression issues as you feel the engine turn as it slowly moves one piston at a time with a short lull for the turn of the engine. In short I've got a 2litre air-cooled engine I believe it's a cu. How much will it cost to resolve this? Am I looking at pistons, piston rings, valves and valve seals or could it be a quick cheap fix? Engine runs fine with no smoking and has enough power for hills. I only discovered the problem when the handbrake ratchet failed.

Cheers

Ady

[blacky]

Can't see a connection between handbrake and starting but the slow turning description suggests battery/starter circuit problem. It won't be pistons/valves/cylinders. Could also be ignition spark happening at wrong point due to timing being out. Also a compression test with warm engine would give indication of condition of valves,pistons and cyl's and would not be expensive, beg steal or borrow a tester and carry out test with wide open throttle.

[ghost123uk]

Ady, this all sounds a bit confusing

Do you mean that if you are on a hill, with the handbrake off, the van in gear, and slowly rolling down the hill, you can sense each cylinder moving over compression? if so, then it is perfectly normal.

[California Dreamin]

QUOTE...Engine runs fine with no smoking and has enough power for hills...so the engines fine then!

QUOTE... you feel the engine turn as it slowly moves one piston at a time with a short lull for the turn of the engine... I take it you mean whilst 'cranking'? so chances are the issue is:
Bad earth
Bad feed
Lazy starter
Oval oilite bush (common issue for slow cranking) when the bush has worn oval.

Martin

[bigladwigan]

Ghost123uk, has got it. Sorry for confusing you. The van rolls when in gear but no handbrake.

Cheers

Ady

[itchyfeet]

Ghost123uk, has got it. Sorry for confusing you. The van rolls when in gear but no handbrake.

Cheers

Ady

Depends on the hill but low compression will result in easier rolling.
Buy a compression tester and check it about 30 quid.

[Mr Bean]

Having run "bangers" for well over half a century my advice would be to leave well alone. You don't mention poor performance and all cylinders seem to be affected equally otherwise it would stop at the good one/s. If it isn't burning oil or blowing oil or water out anywhere or rattling it would most likely be less than perfect valve seal at the seat. Not the oil seals which if leaking will give smoke from the exhaust on the over run,
Once you do a compression test any variation could drive you to get the head/s off and then, and then...
Cheers
CS
PS I knew what you were on about straight away parking on a slope as I do.

[California Dreamin]

Ghost123uk, has got it. Sorry for confusing you. The van rolls when in gear but no handbrake.

Cheers

Ady

Sorry !!!!! still completely bamboozled by what you are trying to say, even with the reference to 'John' getting it right.

Out of gear, engine running but rolls forwards on the flat? so some sort of transmission drag? perhaps the spigot shaft bearing (in the end of the crankshaft) or one of the free gear bearings is collapsing.
Definitely need a clearer description of the fault.
One thing I am in agreement about is that there doesn't seem to be much wrong with the engine (given your statement)

Martin

[itchyfeet]

Ghost123uk, has got it. Sorry for confusing you. The van rolls when in gear but no handbrake.

Cheers

Ady

Sorry !!!!! still completely bamboozled by what you are trying to say, even with the reference to 'John' getting it right.

Out of gear, engine running but rolls forwards on the flat? so some sort of transmission drag? perhaps the spigot shaft bearing (in the end of the crankshaft) or one of the free gear bearings is collapsing.
Definitely need a clearer description of the fault.
One thing I am in agreement about is that there doesn't seem to be much wrong with the engine (given your statement)

Martin

He didn't say engine was running during his description. He later says engine runs fine.

[marlinowner]

Very much depends on which gear you're in as well as the gradient.

[California Dreamin]

Ghost123uk, has got it. Sorry for confusing you. The van rolls when in gear but no handbrake.

Cheers

Ady

Sorry !!!!! still completely bamboozled by what you are trying to say, even with the reference to 'John' getting it right.

Out of gear, engine running but rolls forwards on the flat? so some sort of transmission drag? perhaps the spigot shaft bearing (in the end of the crankshaft) or one of the free gear bearings is collapsing.
Definitely need a clearer description of the fault.
One thing I am in agreement about is that there doesn't seem to be much wrong with the engine (given your statement)

Martin

He didn't say engine was running during his description. He later says engine runs fine.

Really? so ..... you feel the engine turn as it slowly moves one piston at a time with a short lull for the turn of the engine... it's all a big guess, cranking?


Martin

[ajsimmo]

No Martin...I think his handbrake's knackered so he parks in gear on a slope but it still rolls (slowly). Easiest answer is, er, fix handbrake.

[blacky]

I'm with california here, it's all a bit cryptic

[itchyfeet]

I'm with california here, it's all a bit cryptic

Some people have the ability to write, some have the ability to read, not the same skill.

[ghost123uk]

It's normal

Don't worry about it, just chock the wheels until you get the handbrake fixed.

Though, as marlinowner says, it will do it to differing amounts depending on the amount of slope and what gear you’re in. It will do it more noticeably in fourth gear, then third, then second and do it the least in first gear. It will do it even less in reverse gear.