Club 80-90 Forums

Hello folks, my poor van has been standing untouched for about 5 years, the belt has perished and fallen off which has allowed me to see if the crankshaft will turn, but, it's stuck solid. What are the best steps for seeing if I can get it to budge. I need to put a socket on it right and see if I can move it - is there a technique to this, don't want to do any more damage by shearing anything. Anything else I can do? It's a 1.9DG
Ta
 

Some thin oil/WD40 down the spark plug holes for a few days might help free up the pistons which could be the problem.
I have seen this stuff used on a car program not long ago. Dont know if it's any good though. Marvel Mystery Oil for sale | eBay

Thanks Rob, Marvel Mystery Oil sounds interesting, I'll get some and give it a go - same deal, spark plugs out and pour a bit in do you think?

Hello,

Hmm... stuck flat 4...

Was it running when parked up??
Is it in neutral??
Is there oil in the engine??
Have you had the sparkplugs out??

Have you got access to compressed air??

What size is the crankshaft pulley bolt head??

Can you upload photos??

Cordialement,

Hi,
Yes it was running before parked up, it’s out of gear, I think it has oil, at least, it did and there’s none on the driveway! Not had spark plugs out yet. I do have a compressor but it’d be a mission getting it up from the workshop to the van! I can get photos tomorrow

What method have you used to determine it’s stuck solid? It’s not very common for a good engine to seize solid for no reason

I’ve just tried getting the crankshaft pulley to move - which I thought it should do when it’s out of gear. But I’d that not the case?

Try turning it with all the spark plugs out. With them in you are pushing against the compression in the cylinders. That would be my first thing to try if you can’t turn it with the spark plugs in. 

Take the spark plugs out, inspect them for rust. Ideally get a cheap £10 amazon endoscope camera to see if the bores are corroded.
Drop the engine oil and check for water.
If it's OK, squirt plenty of oil in the bores down the plug holes - something light eg plusgas, and leave it overnight.
Starting gently, try and turn the engine over clockwise with a bar on the crank pulley. if it doesn't move at all, try working it back and forth a bit to get a feel for things.

It might just be mildly stuck. Use no more than about 50nm of force - what you'd tighten an M10 / 16mm head bolt to.
If this doesn't shift it then more investigation is needed.

Fantastic, thanks for the advice folks, I'll give thart a go tomorrow 

Davtee wrote: ↑04 Aug 2023, 23:13 I’ve just tried getting the crankshaft pulley to move - which I thought it should do when it’s out of gear. But I’d that not the case?

How are you trying to move it ?

Just by hand

I doubt you will move it just by hand. You need to try with a socket and bar.

Davtee wrote: ↑05 Aug 2023, 19:31Just by hand

Unlikely to move it like that , put a spanner on
The crank bolt