MechE Hokie Posted March 10, 2009 Report Posted March 10, 2009 I've attempted to get my '49 started with no luck. When I turn the key, I hear a loud thunk coming from the solenoid switch, and I can feel it from the seat. However, the engine doesn't turn over and I don't hear any noise from the starter. I pulled the starter, and tested it on a batter charger and I saw it spin up. I just put in a new battery, so as far as I can tell the problem lies at the soleniod switch behind the battery box. Could the switch be bad even though I hear it click? And if so, whats the best fix? Thank you for your help. Quote
steveplym Posted March 10, 2009 Report Posted March 10, 2009 I'd check to see if you have power coming into the solenoid and then out to the starter. Check and make sure your cables are okay and if all checks out you probably have a bad solenoid. I can get you a picture of the '49 wiring diagram if you need it. It helps in diagnosing these types of problems. Quote
Young Ed Posted March 10, 2009 Report Posted March 10, 2009 I'd check to make sure the engine isn't locked up. Sitting 30 years could do that to it. Pull the starter and try to turn the ring gear with a prybar of some sort. Or if you have a giant sockets put the proper size on the crank hub nut and see if it will turn over that way. If its stuck and you keep trying the starter you are going to break stuff Quote
MechE Hokie Posted March 10, 2009 Author Report Posted March 10, 2009 If it is locked up, what do I do then? Would it be time for a complete rebuild? Quote
T120 Posted March 10, 2009 Report Posted March 10, 2009 Hi,you might review this thread...http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=7428&highlight=seized+engine Quote
David Strieb Posted March 11, 2009 Report Posted March 11, 2009 You said you tested your starter with a battery charger, and saw it spin. I think you should test it again with your new battery. If you want, take the starter back out, use some jumper cables off your new battery. With the starter on the ground and hooked to power (your new battery) it should wanna jump around on the ground. If it just spins, something is up with the starter. Good luck. Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted March 11, 2009 Report Posted March 11, 2009 I agree with Young Ed. You should be able to hear the contacts click on in the voltage regulator, but you should not feel anything from it, or the solenoid. If you can feel the clunk, either the flywheel isn't spinning or the starter is locking up, sending the noise and clunk feeling from the engine. By the way, just because the starter spins out of the car does not mean it is working. It could be bad. I would take the starter to a shop and have them test it on a machine. Or........if you have an engine analyzer, you can test it "IN THE CAR" to see if it's working. There is another thread similar to this one that Rodney Bullock started about a month ago. His starter would also spin outside the car, but it needed to be rebuilt to work in the car. Quote
steveplym Posted March 11, 2009 Report Posted March 11, 2009 I know places like Autozone can test a starter for you, but be careful as they may say it tests out fine and not work at all in the car. I had them check and alternator for me that I bought there several years ago, wouldn't charge in the car, but passed their tests. Try to find a starter and alternator repair service. They can check it for you right there on the spot and can tell you exactly what is wrong with it. Once you figure out if your starter is good then you can turn to figure out what else might be wrong. Broken teeth on the flywheel ring gear or a stuck engine. Quote
P15Mike Posted March 11, 2009 Report Posted March 11, 2009 I've recently had the same issue with mine....after sitting 30yrs ...mine was stuck . When i put juice to mine it also made the thunk you could feel throughout the vehicle . Like Ed stated earlier , try seeing if the you can get the engine to turn over by hand (holding tension/pulling the fan belt) , seeing if the balancer moves , mine didnt . The easiest way to break loose the rings , if this is the case , is by removing the inspection pan and prying the flywheel with a LARGE pry bar . Unfortunately my rings stuck to the pistons . once i got it broke loose ,and ended up replacing the ring/pistons ,wasn't getting any compression . Good luck Mike Quote
Don Coatney Posted March 11, 2009 Report Posted March 11, 2009 If the solenoid switch is the problem it will click not klunk. Young Ed nailed it. Your engine is stuck. Do a forum search for several ideas on now to free it up. If it is a stuck valve you could break the camshaft by trying to free it with the starter motor. Quote
P15Mike Posted March 11, 2009 Report Posted March 11, 2009 Thought about it whille lying in bed ....yeah i know ...I forgot to give you the most important part of freeing it up . Before you do anything you need to pour something in all the cylinders . Most i've seen or heard use PB Blaster , Marvel Mystery Oil or Deisel fuel . I used PB Blaster and did the job . I poured about 3 to 4 ounces into each cylinder and let sit for a few days and then did the prying ... Mike Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted March 11, 2009 Report Posted March 11, 2009 Someone told me to use Coca Cola (regular style) poured into each cylinder. You may have used Coke to clean corroded battery terminals.... it does seem to work on those. Quote
MechE Hokie Posted March 11, 2009 Author Report Posted March 11, 2009 Someone told me to use Coca Cola (regular style) poured into eachcylinder. You may have used Coke to clean corroded battery terminals.... it does seem to work on those. Maybe if I used Diet Coke, then dropped a mentos in and screwed the spark plug back in really quick? Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted March 11, 2009 Report Posted March 11, 2009 Hey, this is mostly old guys on this forum. We don't know about all that stuff. Quote
Frank Elder Posted March 12, 2009 Report Posted March 12, 2009 Joe, if you drop a Mentos/candy/breath mint into a 2 liter bottle of pop a violent reaction occurs and the pop geysers many feet in the air, saw it on mythbusters...wonder what it would do to your stomach? Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted March 12, 2009 Report Posted March 12, 2009 Yeah, I've seen those demonstrations on YouTube. I didn't even know about that and I figured it was a generational thing. I would think the same thing would happen in your stomach. You'd probably have Mentos and Diet Coke coming out both ends. Ha. I'd like to see that. Well, maybe not. I've also seen very powerful bombs made with water and dry ice in a closed container. It's amazing the bang that makes. This should probably be a new thread. Quote
Don Coatney Posted March 17, 2009 Report Posted March 17, 2009 I knew about dry ice but not Mentos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12f1as8wIHw&feature=related Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted March 17, 2009 Report Posted March 17, 2009 Maybe I should try that with my compressor. Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted March 17, 2009 Report Posted March 17, 2009 I put kerosene, PB Blaster, and Marvel Mystery Oil in the cyls of the 54 Plymouth I had last year. Bought a biig ol socket that fit over the nut in the middle of the the pulley on the end of the crankshaft......tried turning that with a handle extended by a piece of pipe. Plus put in a battery, then jumped it with 12 volts. Nuttin moved. Tried to turn it several times. So, it was still stuck when the car left with a new owner from Springfield, MO. The young man who bought the car has removed the front end sheetmetal plus the head and other things from the motor. Evidently it's ready for a total rebuild. He wants to keep it 6 cyl, 6V - like original - but hasn't yet found a replacement motor. I've been looking too, but no luck so far. It would be nice if someone in Springfield had a motor to sell. Quote
speedyshark Posted March 19, 2009 Report Posted March 19, 2009 Did you check to see if the motor was locked up? I used the PB Blast(Love that stuff) kept putting it in over several days and would rock the crank back and forth before I started it. I am not sure if mine was locked up or not. Just wanted to make sure since it sat for over 20 plus years. Quote
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