Assembled block, motor in bind, now turns free, freaking out!!!

[healey8390]

Put my block together (4cyl chrys.) when i turned the crank clockwise #3 piston on the way down stopped and made a metal on metal clank like it was catching on something. Obviously i started to panic, then i rotated the crank the other way then clockwise again an it now turns free. I dont know what the heck would cause that but even though it turns free now im afraid something got damaged. I used a torque wrench for the rod bolts and crak case bolts. Any ideas!!!

 

[Justinde]

Re: Assembled block, motor in bind, now turns free, freaking out!!!

Check your Sphincter Dangle and your Johnson Rods Seriously, take it apart ( again) and inspect. You may have forgotten something. Turning by hand should not do really any damage, well, not as much as on the starter, so, take the powerhead off and post some pics.

 

[healey8390]

Re: Assembled block, motor in bind, now turns free, freaking out!!!

Yeah thank god i hand turned it first. I really dont want to take it back apart im burnt out on it. I did everything by the book. And im thinking the crank cover wouldnt bolt flush if the main and lower bearing holes werent in the little stubs. And like i said it turns free now. My wishful thinking (this may sound dumb) tells me mabye it took a couple of turns each direction to orientate its self. It just seems odd to stop dead in its tracks and then go away and turn smooth as a babys but.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Assembled block, motor in bind, now turns free, freaking out!!!

TRy to fit the head.I've seen pistons put in backwards(all 3)Make sure that it fits.
It shouldn't stop unless it hit something.Does it turn ok now? It should be real easy to turn.
Did you have it on it's face and a piston hit and stopped on the table?J

 

[healey8390]

Re: Assembled block, motor in bind, now turns free, freaking out!!!

The pistons were facing up. They are installed facing the correct direction. I put the powerhead on the midleg and put the flywhell on. With the head on and plugs out it turns great in both directions and sounds great like the rings are sealing good. Seems like a mystery to me. it was a good metal to metal clank when it did it. Mabye the skirt was hitting the crank throw.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Assembled block, motor in bind, now turns free, freaking out!!!

Sorry to say this, but did you count the big end rollers as you put them in? Are you SURE that one did not fall out into the block? These rollers can fit under the crank cheeks and can jam the crank from turning. Rotating the crank the opposite way tends to free them to do more violent damage when the engine is run.

An engine may be tight when assembled after a rebuild but should NEVER jam at any point. Unless you can find a definite cause for the jamming, do yourself a favor and take the extra time to disassemble the block and search out the cause. Remember, there is never time to check it out, but always time to rebuild again.

Don't worry! The second time disassembly and assembly will definitely be easier and faster.

 

[healey8390]

Re: Assembled block, motor in bind, now turns free, freaking out!!!

Well this sucks but i guess i have no choice. Thanks for the feedback to everyone and ill give an update once i tear into it.