Motor seized???

[Toyjunkie]

First, Happy 4th everyone.
Cheers to the USA

Second, I'm really trying to get my FJ started. She's been sitting for the last 8 months and I have the next 4 days off to dive into it and figure out what's wrong, so I can get her back on the road.

So, here's what happened. I was driving for ten minutes and the motor started to die. Then it shut off on me. Try to start it back up nothing. Towed it home and it's been sitting for the last 8 months.
A month ago I looked into it. Tried jumping it, it just gave a cluck sound, didn't turn over. Battery was old anyways so I thought I'd replace it. Nothing. Then, I replaced the starter, still just a cluck when I try to start it. Checked the oil...VERY LOW. Now, I don't know if it was that low when it stopped running or it's been leaking for the last 8 months(Yes that would be a hell of a lot of oil!) I've a oil spot on my driveway since I bought it, don't we all.

So, here's where I'm at. I'm afraid my motor seized. Pull the radiator, and the belts. Tried turning the crank by hand, it made half a rotation and locked. Pulled the spark plugs and shot some WD-40 into the piston trying to free it up. Replaced the spark plug since I was at it.
No Start, same cluck.

I should say this is a 1978 F2 motor that I had swapped in 7 years ago.
This is my first time working on my FJ, but I want to try and figure this out my self. I'm tired of bringing it to someone else to fix. It not so much the money, I want to learn how to fix it myself.

So, my question is, is my motor seized? Shouldn't the crank be able to be turned by hand? An ideas? Something I should try? If need I could take some pics.
I'm about to pull the motor out.

Thanks for time and help.

 

[inkpot]

First, Happy 4th everyone.
Cheers to the USA

Second, I'm really trying to get my FJ started. She's been sitting for the last 8 months and I have the next 4 days off to dive into it and figure out what's wrong, so I can get her back on the road.

So, here's what happened. I was driving for ten minutes and the motor started to die. Then it shut off on me. Try to start it back up nothing. Towed it home and it's been sitting for the last 8 months.
A month ago I looked into it. Tried jumping it, it just gave a cluck sound, didn't turn over. Battery was old anyways so I thought I'd replace it. Nothing. Then, I replaced the starter, still just a cluck when I try to start it. Checked the oil...VERY LOW. Now, I don't know if it was that low when it stopped running or it's been leaking for the last 8 months(Yes that would be a hell of a lot of oil!) I've a oil spot on my driveway since I bought it, don't we all.

So, here's where I'm at. I'm afraid my motor seized. Pull the radiator, and the belts. Tried turning the crank by hand, it made half a rotation and locked. Pulled the spark plugs and shot some WD-40 into the piston trying to free it up. Replaced the spark plug since I was at it.
No Start, same cluck.

I should say this is a 1978 F2 motor that I had swapped in 7 years ago.
This is my first time working on my FJ, but I want to try and figure this out my self. I'm tired of bringing it to someone else to fix. It not so much the money, I want to learn how to fix it myself.

So, my question is, is my motor seized? Shouldn't the crank be able to be turned by hand? An ideas? Something I should try? If need I could take some pics.
I'm about to pull the motor out.

Thanks for time and help.

Pull the plugs back out. It should be pretty easy to turn over by hand. Make sure it is out of gear and grab the belts and pull. John

 

[Cruiserless]

EDIT: Inkpot beat me to the post by a few seconds...

Have you tried to turn it by hand with the plugs out? From your post it wasn't clear if you just replaced them and tried to fire it. Also make sure it is in neutral...

 

[Toyjunkie]

I tried

I tried that. Removed the belts. Tried turning by hand, nope. Pulled spark plugs, shot wd40 spark plug hole, tried turning by hand again, nope. Then replaced spark plugs and tried starting it, nope.
I should say when trying to turn by hand I'm using a screw driver wedged into the end on the crank and turning it clockwise.
...any other ideas?

 

[Toyjunkie]

Not in gear.

Yes, it's not in gear. Good idea tho, that's something I could totally see me doing. Kind of surprised I didn't, lol.

 

[Pighead]

Try a big handle on the crankshaft nut, or your screwdriver on the flywheel teeth.

 

[Kansas Cruiser]

My motor was seized and I put wd40 in it left the plugs out put it 4th gear and started rocking the fj back and forth. Rocked it for a bit put in more wd40 and it popped free. Lot easier to do than trying to turn it by hand.

 

[45Kevin]

You could pull off the oil pan and have a look.

If there is little to no oil it's not a big deal.

 

[kaidailey]

I have the same problem with my 1973 F motor. I pulled the Spark plugs, used an air compressor to blow out each cylinder, put about 50ml of diesel in each cylinder. Waited a night then blew more air in, in an effort to get diesel deeper. Then put it in forth and 4x4 and dragged it behind a ute as if clutch starting it. First time didn work but after adding weight to tray it did turn over. Also if you put a lever on ghe flywheel (take flywheel cover off). You can out alot more forc e on the motor. I used a long crow bar.

This morked for me. However my motor was full of water and soon ciezdd again. I havent tried since

Use high range 4x4, nd if you can tow with drAw bar with a truck you can go forwards and back.

 

[Toyjunkie]

Thanks

Thanks for all the advice. I did try rocking it, but did so in first gear and also not in 4x4. I'm going to dive into again tomorrow afternoon. I'll post up the results and a pic or two tomorrow. I would like to get her started without having to pull the motor....but its got me thinking of fixing her up
Thanks for the quick responses, I can't wait to drive her again.

 

[1973Guppie]

I would pull the oil pan, pull the plugs, pull the clutch inspection cover. Then you can get some gloves on and rotate the flywheel fairly easily. At this point you should be able to rotate the engine all the way around by just yanking on the flywheel. While you rotate it you can also take a look from underneath to see what there is to see....

 

[Steamer]

I did try rocking it, but did so in first gear and also not in 4x4.

Best leverage for rocking will be in 4th gear and 2wd H. 4wd for better traction if towing.

Some like a soak in Mystery Oil also. I hadn't heard of the air compressor idea of pushing it down in there but I like it.

 

[mydogpea]

I think if your engine seized up while driving, the truck would've come to a very violent and sudden stop. Try dropping a TBSP. of marvel mystery oil in each cylinder, let it soak overnight, then put the truck in 4th and rock it back and forth until it brake free.
Good luck.

 

[shelfboy1]

how was the oil pressure before it died.what is low oil ?they take almost 9 quarts ,ive seen guys run them for years 0n 5 quarts because they didnt know any better..put a socket or a pipe wrench on the front nut if it wont turn then you probably siezed the motor.

 

[RicardoJM]

Just prior to it dying - did you remove the distributor? I ask because it is likely that the if distributor was not fully re-seated the oil pump was not engaged and the engine was starved for oil. Typically an oil starved engine would lock up as the bearings (crank and or main) get destroyed.

 

[akeyzoo]

I think this has everything to do with the last 10 minutes this motor ran and not the sitting. Pull the pan and look. I think you will see obvious issues from there (and maybe pull a bearing cap or two).

Start looking through craigslist, you still have a few days left this weekend!

Chris

 

[Toyjunkie]

Update

So, I've tried everything listed above. Put oil in and let it sit over night, blew air into the cylinder, rocked it, dragged it, pulled the fly wheel cover(tried turning it using the fly wheel). Nothing.
Going to pull the oil pan tomorrow.

How far do you have to drag it to break it free?

 

[John Smith]

So, I've tried everything listed above. Put oil in and let it sit over night, blew air into the cylinder, rocked it, dragged it, pulled the fly wheel cover(tried turning it using the fly wheel). Nothing.
Going to pull the oil pan tomorrow.

How far do you have to drag it to break it free?

Please remove the oil pan and let's see the pictures. You could probably drag this truck with all 4 tires skidding along the ground and still not break it free.

 

[akeyzoo]

I demand updates!!!!

 

[Mace]

99% sure you spun a bearing and locked the crank up. One of the rods should be a slightly different color than the rest.