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Mikemck356 Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2024 Posts: 18 Location: Ann Arbor
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Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 5:29 pm Post subject: Crank Rotation Stops |
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I am attempting to adjust my valves. I did #1 and tried to rotate the crank pulley to do the next one. I could only rotate the pulley 170 degrees. Then, there was a very firm stop.
This happens in either direction from TDC.
Any ideas why this might be happening? |
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busdaddy Samba Member

Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 52756 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 5:34 pm Post subject: Re: Crank Rotation Stops |
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How many turns did it take to "adjust" valve #1? (I assume it turned easily before?). _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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Dusty1 Samba Member
Joined: April 16, 2004 Posts: 2094
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Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 5:38 pm Post subject: Re: Crank Rotation Stops |
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(double post)
Last edited by Dusty1 on Tue Jun 24, 2025 5:40 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Dusty1 Samba Member
Joined: April 16, 2004 Posts: 2094
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Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 5:40 pm Post subject: Re: Crank Rotation Stops |
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What is the opposite ot TMI?
Was your engine running before you attempted to tune it?
I'm just throwin' spaghetti at this point but you may be adjusting your valves too late. A hard stop is sometimes a bent, broken or stuck valve.
And...
Murphy's Law of Flying Debris is you can toss 8mm nuts at your carburetor all day without scoring a "basket". Can't do it deliberately. Accidentally... one random nut or cut- off bolt will find its way in there every time. I can't explain it but I know it to be true.
Your problem will eventually reveal itself.
.
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74 Thing Samba Member

Joined: September 02, 2004 Posts: 7636
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modok Samba Member

Joined: October 30, 2009 Posts: 27660 Location: Colorado Springs
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Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2025 12:23 am Post subject: Re: Crank Rotation Stops |
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perhaps.... new pressure plate?
with a tall balance weight |
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mikedjames Samba Member

Joined: July 02, 2012 Posts: 3310 Location: Hamble, Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2025 4:34 am Post subject: Re: Crank Rotation Stops |
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Foreign object in a cylinder. Small piece of metal? _________________ Ancient vehicles and vessels
1974 VW T2 : Devon Eurovette camper with 1641 DP T1 engine, Progressive carb, full flow oil cooler, EDIS crank timed ignition.
Engine 1: 40k miles (rocker shaft clip fell off), Engine 2: 30k miles (rebuild, dropped valve). Engine 3: a JK Preservation Parts "new" engine, aluminium case: 26k miles: new top end.
Gearbox rebuild 2021 by Bears.
1979 Westerly GK24 24 foot racer/cruiser yacht Forethought of Gosport.
1973 wooden Pacer sailing dinghy |
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Mikemck356 Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2024 Posts: 18 Location: Ann Arbor
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Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2025 8:57 am Post subject: Re: Crank Rotation Stops |
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I'm sorry about the double post.
I had forgotten that I posted before.
I am going to remove the crank pulley and see if there is something stuck behind it. |
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Mikemck356 Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2024 Posts: 18 Location: Ann Arbor
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Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2025 4:46 pm Post subject: Re: Crank Rotation Stops |
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I got the crank pulley pulled out enough so I could confirm that there is nothing behind it limiting rotation.
Next I am going to remove the valve covers to take a look, Then, check crank end play. |
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Dale M. Samba Member

Joined: April 12, 2006 Posts: 20805 Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 7:16 am Post subject: Re: Crank Rotation Stops |
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IF engine rotated ok before you worked on it and now it does not, only look at the work done.... You need to look at areas where work was done because that was only areas that were disturbed... _________________ “Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns"
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ... |
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74 Thing Samba Member

Joined: September 02, 2004 Posts: 7636
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:39 am Post subject: Re: Crank Rotation Stops |
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Pull the rockers and pushrods and try to turn it again.
If is still does not work then you may have to remove the rear engine tin, and loosen the engine to trans mounting nuts and pull the engine rearward a bit (maybe only a 1/4 inch or so) then see if it will turn. If it does, then the interference is happening in the trans/flywheel/clutch area. You need to drop the engine and figure out what is happening and take care of the clearance problem. As I stated above, if you used new trans mounts or nuts, the studs on the trans mounts may be too long or the nuts too tall and it may be catching the flywheel and stopping the engine from turning. If you have a new trans case (your post wasn't clear if you do) then the flywheel may be hitting somewhere on the inside of the trans case that needs to be ground and clearanced. |
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Mikemck356 Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2024 Posts: 18 Location: Ann Arbor
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Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2025 5:58 pm Post subject: Re: Crank Rotation Stops |
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The engine is out from the car.
I pulled the rockers to look at the valves and pushrods. The valves all look the same height and the push rods look straight.
I put the rockers back on and not the crank won't rotate at all.
I can take the rockers off and pull the push rods out and then try to rotate.
It seems like if the studs on the trans mounts were too long they wouldn't hit on just one place on the flywheel. Until today I could turn it 170 degrees either way from TDC. |
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Teeroy  Samba Member

Joined: April 20, 2003 Posts: 3840 Location: Eastern WA
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Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2025 9:37 pm Post subject: Re: Crank Rotation Stops |
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Any chance you removed distributor and fuel pump? If you did the distributor drive can back out and lock up on the brass crank gear when rotating engine _________________ Pres. Rivercity VW Club www.rcvwclub.org
Founder Derr Wheat Panzers (DWP)
ARR #3
www.autosportsnorthwest.org |
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74 Thing Samba Member

Joined: September 02, 2004 Posts: 7636
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Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2025 4:18 am Post subject: Re: Crank Rotation Stops |
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Yeah, try to rotate without the pushrods in to see if that is the problem or to eliminate it.
Did it rotate fine before you bolted it into the trans with or without the pushrods installed?
You are going to have to drop the engine out and locate the problem. |
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VW_Jimbo  Samba Member

Joined: May 22, 2016 Posts: 11146 Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2025 8:16 am Post subject: Re: Crank Rotation Stops |
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Teeroy wrote: |
Any chance you removed distributor and fuel pump? If you did the distributor drive can back out and lock up on the brass crank gear when rotating engine |
x2 on that one! This was my first thought reading through the posts. _________________ Jimbo
There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!
TDCTDI wrote: |
Basically, a whole bunch of fuckery to achieve a look. |
67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!  |
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Mikemck356 Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2024 Posts: 18 Location: Ann Arbor
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Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2025 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: Crank Rotation Stops |
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The reason it wouldn't rotate at all is because I forgot that I installed the flywheel lock so I could loosen the crank pulley and pull it out.
I did not remove the distributor but I did loosen the nut holding the clamp to the block. It was holding something else I had to remove. I will make sure that nut is tight now. |
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Teeroy  Samba Member

Joined: April 20, 2003 Posts: 3840 Location: Eastern WA
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Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2025 6:05 pm Post subject: Re: Crank Rotation Stops |
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Dooh! That will do it _________________ Pres. Rivercity VW Club www.rcvwclub.org
Founder Derr Wheat Panzers (DWP)
ARR #3
www.autosportsnorthwest.org |
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