Engine locks up with tightening gland nut

[desertwrx]

I have an engine I'm trying to get running and it locks up when I give the gland nut some torque. With light ft. lbs on it, it will turn over. But when I really give it some torque it locks up allowing me to turn it back and forth only a tiny bit.

[vince1]

Did you set your endplay?
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[desertwrx]

Have that set up, but there was about .040 that the shims couldn't get rid of, which should be a big clue that I don't know anything about!

[miniman82]

Your endplay is still wrong, do it again.
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[desertwrx]

I have 3 shims that measure .027. When I add or subtract the total number of shims I still have that excessive .04 play. Could it be that there's something wrong internally?

[SGKent]

yes - you could have screwed the pooch and that endplay is the bearing now walking forwards and backwards in the case saddles but when you try to spin it the dowell stops it. To test this theory put in only 2 shims and see if it spins.

One possible way this could happen if you are just building this engine is if the thust surface width on the bearings is the wrong size for the case - the case thrust may have been cut.
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[fastinradford]

main seal not completely installed
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[bugninva]

[desertwrx]

It's a used engine that came with the car. The PO took the engine out saying it needed rebuilding, but it ran. They stuck the engine in the car and I towed it home. It was missing the flywheel so I got one and put the shims back in. It just seems strange that it ran before I put my flywheel on this engine.

[bugninva]

unfortunately you are going on the PO's word that it ran... they can run with huge endplay, but they don't last...
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[desertwrx]

I know for sure it ran because the brakes didn't work and the front tire were flat. He said the flat tires helped slow it down. No stop lights in our town! He had pulled the engine to rebuild it and his wife said "NO MORE PROJECTS!". I then got it.
The weird part is my flywheel with the original shims it locks up as I increase the torque on the gland nut. I end up with maybe a quarter inch rotation on the flywheel, but a nice free but very short rotation. It feels like it is hitting something solid CW or CCW direction.
I just want to get the engine so it'll run for a few days so someone can drive the car.

[desertwrx]

Put another flywheel on it and problem fixed.

[nsracing]

Looks like an alignbore job waiting to come out.

[desertwrx]

Yeah, it'll need a total rebuild. I also have another one that I have to smash the barrels off the pistons. The PO on that one let water go down the single 44 Webber. Boy, I'm doing good!

[desertwrx]

Finally got around to working on this buggy. Still has big endplay and seems to run fine. Need to clean it up and sell it (saying engine needs rebuilding).
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