Engine trouble

[Beetlefix]

Hi everyone, newbie here and asking if anyone has had experience with this issue, to say i'm gutted at the moment is a understatement.

Here's what has happened, i have rebuilt a 1600c DP engine for my Beetle, eveything is brand new on the rebuild except the crankshaft and crankcase, which i had reground and the case align bored, i've done 750 trouble free miles with the engine purring well, i used the bug this Friday just gone , no issues, no bangs, no clunks etc and no oil pressure loss or oil leaks, i went to the car yesterday evening (Sunday) and with minus 2 in temperature i had to unfreeze my door locks, once in the car i then started the bug and it fired up no problem, it did sound a little off but i took that to be the cold weather and upon driving and at a slow speed because of the snow and ice we are experiencing in the UK at the moment i got around 100 feet away from my house when the car came to a screeching halt and died, i cannot turn the crank by hand its all solid no movement and obviously the car wont start, i was only doing around 15 mph, my wife was in the back when this happened and said she heard a grating sound, my question is could this be a jammed starter motor, it is quite old and with the cold weather was wondering if it could jam, anyone experienced this before ?.

I can't beleive its the engine as it gave no sign whatsoever of failure,unless something has happened to the internal like a broken gear etc, i suppose you never know, i find this so frustrating as i've only just got the car back on the road after a long time !.

Long winded post i know,but really gutted if i've got to pull the engine again !..

Any help would be great,thanks,Rob.

[KTPhil]

When you say "screatching halt" do you mean it made screatching noises?

Starters can stick, but putting it in reverse and pushing the car should free it. Not likely, but something to try gently.

Next I'd check, drain and examine the oil. How does it smell?

But if you can't turn it over, the engine is probably coming out for disassembly to see what's jammed.

[Beetlefix]

Thanks for the help ,oil is clean and does not smell as i changed the oil at 600 miles which was 2 weekends ago !, the engine stopped dead and locked the wheels up (about 10 - 15 mph ), so i dipped the clutch and coasted the car to park it, as i started the car initially the engine sounded off, like it needed warming up and sounded slower ,that's why i was wondering if the starter was still engaged and has jammed against the flywheel as there was no indication of anything wrong prior to this happening, the bug was running sweet and i used it Friday evening (50 mph) coming home from work, purring like a kitten, parked it up and listened to it idling for a few seconds being a new engine just to make sure it's all ok after every use while the mileage is still fairly low and running in !.......looks like i've got some work to do again !!....Thanks.

[viiking]

I assume you can still roll the car in neutral?

It’s not unheard of that the clutch or transmission can lock solid with the engine giving the impression that the engine has seized.
_________________
1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[viiking]

Ok we posted together. Didn’t see your post re declutching.
_________________
1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[Beetlefix]

[viiking]

The starter motor itself has a bendix drive which is quite weak in comparison to an engine revving at a couple of thousand rpm. I think if the starter stuck solid it would break the bendix drive quite easily. Now of course parts could jam into the flywheel but at the speed you were going it would damage the flywheel teeth or bell housing before locking the engine.

Pull the engine at least until the input shaft disengages then try to turn the crankshaft. It will immediately tell you if you need to keep going to pull it out and inspect.

I’m hoping it’s something simple. Just strange that the engine gave up so suddenly after running well and just parking.
_________________
1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[Pruneman99]

Too tight of bearing clearances, plus very cold temps, plus full round aluminum bearings, equals zero bearing clearance.

So what were yours?

[finster]

why are you driving it on salty winter roads?
_________________
"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[mukluk]

I'd first pull the starter out to see if that allows the engine to be rotated again or not, but I feel the comment below is likely an accurate assessment of the problem.

[viiking]

[Beetlefix]

Thanks for the input guys, the oil used in the engine is a classic SAE 30 by Morris, a highly recommended oil here in the UK for the aircooled engine, i'm going to pull the starter this weekend and see what happens, as for bearing tolerences, i can see what people are saying there !!