Strange Engine siezure

[SteveB_calgary]

I've experienced a problem with my 1971 series II A Land Rover which quite frankly has me perplexed.
The engine has never given me an problems and has always been very easy to turn over.

The other day when I started it the battery seemed to be low on power as the engine did not turn over very quickly so I made a mental note to put the battery on charge. The engine started and ran as normal, no strange noises, no indications of any kind that there was anything wrong. I drove to the shops and parked. When I came out to leave the starter jusr went "clunk" and wouldn't turn the engine over. Dead battery I thought. I put the starting handle in place and tried to crank start it.

The engine was solid ! Seized I thought. Nothing could induce it to free up. We tried rocking it in gear etc. ...nothing.
So I towed it home and on the way I put it into 4th gear and let the clutch out and after considerable drag it broke free and started. No odd noises, no smoke not problems apparently. It ran as before and revved easily etc. I turned it off thinking that the problem had gone.

Then I tried to restart it . Same as before locked solid. Not sure what to think.


Anyone had a similar experience or any ideas as to what the problem might be?


The only thing I can think of is a starter that is seizing up and locking things up when it has engaged the engine preventing the engine from being turned over.


Ideas and suggestions welcomed.

Steve B

[rezdiver]

could be as you stated that the starter is jamming up on the flywheel. take it off and have a look.

[ANDYD]

Check your starter first. If it is not a starter issue it could be you are getting water in the cylinders and are trying to compress water?

One way to rule this out when it is seized up next time take all the spark plugs out and try turning it over. If this is the problem it should now turn over freely.
If it does turn over freely now, put one plug in at a time to see which one of the cylinders is causing the problem ....

[SteveB_calgary]

My suspicions point to the starter in this case as the fluids are all still where they should be with no coolant contamination in the oil etc.

I just wanted to see if there were any other possible scenarios that I might not have thought of.

Thank you for your suggestions though as I will check those as well just to be sure.

Regards,
Steve B

[SteveB_calgary]

An update:
I pulled the starter and discovered that the large rebound spring on the shaft had broken up into three pieces and the circlip and end collar had come off. I have the majority of all the bits but I suspect the circlip, collar and third piece of the spring are sitting in the bottom of the bell housing.

I am seriously considering making an access hole in the bottom of the bell housing to recover the bits as the thought of pulling the engine I this cold weather is not appealing.

Anyone else made this modification to their bell housings?

Cheers,
Steve

[pquin]

It is possible to unbolt the transmission, remove the drive shafts and just shoogle it back a few inches without removing the engine or seat box. This should give you plenty of room to fish out the spring bit. I've heard of some people acutally managing a clutch swap this way... (them must have skinny wrists though...)

[rezdiver]

It may also be possible to use one of those long flexible magnetic tools ( the one where you press on the end and the magnet protrudes out the bottom, and retracts when you let go). this is important so that the magnet doesnt stick to anything on the way into the hole, press on the end to protrude the magnet when you think you are in the right spot and pull out.

I have successfully used one of those to fish out starter bits from a Volkswagen bell housing through the starter hole. but I knew exactly what was broken in there (no aluminium or brass bits)and was able to do it enough times to retrieve all the pieces.

[HeadDamage]

I had this happen in one of my Series trucks. There is a hole at the top of the bell housing under part of the shifter. Likely had to put ll the tunnel cover to get at it. Then I used a large/very strong ceramic magnet on the out side of the bell housing to drag the parts up along the inside until I could hook them out with my fingers.

[SteveB_calgary]

Final update:
The Land Rover is now fixed and we are back on the road.

After a friend told me of a modification that had been done to his LR I opted to do the same.... I cut an access hole just forward of the transmission in the Bell housing. When I removed the piece the three missing bits to the Bendix fell out.

So now I will be making up a removable cover plate for the next time.

Final analysis is that the Bendix spring had broken up allowing the pieces to hammer the circlip (which was worn to less than half of its normal diameter) until it popped off allowing all the Bendix parts to start sliding off the starter shaft jamming the engine so it would not turn.

Anytime that you have easy access to the stater motor I would suggest taking it out to examine the spring and Bendix assembly to assess its condition before you experience a similar situation.

Thank you all for your suggestions etc.

Steve

[ANDYD]

Thanks for the final feedback, there are so many times that we never get to hear how the story ends!

Good to hear you got it sorted out.