Oh no!

[DD in WA]

Several years ago I rebuilt a 42 H; new pistons, rods, crank turned, head rebuilt, etc. It ran fine until today when it died and the starter wouldn't turn it over. I ran for just a few minutes. I tried turning it over with a big wrench on the spot the hand crank engages and I can't get it to budge. I didn't notice what the oil pressure gauge indicated yesterday when I ran it so can't say if i lost oil pressure and she froze up. Where do I start???

 

[used red MN]

Several years ago I rebuilt a 42 H; new pistons, rods, crank turned, head rebuilt, etc. It ran fine until today when it died and the starter wouldn't turn it over. I ran for just a few minutes. I tried turning it over with a big wrench on the spot the hand crank engages and I can't get it to budge. I didn't notice what the oil pressure gauge indicated yesterday when I ran it so can't say if i lost oil pressure and she froze up. Where do I start???

Loosen the starter bolts and wiggle the starter around a bit and listen for a small “clunk” which will be the starter drive retracting after it frees itself from being jammed in the flywheel ring gear teeth. Retighten it and go on. If it is on a flat surface that isn’t to soft you might try putting it in 5th gear and rocking it backwards pushing on the upper part of the rear tires. Watch for movement of the fan this will tell you the starter drive has unjammed.
Trying to force the engine to turn the normal rotation direction usually will not free it and it just remains locked holding the engine from turning.

 

[DD in WA]

You Sir are my hero! I actually took the starter all the way off and I was able to turn it over by hand. Reinstalled it and all is well. Thank you.

 

[used red MN]

You Sir are my hero! I actually took the starter all the way off and I was able to turn it over by hand. Reinstalled it and all is well. Thank you.

Not a hero, just been there, done that.

 

[Duner Wi]

If it ever happens again you can stop the engine with the clutch so worn area on ring gear is avoided. Your H stops rotating very close to one or two spots when allowed to coast to stop. Using clutch to avoid these spots saves you grief.

 

[cushman]

This topic reminds me of using my dads SuH in the 1950s!