D6-9U Starter Flywheel:What does a stuck/seized Flywheel mean?

[BigYellowDozer]

Just as the title says. I'm not sure why it's now stuck. It was rotating freely, but now you cannot rotate the Flywheel with a rope. What can be done to free the Flywheel to rotate again?

Thank You.

 

[kshansen]

Not familiar with a D6-9U, I'm guessing this is an old machine with a gasoline pony motor to start it?

How long since it ran last?

First thing I might be tempted try would be to remove spark plug(s) and see if it will turn over now.

Can you put a wrench on something to try turning it backwards a bit?

A little more history and maybe a couple pictures would help.

 

[OzDozer]

Hydraulic lock, either via gas flowing through to the combustion chambers from the fuel tank because the fuel tap wasn't turned off - or water down the exhaust into the combustion chambers.

Water may have rusted the rings to the cylinder walls, if it's been left for some extended amount of time.

As kshansen says, pull the spark plugs and then pull it over with the rope, see if it turns over and if anything comes out of the spark plug holes.
If it still doesn't turn, squirt some penetrant with a can with a spray tube into the plug holes, spreading it around with the spray tube, and then leave it to soak.

 

[BigYellowDozer]

Not familiar with a D6-9U, I'm guessing this is an old machine with a gasoline pony motor to start it?

How long since it ran last?

First thing I might be tempted try would be to remove spark plug(s) and see if it will turn over now.

Can you put a wrench on something to try turning it backwards a bit?

A little more history and maybe a couple pictures would help.

Thank You. Yes, it's an older machine with a gas pony motor. This was purchased with an electric starter back in 1995. My Dad only had it for a handful of years before he past away-never using the Electric starter. However, now opening up the starter (which I cleaned and is responding) needs to have the larger gear replaced because it's badly warn. So he never could of used the Electric start to begin with.

This machine was last started around 2000 or 2001.

 

[hector gemme]

Make sure the starting engine cluch lever is't angaged

 

[kshansen]

Make sure the starting engine cluch lever is't angaged

I believe hector meant to say Engaged!

 

[56wrench]

Is there oil in the pup engine? Was it run dry? Can you rock the flywheel back and forth a little bit?

 

[OzDozer]

Not only badly worn teeth, but a whole heap of corrosion in there, too! It's had water laying in it for some time.

 

[BigYellowDozer]

Is there oil in the pup engine? Was it run dry? Can you rock the flywheel back and forth a little bit?

Pony oil is on the low. The fly wheel is snug. No movement.

 

[BigYellowDozer]

I've tried all that has been suggested with no fruitful outcomes. I did notice that the drain cock on the Left Hand side has no liquid draining while the Right side did.

Before adding fuel to the Pony, I removed the carburetor, disassembled it, cleaned it, and reinstalled, something about a float needle not seating properly that may have allowed unwanted fuel to flow into the engine?

Would this be a good idea or a bad idea? Would the electric starter free the hydro lock? Not that I can do that right at this moment anyhow.

Thank You.

 

[OzDozer]

If you've removed the spark plugs and it still won't turn over, then I'd have to say the engine is seized from corrosion.

 

[kshansen]

Maybe I'm not fully awake, waiting for coffee to brew!, are we talking about the pony engine flywheel not moving or the diesel engine flywheel not moving?

If this machine has been setting for 20 plus years I would not be surprised if both were rusted up in the cylinders. Before getting in too deep I would make sure the big diesel engine will turn over some how by hand.

 

[hector gemme]

You could check the pinion is't freeze on the ring gear flywell and remove the 2 heads could have some rust in and could be too the magneto freeze

 

[BigYellowDozer]

The wheel was moving fine when I first started working on it. However, I did find out that the radiator fan would not freely move. Maybe I need to just keep at it. But the Radiator fan-that's another thing I need to further investigate.

 

[56wrench]

Those little pup engines are easy to remove the cyl heads from and if you are careful you can reuse the head gaskets. They are copper. You will have to drain the coolant first though. Make sure the main starter pinion is released from the diesel engine flywheel or it may be hard to turn by the fan blades

 

[BigYellowDozer]

With the radiator drained, I took one cap off and the wheel was freed. And this is what was under the cap.

 

[BigYellowDozer]

Due to all the crud that had built up over time, I noticed the small hole in the cap that leads to the drain cock was plugged; preventing any draining to clear the Hydraulic lock.

 

[kshansen]

Due to all the crud that had built up over time, I noticed the small hole in the cap that leads to the drain cock was plugged; preventing any draining to clear the Hydraulic lock.

So does it turn over free now? Hard to tell from the pictures the condition of the bore for the piston, is that just crap on the bore or is the bore that bad?

 

[56wrench]

While you’re there, you might as well dig out the ‘mud’ that has settled out of the coolant and plugged the passages. The other side of the pup engine’s coolant passages are probably the same way

 

[BigYellowDozer]

So does it turn over free now? Hard to tell from the pictures the condition of the bore for the piston, is that just crap on the bore or is the bore that bad?

Yes, the wheel is now freely spinning-no movements in other directions, nice and snug. The Bores are smooth. That was just crud on the inside. Witness marks from the rings on the edge of the Bore where it rested.