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Engine will not turn over but solenoid and starter clicks

Tiny
POLIZEME25
  • MEMBER
  • 1961 JEEP WAGONEER
  • 0.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 35,000 MILES
Hi, I have a 1938 American Bantam, it's
The precursor to the military Jeep.

The issue that I'm having is the
solenoid and starter clicks, won't
turn over.

I have a new battery, new plugs, rebuilt starter, new solenoid, new battery cables.

I have had the engine turn over, but not running.
It's very sporadic, I cannot figure out
What the problem is.

Would you have any ideas or do you
Know who has any knowledge in regards to my problem.

Thank you Kenny.
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Wednesday, April 15th, 2020 AT 2:09 AM

17 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Good morning,

If you remove the plugs, can you turn the motor by hand? The engine may be too tight to turn from age.

The piston rings may be frozen to the cylinder walls. I would add some oil to the cylinders and tun the motor by hand. Let it sit with the oil in there for about a day and then try cranking it over without the plugs in the engine.

Try that first.

Roy
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Wednesday, April 15th, 2020 AT 3:51 AM
Tiny
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Roy,

I figured why I had an issue with the starter, it had to do with the clutch.

My next issues I see is with the timing, difficult to figure out since there are no timing marks.

I appreciate your help.

Kenny
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Wednesday, April 15th, 2020 AT 2:10 PM
Tiny
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Clutch? What was the issue?

Do you mean the base timing or valve timing?

Roy
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Wednesday, April 15th, 2020 AT 2:59 PM
Tiny
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Roy,

it's simpler then that, it was the foot clutch, the pedal was hanging up and was forcing the starter to work harder, It wasn't releasing properly. My guess the car was sitting, here on Long Island to long we have high humidity, stick, rust, and corrode.
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Wednesday, April 15th, 2020 AT 3:10 PM
Tiny
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Got it. I remember I bought a 1956 Chevrolet pick up that was sitting for 10 years and the disc was frozen to the flywheel. I remember well.

Roy
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Wednesday, April 15th, 2020 AT 3:14 PM
Tiny
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Roy,

I have another issues that is making me scratch my head. This American Bantam has a one barrel carburetor. The car still won't start, I figured if I use the choke the car will start. The car engine will turn rapidly, but When I use the choke for just a second
the carburetor will leak. The larger issue is the Engine basically locks up and will no longer turn over once the choke is used.
Does this make any sense to you? Any ideas? Can you help me?

Thank you, Kenny
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Tuesday, April 21st, 2020 AT 9:25 AM
Tiny
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Yes, it sounds like it is flooding from too much fuel.

Fuel is getting into the cylinders and locking the engine up. Remove the plugs and crank the engine around to get rid of the fuel. Then add a cap of oil into each cylinder to get some compression back.

You will need to rebuild or replace the carburetor.

Roy
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Tuesday, April 21st, 2020 AT 9:42 AM
Tiny
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Roy, thank you. There are no replacements or equivalents that I can find for this very old Tillotson M10BX.
May need to rebuild it.

I appreciate your time and help.

Take care, be well.

Kenny
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Tuesday, April 21st, 2020 AT 9:57 AM
Tiny
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You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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Tuesday, April 21st, 2020 AT 10:00 AM
Tiny
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Roy

Good news bad news. I got the engine running, it ran for a couple of minutes. I gave it some gas and stopped. I am basically back at square one. The car will not turn over at all. Do you have any ideas? When the engine was running it was almost like hitting the lottery, It sounded so good, but was short lived.

Again, any help or feedback would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Kenny
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Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020 AT 2:30 PM
Tiny
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I still think you have carburetor issues and need to rebuild it.

Once that is done then we can continue. You have spark from the distributor and that leaves fuel control.

Roy
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Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020 AT 3:22 PM
Tiny
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Roy,

Thank you i'm working to getting the carburetor rebuilt, awaiting parts. As far as I know there was never a replacement, or similar carburetor made by another company. In the mean time I have a general question. When an engine locks up after running, it sticks, etc, is there a way to keep the engine from locking up again? Oil seems to work for the short term but for the long term are there any steps I can take, any product that will keep the pistons from sticking? I have some time on my hands and figured I could work on the sticking issues while waiting for the carburetor parts.

Thank again,

Kenny
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Friday, April 24th, 2020 AT 3:28 AM
Tiny
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I would remove the plugs and add some oil into the cylinder. The rings are what get stuck on the walls from not running.

After you add the oil to the cylinders, hand turn the motor several times to help put some oil on the walls.

Roy
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Friday, April 24th, 2020 AT 3:50 AM
Tiny
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Roy,

Hi, I got the car running, finally, miracles do happen.
I'm attaching a short video, hopefully you can view it.

I have one other issue, do you know anything about old generators.

Thank you Kenny.
Video (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
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Thursday, April 30th, 2020 AT 3:12 PM
Tiny
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Good deal.

As far as the generator, according to site rules, I can only deal with one issue per question.

Please go back and start a new question and I will be happy to help you.

Roy
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Thursday, April 30th, 2020 AT 3:54 PM
Tiny
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Roy,

Okay, hopefully this will be easier than my previous questions.

Thank you Kenny
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Thursday, April 30th, 2020 AT 4:43 PM

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