12.7 tough spin when cold

Is it hydrolocking?

I think it is. Something caused the engine to stop spinning as if it had just seized up.

If it is water getting in the cylinders, then correct, it would have to exit past the rings. That's feasible. The engine produces a lot of blowby and uses a lot of oil. It always has as long as I've owned it—20 years.

White smoke? If there was a lot of coolant loss, yeah, but 2/3 of a gallon in over 600 miles and three days of not shutting down? Is that enough to cause white smoke?

I'd like to get an award, but I don't think it's likely. It is time to rebuild. Could you lend me some dough? I'd be doing the work myself, so really, what are the parts for an old series 60 inframe? Just kidding. I don't want to borrow any money from anybody at this point.

 

Good question!

I'm still pondering.

Things just don't add up.

That's why I'm still in the investigative stage and not running for wrenches!

 

I have considered that. The last time it happened, when it finally started spinning, it did spin for an inordinately long time before firing. Usually, it fires up after spinning for about 2 or 3 seconds.

The injectors are the originals, by the way—almost 2 million miles on them!

 

I replaced the starter.

She spun fast and started right up. I think it was a combination of problems. The starter was weak. It was almost 20 years old. Maybe the Lucas had something to do with it. Also, I think the original idea of hydrolocking played a part.

I was planning on going back on the road this week, but now I'm not sure that it's a good idea.

I'm pretty sure that I'm getting a hydrolock. Whether it's in the engine or the air compressor, I don't know.

This morning, it didn't want to start. The starter (brand new) engaged, and then thunk... no spin. I hit the button again... thunk... I hit it 20 times... thunk... 20 times.

I waited an hour then hit the start button... thunk... no spin. I opened the hood and watched the front of the engine while I jumped the solenoid... thunk every time. The motor sprung back to the same place with each attempt. The motor isn't tight. It's springing back... to the same point.

I barred it through. Then I tried again. She spun, but by now the batteries were a little low. Although she spun, all the way around, it was not quite fast enough to start, and there was a spot in the revolution of the engine where there was a slight hangup. She spun past the hangup, but it was there. I think the hangup was the presence of the remainder of some liquid after barring it through and expelling some of the liquid (past compression rings).

She's getting liquid in a cylinder, ain't she!?!? Either it's coolant in the compressor, coolant in one of the cylinders, or fuel in one of the cylinders. That's my guess.

I charged the batteries to full and she started right up. I ran it for a few minutes and shut it off. With the key off, I jumped the solenoid. This time she spun without a hangup, meaning all cylinders were clear of any liquid, which they would be after running.

I think I'm gonna put 'er back on the road. Two years ago, she did the same thing one winter morning... thunk... thunk... thunk... and so on... but she eventually started... and then for two years, no more thunk.

Hmmmmmm... I wonder...