Major Problem - engine won't turn over

[Chrisrad99]

This is for a 1971 2.2L with carbs.

After re-building the carbs and replacing a number of seals, I was having difficulties in getting the carbs balanced and adjusted. Yesterday, I let the engine warm-up, however it just wasn't idling well. I turned the motor off.

I noticed that one of carbs was completely full of gas, like the exhaust valve was stuck closed or something, then I could not rotate the motor past a certain point with the starter or by hand.

I removed the carb and only to find an intake nut had fallen into the #4 intake. It had been rattling around in there and nicely cleaned the valve and stem. It wasn't wedged or jammed in there.

I counter-rotated the engine a couple of turns and somehow whatever was preventing the rotation in the normal direction cleared itself. I was able to put everything back together and start the engine again. Still not running well though.

After stopping the engine, this mechanical thing stopping the rotation happened again!!

Any ideas - is my valve train damaged? What should I check out?

[Scott R]

If you're flooding gas into the cylinder then you're probably hydro locked. Liguids, water and gas included do not compress, therefore the cylinder is locked until the gas pushes past or evporates. Be carefull as you can actually bend the connecting rod with a powerfull enough starter.

[Jim Sims]

"Hydrolocking" from fuel leak. You likely have a carb problem that is flooding gasoline into the engine. Address carb problem before proceeding and change the oil before trying to turn the engine over again; gasoline makes a terrible bearing lubricant.

[afterburn 549]

pull the spark pug and see if it will turn over by hand...i think you see the problem (burp-puke )

[Chrisrad99]

Thanks very much. Hydro-locking is new for me. I think that there might be a problem with the needle valve or float adjustment because there was gas coming out of the overflow tubes. It seems to make sense to fix the carb problem before tearing the engine apart.

[Scott R]

It is usually the float not closing, this of course just allows fuel to overflow out of the float bowl.

[Netspeed]

One more thing to consider:
Change your oil after you get the carb situation fixed. Depending on how much gas went down the cylinders, you could potentially have a crankcase full of gas ready to ignite! Plus the gas will wash off all the oil that's protecting everything.

[Chrisrad99]

Thanks very much. There was alot of gas that went down the cylinders. I'll fix the float problem and change the oil... Thanks again for the help.