The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

How did it seize? Was it a long period of indolence or did it seize suddenly when running?

This has a large effect on what you do next...

If the former I would suggest removing plugs, small quantity of penetrating oil down each plug hole, large spanner on crank puller and some
gentle rocking to and fro. It may well come free, so then gently increase in small increments the to and fro motion, drop the sump oil and
stick in a new filter, fresh but cheap oil and spin on starter, get some fuel in the carbs, sort out ignition, refit plugs and see if it runs.

If the latter well its anyone's guess...and more info of circumstances needed.

Jonners

Dave

Spray plenty ofWD40 down the spark plug hole and leave it for a day

Paul

Pistons have seized. Bores will be rusty and piston rings too. An old plant fitter friend of mine swears by diesel with a drop of brake fluid for freeing up rusty things. Pour some down the bores and leave it a few days, then as mentioned rock it a bit at a time until more movement is able. Bore may clean with a hone, but if crusty in there probably a re bore would be needed.

Tony

Flyfisherman wrote:Dave

Spray plenty ofWD40 down the spark plug hole and leave it for a day

Paul

paul

Thanks for idea tired that last week end still no movement[

Thanks Dave/color]

tony g wrote:Pistons have seized. Bores will be rusty and piston rings too. An old plant fitter friend of mine swears by diesel with a drop of brake fluid for freeing up rusty things. Pour some down the bores and leave it a few days, then as mentioned rock it a bit at a time until more movement is able. Bore may clean with a hone, but if crusty in there probably a re bore would be needed.

Tony

Tony

Funny some one else said about diesel,i was going to try that tomorrow,it must be well seized as if you try to turn it the cranshaft bolt comes undone

Thanks dave

If the clutch has also stuck to the flywheel, the car is in gear and the handbrake is on the engine may also appear to be seized.
If you can try it in neutral ( if not already there) it might help.
HTH,
Tony.

new to this wrote:

tony g wrote:Pistons have seized. Bores will be rusty and piston rings too. An old plant fitter friend of mine swears by diesel with a drop of brake fluid for freeing up rusty things. Pour some down the bores and leave it a few days, then as mentioned rock it a bit at a time until more movement is able. Bore may clean with a hone, but if crusty in there probably a re bore would be needed.

Tony

Tony

Funny some one else said about diesel,i was going to try that tomorrow,it must be well seized as if you try to turn it the cranshaft bolt comes undone

Thanks dave

I use diesel and petrol mixed, always have some about from hapless folk who have wrong fueled their cars! But it must be well stuck if you can undo the crankshaft dog bolt with it. Obvious answer, turn it the other way first!

Puts me in mind of a Ford Zephyr 6 I bought in the 70s, seized solid and with no brakes. I still towed it home 15 miles on a rope, using slipping the clutch on the seized motor to slow it down. Having got it home, I doused the bores in diesel etc several times over the course of a fortnight then got a mate to tow it round the block a few times with my Cortina while I repeated the clutch trick a few times and it eventually freed off. And this is where the plan collapsed, cos it still had no brakes and I ended up stopping it with the rear end of my own car!

Steve

MIG Wielder wrote:If the clutch has also stuck to the flywheel, the car is in gear and the handbrake is on the engine may also appear to be seized.
If you can try it in neutral ( if not already there) it might help.
HTH,
Tony.

Tony

Already checked it is in neutral,but clutching at straws read on here about spacer for starter motor,if mine hasnt got the spacer could that seize the engine

Thanks dave

Unlikely but you could always take the starter off and see if it frees up...

The spacer is only on autos IIRC.

Jonners

Jon Tilson wrote:The spacer is only on autos IIRC. Jonners

Jon why is that? i didn't fit the space back on my Auto, oversight really, what probl;ems could I expect?

Malcolm

The spacer helps the cog to mesh with the ring gear on autos...by bringing it a tad nearer. If yours is ok chances are you dont have a
problem.

Jonners