Volks Folks!
Writing in after a very long time. Hope all is well with everyone. Pl
excuse the wordy story that follows.
Subject car is a 68 bug running a 61-2 40 horse motor, my daily
driver. Engine has almost 30k Kilometers after full rebuild with no
issues other than some oil leaks and a leak in the exhaust system.
For the past few months the starter motor had been acting up. The
gear would slip sometime but car would start. Had been neglecting it
due to a tight work schedule but then got a good running auto bug
starter so as to save on the 'swap time', skipping the gearbox bushing
replacement. Had an old timer install it a couple of weeks ago but it
wont crank. The verdict was my wiring was old and cannot get enough
juice across to fire up the beefier auto strater. Was asked to have the
'new' unit serviced too. So I reverted back to the old unit which
worked, though with some occasional protests.
Last evening I was hurrying off to work, cranked the motor, engine
turned once or twice but then she wont turn over. Cranked again and
again to no avail. The speedo idiot lights would dim but thats it. I
thought well, luck had finally run out with the faulty starter. I pushed
the bug a bit with the second gear engaged as I figured it would get
the apparently stuck starter teeth off the flywheel teeth but no luck.
Did not have time to get under the car and knock on the motor itself, a
'trick' Ive seen work to get a stuck starter working. Anyway, selected
neutral and pushed the bug out of the driveway. I was about to borrow
dad's car when my sixth sense told me to kill the battery just in case.
Pulled the rear seat up and was shocked to see the battery earth hot
like hell. Had I not pulled it off, the car would have burnt to the
ground. Hurried off to work.
Today, after returning from work, I dived into the issues headfirst.
Replaced the battery terminal, still engine wont crank, just half a
second of activity and then nothing. Took terminal off, crawled under
and got the old starter motor off. Nothing seemed broken or bent. The
pinion gear did have wear explaining the slips it used to make. Probably
combined with a bad gear housing bushing. Now I put on another Auto Bug
starter I had in my stash. Fit it in place along with the two wires.
Replaced battery terminals and cranked. Still nothing, just half second
of activity and then nothing.
I figured turning the motor might help. Tried to turn the Alternator
pulley and then it dawned on me that the Crank pulley would not budge at
all. Not even a millimeter. Scratched my head, checked if the bug was
in gear, was not. Crawled under and pulled the starter off. Examined the
area good. No signs of anything wedged in with the flywheel. Ran
fingers everywhere I could. Nothing.
Then put bug in second and tried to rock it. The engine would not move at
all.
I am really stumped at this. How can the motor lock up like this????
Oil level is between the marks and oil is clean. Nothing apparently
wrong anywhere.
Any and all ideas and input is very highly appreciated.
Best regards,
Asad
Karachi.
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