New engine should I be able to turn over by hand?

[no_8wire]

As per title I have just put in the crank and rods pistons etc. Now I cant get it to turn just by hand, but it turns easily when i use a wrench on the crank end...

Should I be able to turn it by hand?

[Bling]

i'm not certain but I doubt it aye, due to compression etc from the engine.

make sure you've had a can of spinach before you try by hand and you might have some luck

[no_8wire]

Heads not on...just block crank rods and pistons...

[Bling]

not sure then, maybe its just tight being new parts, i'll not say anymore as I'm not sure in your situation

[evil_si]

what are your bearing clearances?

[no_8wire]

All of them? Or just the crank to rods?

[Malcolm]

did you plastigauge the bearings when you installed? Put assembly lube on all the bearings, a bit of engine oil on the bores? You should be able to turn it by hand, although it will be a bit tight due to the new rings.

[no_8wire]

hahaha I put the crank in the wrong way! hahaha that would be why its not working!

[Bling]

hahahahahhaha oh dear!

wont do that again I bet

[AceSniper]

[RomanV]

lol!

When I did my rebuild, my crank was locked in solid when I torqued up the caps....

The nice chaps at Lynn Rogers had given me the wrong end caps for the crank, from a different 3S engine.

I was pretty pissed off about it, especially since I'd paid some fairly good money to get the work done by someone with a good reputation.

And since it damaged my bearings, which I'll have to replace before I get that engine going.

[no_8wire]

still a little stiff, but when the flywheels on I can turn it by hand. Where do you get the "plastigauge" stuff from?

[slighty_sykotic]

My last couple of rebuilt 4age motors I couldnt turn easily by hand, but they all ran fine

But in saying that, I didnt size any of the bearings, just got std ones and jammed them in.

--Sykotic

[z0ton]

still a little stiff, but when the flywheels on I can turn it by hand. Where do you get the "plastigauge" stuff from?

Repco!

[Toymad]

still a little stiff, but when the flywheels on I can turn it by hand. Where do you get the "plastigauge" stuff from?

Repco!

The title said new engine - do you mean as in new rings and bearings? You should confirm bearing clearances at assembly time, but I'd say it will be hard to turn over because of the new rings. It will be tight and it will be normal, until it is run. Even then it could be tight for a while after that.

[no_8wire]

new engine as in new rings and new bearings...

[SUBARUCONVERT]

the two engines ive given a refresh (ej20, RB20) have spun very easy when just the crank is in, and a little harder when the rods and pistons are in. they get hard at the tdc. check that u havnt damaged any bearings

[fangsport]

sounds like the same thing i did whilst hurredly rebuilding.
my cure was a very fine rubbing of the bearing caps that were tight. a wee bit dodgy, but worked!!

[Caveman]

When you do the crank up you put the bearing caps in then torque one, turn the crank, torque the next, turn the crank, etc just to make sure all the bearings and machine work has been done properly. If you torque one up and it doesnt spin you know where you have the problem

[CAMB01]

You shouldnt turn the crank without all the main caps torqued down.
if the crank is tight, start loosening the caps one by one till it turns.
Just what i was taught when i was working as a motor machinist for 3 years, and yes a rebuilt engine will be a little tight to begin with as the rings are scraping up and down the bores.