K181 _ Seized?

[mikemc53 10]

My C-81 seems to be seized, for lack of a better term. I drove it a week ago and everything was fine. Oil is good and clean, battery is brand new and starter is recently rebuilt. Got on the tractor today to start it up and you can hear the relay click and the starter seems to engage but it can't spin the engine. I'm not sure if I should be able to spin the engine by hand by moving the flywheel screen on the outside, but it is frozen and won't rotate. The PTO is disengaged, so there's no interference there. I don't know if there is an ACR (automatic compression release) on this engine, so I'm not sure if this could be a problem - and if it does have one, I'm not sure how to check if it is functioning properly.

 

Any ideas? I have never had an engine seize without prior warning so I'm confused as to what this might actually be.

 

I am open to suggestions.

 

Thanks.

[rmaynard 16,350]

Sounds like the Bendix on your starter is stuck in the "out" position. Try loosening the bolts that hold the starter onto the engine and see if it returns to it's home position. At that time, you should be able to rotate the engine by hand. If so, tighten the starter bolts again and try to start it in the normal way.

[JimmyJam 542]

I had a similar situation with a Kohler CV-14. I removed the spark plug and was able to move flywheel in one direction by hand. Apparently mine was hydro locked and was able to start it right back up.

[WH nut 553]

rmaynard is right on the money

[mikemc53 10]

Maynard was right on the money. It is now starting and running perfectly, again.

 

Thanks!!

[rmaynard 16,350]

Glad I could help.