IH 424 Won't Crank/Grinds When Turning Starter Over

My dad has a 1964 International Harvester 424 that has been in his barn for a while now. He bought a 584 to take care of everything he was using the 424 for, along with others and because of that, he gave up on fixing it.

It got left out for a month or so while we were building the barn. I can't remember what the weather was like, but it's safe to say there was rain or something because the motor appears to have seized up.

It used to be where you'd turn it over and it'd start basically instantly. He had the starter rebuilt because he removed it and the clutch drive wouldn't spring up, and after that, he ended up buying a new starter all together.

He also mentioned trying to pull start it in a high gear. No matter how he tried it, the wheels are just stuck and will not spin when in gear.

Now this is the first time I'm going to look at it, and I found that after testing the starter, and replacing the battery, it will not crank. When you try to engage the starter, it just gives an awful low groaning/grinding noise. This leads me to believe the motor has seized up.

I've read multiple things on here, among other forums that have suggested pouring all sorts of lubricants down the cylinders from marvel mystery oil to brake fluid, etc.

Just wondering if anyone has any ideas or has ever dealt with this before. Looking for some insight before I go tearing the engine apart.

Unfortunately, I'm 200 miles away from him until I move next week. I was going to attempt to turn the motor by hand.

I appreciate any help!

Step 1, remove spark plugs and make sure it isn't hydo locked, examine plugs for rust when removing. If water is found it must be removed before any soaking is attempted as all lubricants and solvents will float on water and never get to rust area.

Leroy, how did we arrive at the "fact" that this is a "gasser"?

I suppose it's LIKELY that it is, but diesels were made, as well (and I have one), I was just about to ask the O.P. to clarify this for sure when I saw your post.

You are correct in asking if diesel as I assumed gas when he mentioned adding lubricants to cylinders which is possible on diesels also.

(quoted from post at 22:31:08 10/10/19) You are correct in asking if diesel as I assumed gas when he mentioned adding lubricants to cylinders which is possible on diesels also.

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"he mentioned adding lubricants to cylinders which is possible on diesels also"

I fully agree with you.

My point in is that i think it's important to know for sure which engine he has.

If a diesel, piston to head clearance is so tight it doesn't take much carbon or other foreign matter to jam a piston, locking up the engine.

do you know anyone close to the tractor. you need to pull the plugs and put some like wd-40 in there and let it set for a few days. some tractors has a large nut on the crank pulley in front. right size socket and heavy breaker bar might work. rocking the tractor back n forth might do the trick. I am assuming the tractor rolls fine when out if gear. do not attempt the starter until you get the motor freed up. just cause more damage. good luck.

There are as many concoctions to free a stuck engine as there are people who have tried. NONE of them are a "sure thing."

Now before you start filling the cylinders with the latest "in" brew, you may want to rent or borrow a borescope and take a look inside the cylinders. If you see water or flaky rust, game over. No liquid remedy is going to fix that. Head has to come off.

Best place to get some leverage is through the starter hole. Pry CAREFULLY on the ring gear.

If it is a 424 Diesel then it is a British Diesel with glow plugs and the glow plugs can easily be removed to look in the cylinder with a bore scope or to add the flavour of the day solution to free the stuck cylinders.

I forgot to mention this, it is in fact a gas motor.

Edit: I completely forgot to mention it is a gas motor.