OT Farm truck

Mike Stockwell · Oct 30, 2011

OK all you Guru's out there, i got me a problem that i am hoping is something that i am overlooking but have my doubts. Just picked up a '97 F350 7.3 ltr P/S 5 sp 4 dr dually for a song and i cant sing. this company was driving truck to job site has about 120,xxx miles on it. they stopped at the office for their daily morning safety meeting,truck running beautifull, killed the truck went in had their meeting, walked out to the truck got in it and it would not crank or even roll over. they called their mechancinc, he came and picked it up with a trailer brought it to the shop and has been unable to unlock the engine. Tried rocking the engine, pulled the starter, and tried to roll it over by hand/prybar, nothing. Short of pulling the engine and starting on the bottom end looking for tight siezed bearings is there something that i should look for in order of improtance as this would make a really nice farm truck around the place. I thank each and all of you for thinking about this and sharing your ideas with me short of removing the radiator cap and driving a new one back under it.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 30, 2011

CHECK AIR COMPRESSOR. IT MAY BE LOCKED UP NOT LETTING ENGINE TO TURN OVER TAKE BELT OFF AND TRY. IT HAPPENED TO ME.THOUGHT MOTOR LOCKED WASNT. A/C PROBLEM

Allan in NE · Oct 30, 2011

Just an idea for ya,

Pull the serpentine belt and see if she'll spin.

Allan

wisbaker · Oct 30, 2011

My uncle used to run a junk yard, one day he bought a Nova that was "seized". Got it in the stall and pulled the gas tank, wheels, drums & discs, battery, radiator, radio and drained all fluids. About the time they went to pull the engine one of the guys noticed something, got out his jack knife and cut the fan belt, now the engine turned over. If this truck were mine I'd try disconnectng every thing on the front of the engine, pull the injectors and if it's still locked up maybe try pulling the heads. On the bright side if it is the bottom end you get a smaller hunk of metal to pull out this way.

John M · Oct 30, 2011

Couple of problems ive heard of, pressure plate coming part causing that, and the AC compressor locking up causing that. Have also heard tale of pilot bearing causing that, and owner not putting it in neutral first.

Jerry He · Oct 30, 2011

If not belts, check trans and make sure it or clutch did not unwind when they (killed???) it.
If all good is the cooling
system still full? It may be possible antifreeze got to a cylinder and
hydro-locked. If that happened the amount of coolant missing maybe unnoticable. You can pull the glow plugs and check for that. If you pull the injectors you may get coolant in cylinders when you pull them. One can bend rods with coolant in cylinders.

Leroy · Oct 30, 2011

On my auto, shut it off, went to start would not crank, good battery and even jumpers, had towed to garage and they said engine locked up from oil pump going out. was getting ready to scrap and thought would get a second opinon and they found the bearing in the air conditioner clutch was completely shot and locked up. Was able to just put a new bearing in but rest of clutch was shot and junked, had no air but it ran and drove it daily for 135 average every day on rual paper route for a year. Was still running when got rid of it after quiting the paper route after 15+ years. the starter just did not have enough power to slip that serpentine belt.

Mike Stockwell · Oct 30, 2011

Thank you gentlemen, that gives me a starting point and a little light at the end of the tunnel and not be be the train coming...I knew i could count on your vast knowledge. May the Lord bless y'all and keep all of you safe from harms way with this N'easter if you are there.

Bob · Oct 30, 2011

It sounds like they MAY have tried turning it backwards, so this may not apply, but those engines are known to dump crankcase oil or diesel fuel from the HEUI's into a cylinder(s) and hydro-lock the engine.

Dmack · Oct 30, 2011

I have one of these trucks the same model and same engine. I have had a few weird things happen to mine like this. I would throw the serpatine belt because there are a number of items on the front of the engine that could cause this as mine done this one time. The vaccum pump that runs the brake booster locked up on mine as well as the power steering pump. Also an idler pulley on the fan and water pump locked and I can tell you the starter will not turn the engine over if any of this is fouled. It liked to have caused me to trade her off the first time this happened, but I am still driving her. I doubt there is much wrong with her as these 7.3 engines are just about bullet proof. Good luck!

BANDITFARMER · Oct 30, 2011

Could have an O-ring let loose on an injector, This would allow that cylinder to hydra lock. Depending on which one let loose it could be engine oil or diesel fuel or both. I put new O-rings sets in mine (all 8) and it solved the problem. An easy way to check is to pull the glow plugs and turn the engine over with a socket on the crank shaft and have some one check to see were it comes out the glow plug holes and you will have found which cylinder needs O-rings in. If the O-rings are bad on one I would change them all while its down, And if the glow plug are so so replace them with Ford glow plugs only. You will find you can buy OEM parts cheaper than after market and are better parts. I have a 96 F350 PowerStroke and know this from experience. Bandit

ILLEFTY · Oct 30, 2011

Timing chain may have broke

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Oct 30, 2011

7.3's don't have chains. All of the IH/Navistar engines Ford has used have gears only.

OT Farm truck

Mike Stockwell

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Anonymous-0

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Allan in NE

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wisbaker

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John M

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Jerry He

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Leroy

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Mike Stockwell

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Bob

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Dmack

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BANDITFARMER

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ILLEFTY

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Brian Jasper co. Ia

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