Sometimes you think that maybe you should find a more relaxing hobby.
Now that I have replaced the engine, it appears there is another problem. This engine will rotate 355 degrees and then hit something solid. Rotate back 355 degrees and again hit something solid. Plugs are out, no fuel in cylinders, clutch disengaged. What are the possibilities? Fuel pump rod? Somebody left something in one cylinder? It doesnt feel like corn flakes, or carbon, its a solid obstruction. Do I need to start disassembling this one too?

Timing rod in flywheel hole for finding TDC? Or is that too silly?

No the flywheel turns. I'm trying to get to that hole for timing, but cant quite get there before it wont go any further.

I had hoped for more suggestions to resolve this problem. Please, you experts, what is the diagnosis herehttp://www.international2cvfriends. ... 93ae07b7b#

Not always easy to pin point problems in front of a computer but look at your valves to see if they open and close per normal. Look at the push rods too.
Remove the fuel pump and fuel pump rod. If no luck strip the heads etc until problem is found. Maybe crank or cam shaft is buggered.

If you can't quite get the timing hole to line up from either direction, then the pistons are approaching TDC as the engine stops ( I can't remember off the top of my head if the timing hole is TDC or the static firing point). I would certainly assume that it's carbon in the combustion chamber, or possibly something that's fallen in the plug hole. What's the history for this engine?

someone used a 3/4" sparkplug insert rather than a 1/2" one when repairing a stripped thread?

try blowing it out with an airline that may move any carbon flakes

Like Viking says take rocker covers off and watch the rockers and valves
back off all the tappets and see how that goes

then remove the heads

socarco,
the 'static timing' hole in the flywheel is at 8 degrees BTDC ( before top dead centre), so if the crankshaft refuses to reach that point, it's probably stopping at 'around' 10 to 15 degrees BTDC.
Bearing in mind that this is equivalent to less than 1.5mm BTDC, I think you'll find that this engine is suffering from the same problem as the other one, with a layer of carbon (and rust from the exhaust manifold?) wedged between the pistons and the cylinder head.

If you cannot hoover it out, or blow it out with an air line and you're not willing to try the method I use ( 'soaking' the combustion chambers with a 50/50 mixture of oil and petrol for several days) then the heads need to come off...

It's not going to be a problem with the fuel pump push rod, btw.
The camshaft runs at half engine speed, so even if the push rod had been welded to the crankcase, it could only restrict movement of the crank every second revolution, not every turn...

ken

I believe Sean's got it. There were a couple of 3/4" plugs in the "newly overhauled" engine which did not register with me at the time. Now there are apparently 3/4" helicoils inserted.
Does anyone have any ideas as to how to remove them.? Can they be removed or is it necessary to remove the heads and grind off the offending obstructions.? I knew someone would hit on the problem, Thanks Sean.