Newbie with a 1973 Model D - Frozen Motor?

rmwill · 06-17-2011, 07:17 PM

I just acquired a model D. Serial Number 3B20696H3. It appears the motor is stuck and, with a new battery, no sounds of any attempt to start when an attempt is made. What should I do first to diagnose? If it is stuck, how likely is it that I can unstick it without too much damage? I haven't pulled the head. The cart is in pretty nice shape. Pictures:

https://picasaweb.google.com/rmwill/...eat=directlink

WVHarley · 06-17-2011, 08:54 PM

Man that SUCKS! From the pics the cart looks very complete. The first thing I did when I bought mine was to make sure the motor was free if not I would have walked away, I hope you did not give to much $ for it. Sounds like you are between a rock & a hard spot & you can't be sure what the issue is untill you start tearing it down, I am guessing you could get most of the parts needed for a rebuild (but they are not cheap) There are a lot of good guys here that I am sure can help you along the process & help you out with some of the parts you may need. Check out the "For Sale" section Craigscarts has a lot of stuff & has helped me out in the past. GOOD LUCK & keep us posted.

Craigs carts · 06-18-2011, 03:43 AM

Pull your exhaust off and take a look at the piston and rings..
if it's just the top end it's not to bad. if you have to crack the case apart she gets expensive real fast.

rmwill · 06-18-2011, 08:17 AM

Its a frozen bottom end.

Don B. · 06-18-2011, 04:02 PM

well, if you can get it apart the bearings for the rod ends are not that bad; if it is "deeper" than that though, ohhh man;

smkummer · 06-18-2011, 04:52 PM

The seats, reverser switch, body, chrome and the rest look good. Now look for a cart on ebay and/or craigslist that has a motor that runs or is not stuck. You won't care about the rest of the cart except the motor. You will be in business with a second parts cart. just my .02

Don B. · 06-18-2011, 05:01 PM

I know a guy in MI that has a complete motor, I have just finished a PM to him about other goodies, I'm not sure where in MI he is vs where you are; he comes to my area in IL to see his Dad occasionally; I have met him and he's a good guy to know; I met him on another site, I'll PM you how to get ahold of him as IDK how this site is about referencing other sites for all to see; some of the Mopar related old car sites I frequent are funny about that.

and one more thing; If you can get another motor on yours I may be interested in yours for parts or possibly parts off your frozen motor;

And you know, I have been asking on 3 cart sites for pix of how the throttle/governor is supposed to go on these carts; I can "almost" tell in one of your pix; would it be possible to take a shot of the engine from the back (clutch side) facing forward and PM it to me??? Yours is teh closest thing to what I have been after, so far.

Don B. · 06-18-2011, 05:14 PM

OK; I just E mailed this other guy I know in MI; (I think he's in the SW corner of the state, not sure) and went to PM you; and don't see a prompt to allow me to send you one; maybe since you have only 2 posts maybe you can't accept them yet? I know taht some sites require a member to post a certain number of times before links pix and/or PMs are allowed; not sure on this one.
I did E mail this guy telling him that I would be giving you his E mail; and directed him to this website and thread/post.... so maybe he'll check in; if you wanna try and PM me and I'll return it with his info you can.

rmwill · 06-18-2011, 05:44 PM

Sounds good. I may just part it out. I don't have much money in it, and the parts seem to be worth a good amount. It would be sad to break apart such a classic.

Don B. · 06-18-2011, 10:26 PM

hawww; don't part it out it appears to be in real clean shape; you may get more for it but the PITA of having the hulk around isnt worth it; as clean a sthat one is I wish I had yours in place of either of the ones I do; it's clean and though froze up "intact" as the 81 I have was supposed to be..... that I bought as a reference so I can see how my 73 is supposed to go together. yours would be better for that purpose; too bad Detroit and Chicago are as far apart as they are or I'd come relieve you of that 73....

I see that you can now get PM's; the magic number of posts for this to be allowed must be 3; so I'll send you that one I promised above...

06-17-2011, 07:17 PM	#1
rmwill Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 3	Newbie with a 1973 Model D - Frozen Motor? I just acquired a model D. Serial Number 3B20696H3. It appears the motor is stuck and, with a new battery, no sounds of any attempt to start when an attempt is made. What should I do first to diagnose? If it is stuck, how likely is it that I can unstick it without too much damage? I haven't pulled the head. The cart is in pretty nice shape. Pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/rmwill/...eat=directlink

06-17-2011, 08:54 PM	#2
WVHarley Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: West Virginia Posts: 284	Re: Newbie with a 1973 Model D - Frozen Motor? Man that SUCKS! From the pics the cart looks very complete. The first thing I did when I bought mine was to make sure the motor was free if not I would have walked away, I hope you did not give to much $ for it. Sounds like you are between a rock & a hard spot & you can't be sure what the issue is untill you start tearing it down, I am guessing you could get most of the parts needed for a rebuild (but they are not cheap) There are a lot of good guys here that I am sure can help you along the process & help you out with some of the parts you may need. Check out the "For Sale" section Craigscarts has a lot of stuff & has helped me out in the past. GOOD LUCK & keep us posted.

06-18-2011, 03:43 AM	#3
Craigs carts Gone Wild Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Milton Wi. Posts: 708	Re: Newbie with a 1973 Model D - Frozen Motor? Pull your exhaust off and take a look at the piston and rings.. if it's just the top end it's not to bad. if you have to crack the case apart she gets expensive real fast.

06-18-2011, 08:17 AM	#4
rmwill Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 3	Re: Newbie with a 1973 Model D - Frozen Motor? Its a frozen bottom end.

06-18-2011, 04:02 PM	#5
Don B. Gone Wild Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 156	Re: Newbie with a 1973 Model D - Frozen Motor? well, if you can get it apart the bearings for the rod ends are not that bad; if it is "deeper" than that though, ohhh man;
Don B. Gone Wild Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 156

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06-18-2011, 04:52 PM	#6
smkummer Gone Wild Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: So. Indiana Posts: 187	Re: Not bad The seats, reverser switch, body, chrome and the rest look good. Now look for a cart on ebay and/or craigslist that has a motor that runs or is not stuck. You won't care about the rest of the cart except the motor. You will be in business with a second parts cart. just my .02

06-18-2011, 05:01 PM	#7
Don B. Gone Wild Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 156	Re: Newbie with a 1973 Model D - Frozen Motor? I know a guy in MI that has a complete motor, I have just finished a PM to him about other goodies, I'm not sure where in MI he is vs where you are; he comes to my area in IL to see his Dad occasionally; I have met him and he's a good guy to know; I met him on another site, I'll PM you how to get ahold of him as IDK how this site is about referencing other sites for all to see; some of the Mopar related old car sites I frequent are funny about that. and one more thing; If you can get another motor on yours I may be interested in yours for parts or possibly parts off your frozen motor; And you know, I have been asking on 3 cart sites for pix of how the throttle/governor is supposed to go on these carts; I can "almost" tell in one of your pix; would it be possible to take a shot of the engine from the back (clutch side) facing forward and PM it to me??? Yours is teh closest thing to what I have been after, so far.
Don B. Gone Wild Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 156

06-18-2011, 05:14 PM	#8
Don B. Gone Wild Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 156	Re: Newbie with a 1973 Model D - Frozen Motor? OK; I just E mailed this other guy I know in MI; (I think he's in the SW corner of the state, not sure) and went to PM you; and don't see a prompt to allow me to send you one; maybe since you have only 2 posts maybe you can't accept them yet? I know taht some sites require a member to post a certain number of times before links pix and/or PMs are allowed; not sure on this one. I did E mail this guy telling him that I would be giving you his E mail; and directed him to this website and thread/post.... so maybe he'll check in; if you wanna try and PM me and I'll return it with his info you can.
Don B. Gone Wild Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 156

06-18-2011, 05:44 PM	#9
rmwill Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 3	Re: Newbie with a 1973 Model D - Frozen Motor? Sounds good. I may just part it out. I don't have much money in it, and the parts seem to be worth a good amount. It would be sad to break apart such a classic.

06-18-2011, 10:26 PM	#10
Don B. Gone Wild Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 156	Re: Newbie with a 1973 Model D - Frozen Motor? hawww; don't part it out it appears to be in real clean shape; you may get more for it but the PITA of having the hulk around isnt worth it; as clean a sthat one is I wish I had yours in place of either of the ones I do; it's clean and though froze up "intact" as the 81 I have was supposed to be..... that I bought as a reference so I can see how my 73 is supposed to go together. yours would be better for that purpose; too bad Detroit and Chicago are as far apart as they are or I'd come relieve you of that 73.... I see that you can now get PM's; the magic number of posts for this to be allowed must be 3; so I'll send you that one I promised above...
Don B. Gone Wild Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 156

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