Hi all! I haven't posted here since about 2001. Used to post as JT8D then. Moved on to other interests but still have my 1650 that my Dad purchased new in 1975 and which he gave me in the late 90's after it had been through a fire. I did a working restoration on it then and have done so about every 8 years since. Installed a bunch of upgrade parts from sponsor David Kirk this past summer.
Anyway, having issues with it since the weekend. Blew snow with it on Friday and all was well. Afterward, I let it idle and then cleared all the snow off that had landed on the Cub and blower. Then the engine just quit as it idled. Tried to restart it: It would just click as I turned the key but would not turn the engine over. Finally ended up pulling it backward into the garage. Hooked up the my green tractor (Pardon the language) to it in the garage (where there was traction) and tied a long rope to it and kept pulling it, shortening the rope and pulling it in. The hydro release lever moves very freely so when you release pressure then let go then the release titties pop back up so it's not released anymore. Didn't want my wife to sit on it and hold the lever/release because of the extra weight (Light though she is). It was slippery out so it just skidded backward as I pulled it into the garage.
So, diagnosed. Ran a jumper cable from batt (New last month) directly to starter: Same, just click and not enough oomph to turn engine. Removed starter and disassembled it: Full of crud, etc. ~Completely~ cleaned it out. Saw 1 of 4 brushes seemed to be stuck in it's holder: took it out and freed it up nicely, thought that was prolly the issue (It wasn't). Reassembled the starter. Tried it again and not enough oomph to turn it over. Took starter out and powered it and it spins nicely with no load. And no strange noises from it.
So, wondered if the engine would turn by hand. Normally I can turn that drive shaft by hand a bit until the engine reaches compression. It wouldn't turn. Put a pipe wrench on it and it is locked absolutely solid in both directions. Pushed down on the hydro release as I tried to turn the shaft with the wrench and the engine is still locked solid. So, sounds like something in the engine is holding it.
Any thoughts?