So since you are more familiar with what is needed to properly diagnose my
problem, let me ask you this: If I support the engine, unbolt the TC from
the flex plate, unbolt the front trans mount, can I pull the trans away
from the engine enough to get a good look/see?

Tom Stone, temporarily in Florida

On June 22, 2018 6:05:16 PM Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:

> Of course you will need to support the engine and tranny and remove the
> rear mount, but it’s worth a try before disconnecting everything.
>
>> On Jun 22, 2018, at 2:14 PM, Tom Stone <tstone8359@aol.com> wrote:
>>
>> Thanks for your suggestions.  I'll take a look at what it will take to get
>> the tranny out and back in.
>>
>> Tom Stone, temporarily in Florida
>>
>>> On June 22, 2018 4:28:46 PM Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>>
>>> Well, if it won’t turn 360 with the starter off it’s time to pull the
>>> tranny. It’s something in the bell housing jamming the TC or flex plate, or
>>> even something inside the engine. 😕
>>>
>>> Stuart
>>>
>>>> On Jun 22, 2018, at 12:29 PM, Tom Stone <tstone8359@aol.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I took the starter out and spun the engine by hand as far as it would go.
>>>> Other than some shiny teeth, probably from the starter misalignment, I
>>>> didn't see any major damage.  The ring gear is pretty hefty.  How can I see
>>>> the rest of the ring gear and what would damage that would stop engine
>>>> rotation look like?
>>>>
>>>> Tom Stone, temporarily in Florida
>>>>
>>>>> On June 22, 2018 14:19:25 Tom Stone <tstone8359@aol.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I took the plugs out and tried to turn the engine by hand in both
>>>>> directions.  It stopped in the same places.  I removed or disconnected all
>>>>> of the components connected to the engine yesterday.  They all spun freely,
>>>>> but the engine would not.  I will pull the starter off again and inspect
>>>>> the ring gear.  Thanks for the suggestion.
>>>>>
>>>>> Tom Stone, temporarily in Florida
>>>>>
>>>>>> On June 22, 2018 14:00:55 "Stuart MacMillan" <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Are you using your hands on the pulley (or belt) to turn over the engine,
>>>>>> which should be fairly easy with plugs out, or the starter? If you can turn
>>>>>> the engine around fully by hand but not with the starter, you have a badly
>>>>>> damaged ring gear on the torque converter.  Probably happened when the
>>>>>> starter mount was broken due to misalignment.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Stuart
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of Dennis
>>>>>> Haynes
>>>>>> Sent: Friday, June 22, 2018 10:35 AM
>>>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: Engine Puzzlememt
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Short bolt bottom of starter?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sent from my Windows 10 phone
>>>>>>
>>>>>> From: Tom Stone<mailto:tstone8359@aol.com>
>>>>>> Sent: Friday, June 22, 2018 12:22 PM
>>>>>> To: Dennis Haynes<mailto:d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>>>>>> Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com<mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
>>>>>> Subject: RE: Engine Puzzlememt
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks Dennis and Jim.  I pulled the spark plugs and there were no fluids
>>>>>> inside the cylinders.  Manually turned engine to stop point in both
>>>>>> directions.  It stops in the same places.  I checked all three torque
>>>>>> converter bolts.  All seem tight.  Going to remove some exhaust pieces to
>>>>>> verify.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Since the last change made to the engine was the installation of the starter
>>>>>> long bolt, I am looking for some kind of obstruction in that area.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks for your always helpful suggestions.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Tom Stone, temporarily in Florida.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On June 21, 2018 19:08:09 Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Look for a loose torque converter bolt. One of the three between converter
>>>>>> and flex plate or something fell in there. Also, if multiple tries to crank
>>>>>> engine the cylinders could be locked up with gasoline. Remove the spark
>>>>>> plugs and check.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Dennis
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sent from my Windows 10 phone
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> From: Tom Stone<mailto:tstone8359@AOL.COM>
>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2018 6:01 PM
>>>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM<mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>>>>> Subject: Engine Puzzlememt
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Working on my son's '91 Westy Automatic. New engine from the guy that took
>>>>>> over Boston Bob's business. It was installed and running. The starter had
>>>>>> been installed with only the short bolt which had loosened. The starter lost
>>>>>> ground and would only work intermittently. Then the bolt ear broke. I got a
>>>>>> new starter and the long bolt and installed it with both bolts. Now the
>>>>>> engine will only rotate to a certain point and stop. I can manually turn the
>>>>>> engine backwards and it stops turning at just before the stop point. I took
>>>>>> the starter off and ran it. I took the belts off the P/S pump, the
>>>>>> alternator and the water pump (A/C not connected) and they all turn freely.
>>>>>> I took the valve covers off and without being able to rotate the engine,
>>>>>> visually checked for a valve stem in each keeper. I am at a loss for what to
>>>>>> look at next and what might have happened.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Any ideas?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Tom Stone, temporarily in FL where it is hot!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
>>