What happens if you rotate an engine backwards

Last visit was: Sat Nov 13, am. It is currently Sat Nov 13, am. Post by ThommyKent » Mon Feb 06, pm. Post by Ck » Thu Apr 05, pm. Post by SuperHerman » Thu Apr 05, pm. Volvo Forum S80 First Generation Help keep MVS running.

Sometimes called an "executive car", the S80 was Volvo's top-of-the-line passenger car. I turned the crankshaft clockwise a full rotation a few times and couldn't find them, so i thought it would be a bright idea to turn the crankshaft counterclockwise. While turning it counter clockwise I heard a click. A little back is okay, but generally since this is an interference engine the official warning is DO NOT crank this engine backwards or counter clockwise at all" in another post.

I'm hoping my solution is as simple as just taking out the sparkplugs or maybe taking off the timing belt and turning the crankshaft while the camshafts stay in their current position but I dont want to to further damage so my question is Remember Me? Site Navigation. Find More Posts by protejay. If you turned the crank bolt counterclockwise you might have loosened the bolt some. You should probably retorqe the bolt. Todd Barney.

Doesn't one of the timing belt writeups in the Garage mention somebody shearing something by turning counterclockwise? Too lazy to go look it up. I'm on dialup. But I seriously doubt that 1" is gonna hurt anything.

There's gotta be some wiggle room for getting the wrench positioned and stuff. You will go backward if the car is in gear, unless it's in reverse or neutral.

Seriously, I park on a hill and occasionally had my car roll back a few inches in gear until it hits engine compression because my parking brake wasn't fully pulled up. Car survived. This has to be a pretty common error with other owners too. Turning on the air conditioner probably puts more counter torque on the crankbolt than turning it an inch.

If you spun it counterclockwise several revolutions, maybe bad things would happen. Thanks for the replies Not sure about the effect on a diesel. But I have actually seen a gasoline engine run backwards.

It doesn't run well and it doesn't run for long, but it can run. Cheers, John. View Photos By: Cervan. As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself. George Carlin Wonder where he is now.. Originally Posted by Cervan. I've heard of people driving diesels with the engine running backwards.

Four speeds in reverse and one forward. The only way to back it up is to stop the engine and start it in reverse. Don't want to have to do that on the lip of Niagara Falls. Two stoke engines dont really care which way they go. Honda had one that they had to modify the ignition system on to prevent it as it was a little kids bike and kids were getting hurt. Brian Carlton. View Photos By: Brian Carlton. Personally, I don't think you can cause any harm by rotating the engine in reverse.

My only concern would be the very trailing edge of the tensioning rail. The chain might abrade this edge slightly, however, you'd need to make hundreds of revolutions in reverse to do any serious damage to it. I've reversed direction on the several times during the head installation. It really didn't care. The first mercedes diesel that I adjusted the valves on some years ago, I rotated it backwards to get the cam set for adjusting the valves.

Did all 4 cylinders that way. My car.. Originally Posted by Dog. Actually this was common problem with primitive bathtub Benz diesels of 's.