How hard to spin engine?

MartinWake · 10-10-2019, 11:17 AM

Hey guys how hard is it to make the engine spin with a wrench? And what way would you have to turn it? I tried with a wrench that’s not that long and I can’t make it spin it’s pretty tough.

9krpmrx8 · 10-10-2019, 11:23 AM

With a short wrench it will be tough. With a breaker bar not so much. Strength varies though.

MartinWake · 10-10-2019, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9krpmrx8

With a short wrench it will be tough. With a breaker bar not so much. Strength varies though.

Yeah I can’t make it spin with the wrench do you know if one way is easier then the other?

Efthreeoh · 10-10-2019, 12:10 PM

Is the transmission in neutral? Pull the plugs out. Engine spins clockwise. If you break the crankshaft bolt loose, you will loose camshaft timing, so be careful.

MartinWake · 10-10-2019, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Is the transmission in neutral? Pull the plugs out. Engine spins clockwise. If you break the crankshaft bolt loose, you will loose camshaft timing, so be careful.

Yeah trans in neutral and yeah I thought of pulling plugs, with plugs in it would be hard to spin the engine. I saw the engine turn on the other day but now it just makes a click sound when I hit the stop start button

Tambohamilton · 10-10-2019, 01:01 PM

Sounds like your starter is dead. I doubt it's anything to do with how easy (or not) it is to spin your engine...there is always a lot of drag in an engine - pistons/rings, cams, valves, chains, balance shafts (if yours has them), PS pump, alternator, ac, etc etc, as well as compression.

Efthreeoh · 10-10-2019, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Sounds like your starter is dead. I doubt it's anything to do with how easy (or not) it is to spin your engine...there is always a lot of drag in an engine - pistons/rings, cams, valves, chains, balance shafts (if yours has them), PS pump, alternator, ac, etc etc, as well as compression.

Agree that it probably is the starter. Cylinder compression is the main force to overcome when trying to spin the engine by hand. Pull the plugs and any wrench big enough to fit the crank bolt head (22MM I'm guessing) will be long enough to spin the engine internals.

10-10-2019, 11:17 AM	#1
MartinWake Lieutenant 80 Rep 414 Posts Drives: CL55 AMG Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Miami iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW 335i [0.00] 2016 BMW 320i [0.00]	How hard to spin engine? Hey guys how hard is it to make the engine spin with a wrench? And what way would you have to turn it? I tried with a wrench that’s not that long and I can’t make it spin it’s pretty tough.
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10-10-2019, 11:23 AM	#2
9krpmrx8 Clean is the new cool, keep it that way. 808 Rep 1,684 Posts Drives: 11' Alpine White 335i Sedan Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: San Antonio, Texas iTrader: (0)	With a short wrench it will be tough. With a breaker bar not so much. Strength varies though. __________________ 2011 335i, FBO, N55+ Turbo, full E85, S55 intercooler, etc. 2015 X5 35i Xdrive
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10-10-2019, 12:10 PM	#4
Efthreeoh General 17147 Rep 18,672 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Is the transmission in neutral? Pull the plugs out. Engine spins clockwise. If you break the crankshaft bolt loose, you will loose camshaft timing, so be careful.
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10-10-2019, 01:01 PM	#6
Tambohamilton Brigadier General 3057 Rep 3,909 Posts Drives: E91 330d Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Herefordshire iTrader: (0)	Sounds like your starter is dead. I doubt it's anything to do with how easy (or not) it is to spin your engine...there is always a lot of drag in an engine - pistons/rings, cams, valves, chains, balance shafts (if yours has them), PS pump, alternator, ac, etc etc, as well as compression.
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