How hard to hand crank a 2 1/4 petrol

Hi,
Might sound a bit of a silly question, but how hard should it be to turn over the engine by hand (not using the crank handle).
I can turn mine over be just turning the fan by hand, have seen the points / dizzy moving so is definately turning the engine. Will try and get a pressure gauge on it soon, but I think this engine is NOT HAPPY, after been stood for 11 years.
Its a 2 1/4 petrol in a a 1975 SWB SIII, 1 core plug is split and when trying to get it out yesterday I could feel a lot of crap in the water way behind it, so thinking it might be timke to cut my losses and just get a 200 TDi fitted.
As I was hoping to get the gearbox and axles tested by running with the petrol engine first so I could tell if there was anything else that need replacing when I was doing the engine swap, but am unsure how / if you can test the gear box, props & axles without a running engine.

Trev

Not that easily...

Have you checked the comprwssion?

No not yet need to get hold of a compression tester,

Could it be because there is no oil on the bores where it has not been run? Could try taking the plugs out, sqirting some oil down the plug holes and turning over without the plugs in. Then put the plugs back and try again.

2286 Aren't too bad to rebuild rather than just scrapping it and sticking a 200 in...

Sounds like piston rings stuck put some diesel down the bores to de gunk the rings.

Blackburn said:

Sounds like piston rings stuck put some diesel down the bores to de gunk the rings.

Click to expand...

Stuck rings = loose engine? :scratching_chin:

I have to hand crank mine as the starter button was kaput. It is easy for a half turn, most of the compression hits when my cranking handle is at the 11oclock position of each revolution. It fires very easily given a decent speed and should idle quite nicely.

I used to know a man who could turn over the petrol engine in a 109 signals vehicle as easily as i could turn a tap. They called him "Arni" as in Schartzenegger.
Made me feel really puny.