Limited range of crankshaft movement

[ZombiePotatoSalad]

I'm trying to put the cylinder bank back on. So I set it atop the two center pistons, which are set the highest. It pushes them down and brings all the others to the same level, and comes to rest. Now I only have limited range of movement when I manually turn the crankshaft. I thought it might have been the timing chain bunched up inside, but that seems ok. It didn't slip into gear. It spun freely before this. After moving it back and forth, it spun a little more, backwards. I know, engines don't like to go backwards.

This is on a 1980 550E.

[Rich82GS750TZ]

It’s difficult enough to manage squeezing the rings to get the pistons started into the bores. If you haven’t already, run the chain up through the tunnel and either have another pair of hands hold it loosely above the cylinders or loosely wire it something above to make sure it isn’t binding down at the crankshaft sprocket so that you can turn the crank back and forth as needed. I thinks it’s ok to run it backwards a bit since everything is loose, no camshafts nor tensioner to worry about. I had to spin mine back and forth a bit before I got all cylinders’ rings into the bores.

[alke46]

You might need some blocks of wood under 2-3 so they stay put and don't fall back down. I just put my cylinder back on and I used 1 X 3 wood blocks with a tunnel cut out of the center to go under the pistons and prevent them from falling.

Hope this helps.

[zed1015]

With all four top piston rings sat up against the bottom of the liners you are at mid stroke so the crank won't rotate either way without lifting the barrel.
When not using ring compressors you can easily fit the rings using just your fingers and a small pick or screwdriver once you get the knack.
Set the barrel slightly high on number 1 piston and work the opposite number 4 top ring into the liner.
Work your way down next feeding 3's and then 2's top rings in and when you get to 1 you will be able to feed in 4's second ring in and so on.
I've been doing it like this for years and it only takes 10 or 15 mins .

[ZombiePotatoSalad]

What can I do to restore movement to the crankshaft? I've set the cylinder bank aside, and it still acts like it's locking up, even when holding the chain out as far as it will go.

[zed1015]

What can I do to restore movement to the crankshaft? I've set the cylinder bank aside, and it still acts like it's locking up, even when holding the chain out as far as it will go.

The chain may have slipped off and jammed to the side the crank sprocket or bunched on it.
Rocking the crank whilst firmly pulling on it may free it if that is the problem.