So, the engine has no gearbox on it.
Every wire / hose etc that i can find is cut.
The mounts have the top bolts removed from the rubber.
The mounts have the 4 bolts removed from the block.
The exhaust is cut.

It all seems loose on the mounts.

...but will the bugger come free? No. It lifts the whole car up with it. Whilst seemingly being free.

Whenever it goes back down, the 4 bolt holes between the mount and the block seem too perfectly lined up again - but i cant find anything else. I know there is one more bolt on the bottom of the rubber mount block, to the chassis, which i have not done. Ive not done it as it does not look like it would make a difference, and its well rusted up, and im doing this in a field, surrounded by nettles.

What am i doing wrong? Besides trying to work in sub-optimal conditions.

Is there any dowels on/in the engine mount brackets?

Aren't the studs on the mounts the the runbers that you have undone at an angle each side? You might be better off doing these back up if you're hoping the mount will slide past the block, if the sump sticks out 40 or 50 thou it will soon all go tight and not let it come free

Is the gearbox bellhousing off? Wonder if this might be touching and stopping movement off the engine mount blocks, try pulling forwards and upwards ..

Does the engine move at all before lifting the whole vehicle? Have you tried a jack underneath to lift it first, safer than lifting? Either way you need to hold it after starting to lift/jack-up and get underneath or sides to see what's stopping movement, it's likely to be at the mounts, so a rubber mallet or BFO sledge hammer might help ..

I'd also look near the starter motor area, it's very tight there for movement ...

Have got a tractor on site, so using the hydraulics on that to lift (straps to arms)

With the tension taken up, the engine lifts up, almost off the mounts. With a bar, the whole engine can be rocked about, and the mounts seem loose. Indeed, you can push it about with your hands, but i just wont come free.

So its not fastened hard to anything. I mean its moving plenty in relation to the chassis, but, when it drops back down, it goes into spot on the same place. Like you could put the 4 bolts back into the block with nothing more than a bit of a shimmy about. Whilst when the tension is on it, its almost clear of all of that.


Have tried running a strap arround the back, and pulling the engine forward whilst lifting, and that makes no difference.

The thing is, even when it wont lift, you can still move the engine about a bit. Its like its tied, rather than bolted (ie there's movement) but i can find nothing. Earth strap is cut etc.

Bell housing is still on it, but it has a hole through the bulkhead, and pushing from that side makes it seem like its free. But it clearly isnt.


Jack is not a good option, as its in a field. The jack sinks unevenly, and theres a danger of thingss falling / sliding.



I know ive just turned down everyones suggestions - dont get me wrong, theres a reason why its not comming out for sure, but it just seems so odd.

I was hoping someone would say "that bolt on the left always gets forgotten" but, like i say, it does not seem hard bolted.

I know what will happen - ill eventually get it out, and find ive ripped through some vital bit and its all been a waste of time anyhow.

Going by my previous experiences, lifting the engine after everything has been disconnected can throw some strain on the gearbox first motion shaft where it goes through the clutch plate and into the spigot bearing in the back end of the crankshaft which causes everything to stick solid.
The usual method of relieving this is to jack the bellhousing slightly to straighten the coupling up again allowing the engine to just slide off the first motion shaft.
It doesn't take much to cause things to jam up, and it doesn't take very much jacking to release things again.

no gearbox present

Not taking the pi55, but are the straps short enough to give enough lift? Or too long so they can't lift anymore .. I know it sounds daft, but ..... We had something similar with a chain that needed shortening by only two links or so ..

Lifting with a tractor -

Tractor has been used for liftinv half tonne loads (I'm told) but the back wheels start coming up on this job.

I have wondered if its all some fulcrum / lever thing going on though, but, as I say, tractor owner seems to think it's good for the load.

What's a 300tdi? A bit less than 300kg?

I wonder if I shouldn't take my manual engine crane, but it will sink in just like the jack. I'll have to drag the truck out from under if I can lift it that way.

Are you using a FRONT loader or just the back arms of the tractor ????? Or a pallet loader on the back of the tractor ?????

I know nothing of tractors, but the bucket bit on the front.

Regardless of what part of the tractor, the owner has used the same part to (im told) lift heavier things in the past. But wonder if the extension (and hence the moment presented by the mass) is larger on this job.

I think im just going to have to take my manual crane along.