14 replies to this topic

[AdsMarshy27]

I have a new recon engine and it will not start I have timed it up correctly and there is definately fuel and spark but it just turns over without spluttering or anything. Does anyone have any ideas?

[oakrichardson]

hi,

I had a similar issue, the inlet manifold was sat to high and leaving a gap underneath!

[BVY]

It might sound silly but could you have timed it 180 degrees out? Or have the HT leads in the wrong order?
Another one, which as happened to me loads of time, is one of the thin wires disconnected from the coil...

Have you just fitted the new engine? Or what work have you done since it was last runnng?

[bmcecosse]

As above - assuming it has been correctly assembled re camshaft etc - then if there is spark + fuel it WILL go, provided the spark is happening at the correct moment in the 4 stroke cycle. So yes - try moving the HT leads round one plug at a time and see if it at least tries to start. If any doubt about fuel - pour an egg cup of petrol down the carb - and crank it.

[Gulfclubby]

Distributor 180° out? Not the leads, but the drive?

[bmcecosse]

Just move the leads round 2 places if it is 180 out. make sure of course that the leads are correct order 1342 anti clock round the dizzy cap.

[AdsMarshy27]

Ill try turning the distributor 180 degrees but I've checked everything else so many times and it just not even trying to start.

[BVY]

Hope you get it sorted mate!!! Hope it's not the cam timed wrong or something like that!

[AdsMarshy27]

Looks like I have no compression as fuel has washed out my cylinders! See how this goes

[Gulfclubby]

Didn't you say this was a newly rebuilt engine? How can a rebuilt engine have bore wash so bad that it fails to even start?

[dklawson]

You said you have no compression. Did you set the valve timing dot-to-dot (or by indicator) when reassembling the engine? If so, the valve timing will be correct. When you refit the cylinder head did you torque the fasteners in the correct order and move "up" to the final torque in steps (50% torque, 75% torque, 100% torque followed by a second, final round at 100%)? When you re-fit the cylinder head, did you slacken off all the rocker arms completely then adjust the valve clearance to the proper gap?

In the future, do not arbitrarily fit the plug wires and simply move the plug wires around to see if you can get things started. Set the valve gap properly as mentioned earlier. With the spark plugs out and valve cover off turn the engine over in the normal direction of rotation until you see piston #1 (water pump end of block) at/near the top of its bore. Grab its rocker arms and try to wiggle them. If you cannot wiggle the arms, turn the engine over one more complete turn. When #1 piston is at the top and its rocker arms are loose you have #1 at/near its firing point. Put the rotor on the distributor shaft if it is not already there. Look where it is pointing relative to the distributor cap if the cap were fitted. Note which terminal on the cap the rotor is pointing to and put a spark plug wire on that cap terminal. Connect the other end of that wire to the plug you install in cylinder #1. Move COUNTERCLOCKWISE around the cap fitting the remaining plug wires in the order 1-4-3-2. (EDIT: Correction 1-3-4-2. Thanks BVY!) Your plug wires will now be in the correct order AND the timing will be at/close to 0 TDC. At this point you need to set the static timing. Rather than post that here, please see the PDF linked below. It will walk you through the process.

http://home.mindspri...taticTiming.pdf

Edited by dklawson, 04 February 2013 - 10:02 PM.

[BVY]

Sorry DK, but the firing order is 1 3 4 2 as you go anti clockwise round the dizzy. I'm sure it was just a typo!As you definitely know a lot more than I!

[dklawson]

OOPS! Thanks BVY. That was a rushed typing mistake. Sorry. Content now edited.

[AdsMarshy27]

It has started now thanks guys. It was a fuel problem and sticking floats.

[BVY]

Glad you sorted it!