Starting a long dormant engine.

[Nessism]

How about the coils reversed? 1-4 feeding into 2-3?

[spyug]

Thanks for the interest and suggestions fellas. All comments are appreciated as somebody is going say something that is going to point me in the right direction.

I think the starter is working correctly but I must admit I haven't ruled it out. I'll get into that again tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion.

That switch control has been apart about 20 times now and I'm sure the kill switch is working properly as I do get spark as I crank it over.

We'll see what tomorrow brings, I hope it vrooom, vrooom!

cheers all,
Spyug

[chef1366]

It is possible to but the crank trigger on 180 off.

[salty_monk]

Are the plugs wet? If you're getting gas through & you have spark then it should start... after that it can only be timing. Even with very poor compression it should start.

Dan

[spyug]

This is what is so maddening about this. It has all the elements. I've checked over and over. The timing is spot on, the engine turns properly, it has spark and at least some compression ( as tested by finger over hole) and gas is getting in.

Today I'm going to pickup new plugs just for the hell of it and I'll get an adapter for my compression tester just to see what numbers I have.

Its got to be something simple I'm sure but after a night of no sleep running it around in my head I haven't twigged to it yet.

I'll keep plugging away at it.

Cheers and thanks for all the input folks.

Spyug

[hikermikem]

Just a thought...

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=143270

[Nessism]

When you verified the cam timing did you make sure the notches in the cams were pointing inward, facing each other while the 1-4 T mark was aligned?

[salty_monk]

I fancy Ed's idea with the coils being reversed. You may have spark but are they sparking at the right time.

[chef1366]

Take a picture of the cam timing (at TDC) and the timing on the crank trigger.

[spyug]

Well I stopped off at my pro-wrench and picked up some new plugs. Although I had cleaned up the ones that came with it and they seemed to spark, he felt they may not be putting out enough or the electrodes may be worn or breaking down causing an intermittent spark. Oddly enough, he could be right as I noticed one yesterday that sparked once then not again but did spark again later when I tapped it against the head.

I also looked at the float bowl gaskets and they are fine with no obstruction of holes.

I couldn't locate an adapter for my compression guage so the compression test is still pending. Again in my experience it is not likely to have all cylinders show low compression and even if a couple were it should still fire on two.

The coils and wires came marked 1,2,3 &4 and I attached them reading from left to right. Referring back to my old sportscar days, having a plug on a wrong cylinder usually results in firing but one ( or more )cylinders may "Kick back" when fired out of sequence. There is always an indication of some combustion unlike what I'm currently seeing.

I'm going to drop in the new plugs and try it all again after supper. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Cheers,
spyug

[chef1366]

"fingers crossed"

[Octain]

"fingers crossed"

ditto ditto

[salty_monk]

Fingers crossed.... Left to right as you are sitting on it right??

Are they stock wires? Make sure there are no splits in the insulation & it's not shorting out to the head somewhere... (good way to test that is to try to start it in the dark & look for fireworks!)
It could be the wire is only "open" when stressed in the particular way that it is when attached to the plug so would work fine when holding against the head.
I've also had a short at the top end - coil to the frame - another one that's easiest to spot in the dark probably!

Dan

[alke46]

Good luck

we are all pulling for you now that you have our full attention. Do keep us updated and let us know what the problem was.
Once you get it to run, you can have a good night's sleep. I can relate to waking up during the night and trying to figure out what could solve a problem. Better nights are ahead.

[old_chopper]

You might try about a tablespoon of gas in each cylinder before you put the new plugs in. Should be enought to hear an attempt at starting.
If you were working on a trusty ole V8 I would tell you to pull the #1 plug, put your finger over the plug hole, have a buddy bump the starter until you feel it building compression in #1, then rotate by hand until you reach the timing mark on the balancer. Then check the distributor to ensure it is pointing at the #1 tower. Not sure how to check the signal generator to see if it's firing the correct coil though. Anyone???