Paul:
I think everyone on the list has fallen in love with the various ways of
turning an engine over but have overlooked your problem.
If the engine does not fire at all the chances are that it is not because
of timing. Usually an engine - even when grossly out of time - will fire
somewhat even if its a large backfire or a few pops.
It is possible that you have assembled something incorrectly and have
created a short circuit situation in the distributor. You may also have a
primary circuit which is shorted to ground at the distributor. A likely
problem is the primary wire connecting the distributor external contact to
the points. Check this thoroughly. It would be helpfully if you could
obtain an ohmmeter or VOM. Using this you can ascertain whether the
current flow is correct or shorted.
It may also be that, as a result of extensive cranking, the engine is
flooded and should be cleared by the usual methods.
If all of these are eliminated then the problem will lie with timing -
unless by chance you were sold a defective condensor. If all else fails,
try replacing the condensor with the old one.
John McEwen
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