Trevor I'm assuming that you are spraying the quick start into the carbs.
Try putting a small amount of gas down each cylinder. If that doesn't
start it then you have an electrial problem.
...Art
On Tue, 20 Jan 1998, Trevor Boicey wrote:
> Spent another "cycle" trying to start the 1970B, with
> a cycle defined as how long I can work and crank before
> my battery dies.
>
> Thanks to all who emailed suggestions. I checked out
> everything and unfortunately it all seemed fine. I'd much
> rather be admitting a stupid mistake and have a running
> car. :>
>
> When I did try the plugs 180 degrees out (swap 4-1 and 3-2)
> the engine backfired a few times, scaring me and the MG Midget
> parked behind the B. Oh well, there is at least some life.
>
> One potential problem, perhaps. Whenever I lift the piston
> on the front carb and jiggle it, I can see the meniskis (sp) on
> the fuel in the jet. In simpler terms that I can spell, I can
> jiggle the piston in the front carb and see the fuel licking
> the needle as if the fuel level was absolutely right at the
> lip of the jet. Not so in the back carb, although the needle
> seems wet and smells of gas, and the float bowl is full.
>
> Is it possible the float level in the front carb is set wrong
> so that the fuel level is too high in the jet, causing it
> to flood? Or, that is correct and the back carb has the fuel
> too low?
>
> If it is a fuel problem it has to be too much, because I used
> a whole can of quickstart and didn't get a pop. So it's not
> simply "great spark, no fuel". Most of my engine experience is
> with snowmobiles, where quickstart is near-essential because of
> -30 temperatures, pull start engines, and finite human endurance.
>
> Summary from last message, ignition makes spark, timing
> seems correct, rotor alignment seems to go where my thumb says
> compression is, valve train is moving, tried two distributors,
> two coils and two sets of plugs. When the wires were WRONG, I
> got some popping and backfiring, when the wires were correct I
> got basically nothing.
>
> Although, today it seemed a little more than nothing. It seemed
> to be trying to start. I didn't hear distinct firings but while
> cranking there seemed to be patches where the cranking speed would
> take off as if the engine was starting to run, but it would never
> disengage the starter or anything truly obvious. Perhaps occasionally
> a cylinder or two was firing weakly?
>
> --
> Trevor Boicey
> Ottawa, Canada
> tboicey@brit.ca
> http://www.brit.ca/~tboicey/
>
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