Tried most of these things (not hammering the valves, though.)
As for the timing, when the front two rockers are both up, the rotor is
pointing at plug number 1.
Plenty of air and fuel is getting through the carbs, and I had the air cleaners
off. As for starting fluid, the cylinders were defintiely wet, but I squirted
some butane lighter fluid in each one. Points are brand new, as is the
condensor.
The float bowls are filled with gas, and I made sure that the needles and seats
are clean and working. (Didn't reset them, though.)
The jets appear to be passing fuel, because the cylinders are getting at least
a little (the plugs seem wet).
A couple of times it sounded like it was about to start (two or three cylinders
firing) but no dice. Not trusting the throttle and choke cables, I had my
enthusiastic father in law hold the throttle and choke open at the carbs.
Sounds like I might have an issue with the valves, right? I mean, if its
getting petrol, and pulling air, and getting spark, it should start, as long as
the engine can breathe...
Thanks for the suggestions.
Regards,
Charles
'74 Midget
'68 Sprite
cdsorkin@ix.netcom.com
Bloomfield, NJ
"How about we duck inside for a Hen?"
Frank Clarici <spritenut@exit109.com> wrote:
> cdsorkin@ix.netcom.com wrote:
> Why won't the thing start?
> What should I try next? Besides Guiness?
Maybe it just needs a kick. Squirt a little WD 40 in each carb (air
cleaners off)
This stuff does make a good safe starting fluid. Put your hands over
each carb mouth and push the solenoid button (or have some one turn the
key)
If you feel suction on your hands, you have enough compression to fire
it up.
You mave have a stuck valve or two in which case a hammer works wonders.
Remove the valve cover and smack each valve with a hammer.
Remember you are freeing a gummed up valve not driving a piling.
No harder then you would smack a nail should do the trick.
Are you getting gas in the jets? sometimes that little tube is clogged.
Pop out the piston and blow air down the jet itself, you can see if
bubbles come up in the float bowl. Or crud, or nothing at all.
Other things that may be at fault....
1)Dizzy drive 180 out.
2) Not all Lucas dizzy caps are created equal, some like the TR7s will
fit a spridget but are 90* out. I have a few of these and just point the
dizzy towards the back of the engine so they work (we tight)
If you have blue spark, the points are fine, timing may be off a bit, if
it backfires real bad, it's 180 out. This can be corrected by flipping
the plug wires.
3) firing order, 1-3-4-2, #1 being just left of the U shaped notch and
running counter clockwise from there on the d/cap.
Try the WD 40 or starting fluid in the carbs first, see if it fires for
a few seconds, do the hand choke thing to see if you have suction too.
The carbs could be way out of whack.
--
Frank Clarici
Toms River, NJ
If you are not living on the edge,
You're taking up too much space!
http://www.exit109.com/~spritenut
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