Healey Will Not Start

Hi All,

On Saturday I took the Healey out for a drive and, upon returning home, it sounded a little high on idle. When starting to tweak the carbs, I decided to check the timing and found the timing was jumping erratically. This was strange as I have a Crane Electronic Ignition that has kept a steady timing mark for well over the past 10-years.

Since I hadn’t lubricated the distributor for awhile, I pulled it from the car and took it apart to check, clean, and lubricate thoroughly. After reinstallation, the Healey would not start so I assumed my timing was grossly out and tried setting it at different degrees of distributor-turn with no success. Checking to make sure I was getting power at the plug, I pulled the #1 plug and, with the key on, found the plug sparking properly.

Today, I pulled the distributor again to double check that I had not installed something in wrong. All seemed correct, but again, reinstalling the distributor still did not start the car and checking timing via the timing light and starter motor was also unsuccessful (light would light but beam too wide).

Tomorrow I intend to check that I am getting gas. Since I did not do much with the carbs, I assumed (I know) I assumed my problem was in the distributor. However, not finding spark and no backfiring, I am wondering and will do. If I am getting gas, I will replace the Crane EI with points to see their effect.

Any ideas?
Ray (64BJ8P1)

Re: Healey Will NOT Start?????

Hi Ray,

I had some trouble a few months back because the spark would jump to the bracket holding the Crane optical pickup. Make sure that little bracket isn't within 3/4" of the rotor. I had to cut the top of my bracket off above the pickup.

Re: Healey Will NOT Start?????

Thanks John.

I will check tomorrow but how did you determine the bracket was drawing a spark jump from the rotor?

By the way, I couldn't wait to check if fuel was arriving at the carbs and took the cover's off the float chambers. It has and is in the chambers so I expect it is arriving at the cylinders.

Tomorrow I will follow John's suggestion and, if not corrected, will install the points setup.
Thanks again John,
Ray(64Bj8P1)

Re: Healey Will NOT Start?????

Hi Ray,

It took a while. My timing light was showing erratic timing, and placing it on the other plug wires, some plugs were not getting spark. I pulled the cap, looking for cracks and carbon tracks and didn't find any. I replaced the rotor with a new one and no change. (I always carry a spare rotor, which I end up giving to someone else.)

So, I disconnected the coil wire from the cap, used my handy-dandy plug wire holder, held the distributor end of the coil wire to the center of the rotor, and using my remote starter switch cranked the engine over.

The bracket that holds the Crane optical pickup used to stick up above the pickup. I cut off the unneeded excess and all is well.


The spark will jump ~3/4". I'm not sure how much voltage that translates to, but it's a lot.

Re: Healey Will NOT Start?????

Thanks John,

I will be cutting my bracket even though more than 3/4" is present between rotor and bracket. A friend, Frank M. came over this morning and, after reviewing my procedures, verified that the position of the rotor was 180-deg. out when related to the timing mark and #1 valves being closed. With that in mind when re-dismantling the distributor, I noticed that I must have installed the weights and top end 180-deg. out and change it to correct it. It is always good to have someone review your actions when you are at a loss and Frank provided the insight to identify my error.

After the engine started (roughly after all the setting that were changed) I will be resetting carbs and timing after I cut the bracket. Your experiences with the bracket may still be my issue as I still saw some jumping in the set timing and not a rock solid reading I have come to be used to. What do you think of painting the bracket or using dielectric grease on it rather then cutting?

Thanks again John,
Ray(64BJ8P1)

Re: Healey Will NOT Start?????

RAC68 said:

.... What do you think of painting the bracket or using dielectric grease on it rather then cutting?

Thanks again John,
Ray(64BJ8P1)

Click to expand...

Ray,

Glad you found the problem.

I don't think paint or dielectric grease would withstand the high voltage.