MGB My MGB Won't Start--Please Help

[tony barnhill]

[ QUOTE ]
In one of the photos she sent me, it kinda looked like an OPUS!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, that looks like an old OPUS...Na, you could put new guts in it if the shaft dowsn't appear to have any werar....or you could go with a new one...or you could take an old 25D4 & convert it - at this point you'll get lots of advice...some people like Pertroniz, others Crane...you & Bill wil have to decide

....either way, have Bill yank that distributor out of the car (he can't hurt anything so long as you don't turn the engine after its out)...clean it up & look for numbers...check the shaft for wear or looseness

& go from there.

 

[Naomi]

Thanks so much to all of you for your help. Today we're on a little hold because it's freezing out there and the car is down the driveway. I'll let ya know as soon as Bill does something but I think the first thing he is going to do since we have a forecast of bad/cold weather for the next week is to get a couple of friends to help him get it in shelter. From that point on I've copied your replies and I'm sure he will follow them to the letter of the law. Again thanks so much and I'll keep you updated---please pat each other's back and say "Atta Boy" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif



Naomi (Owner of a 1964 MGB, a 1979 MGB, and a 1980 MGB. Each repaired hundreds of times but still loved /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[mjamgb]

Wait just a moment... You have a strong spark out of the coil... It's working.
Try moving the dizzy (rotating) it sounds kinda like it was loose and the timing has gone way off.
If you have an induction light try timing it with the pickup on the coil wire instead of #1 plug wire. One person cranks while the other checks the light and plays with the dizzy.

 

[Naomi]

Mike how do you do that? The hubby and I sure are game to try it. Thanks for the suggestion and thanks in advance for the "how to",

Na

 

[mjamgb]

Which?
With no one touching the ignition and key in off position grasp the dizzy (distributor) and try to turn it one way or the other. If it moves, you have found the source of frustration... it's pretty common and I've forgotten to tighten it down before.
If you don't have a timing light... buy one as you will need it. If you do have a timing light (strobe-type) then you are just resetting the timing by using the coil to dizzy signal (4 times as many flashes but you will see if all is well at the pulley).
It will make more sense once you are doing it.

 

[Naomi]

Mike,
Haven't forgot about testing it as you say. It's sleeting outside right now so it is going to be later. I'll update ya as I go along. Thanks so much for your help,


Naomi

 

[tony barnhill]

Naomi - any luck? or updates?

 

[Naomi]

Somewhat of an update. The hubby did check the distributor for tighness and it is tight. He removed all plugs again and they look fine. Charged battery last night so we had a good charge on it. He then did as Mike has suggested hooked up the timing light to the coil wire. Timing is right and he also confirmed this by lining up the rotor button with #1 cylinder at top dead center. All is fine there. The engine does try to start just as the timing mark hits top dead center but just can't seem to go. We are still getting the intermitten arc from the plug wires. Firing order is correct at 1342 and I did find a website that does identify my distributor Set-up as using a 45DR4 Lucas Distributor with a Crane Allison 7000 XR 700 amplifier.

Bottom line---it's still sitting near the bottom of the driveway and won't start.

Your turn,




Naomi (Owner of a 1964 MGB, a 1979 MGB, and a 1980 MGB. Each repaired hundreds of times but still loved

 

[kennypinkerton]

you need a new crane setup. Sometimes they just die for no reason.

 

[rampant]

Sounds like your Crane amplifier is intermittentand is going south, i would suggest changing it.

 

[Naomi]

Should I just contact Crane and buy one Kenny?

 

[kennypinkerton]

I don't know if they sell direct. I can't pull up the Moss site on my computer here at work, but maybe Tony can get you one from moss.

 

[Naomi]

Hey Tony ya got one of them things? The hubby and I just went outside again and I really though it was going to start but didn't quite make it. That battery and stater are sure getting a workout,

 

[tony barnhill]

Yep, Na, I can get the Crane XR-700....so, we've decided that's the problem?

 

[Naomi]

Tony, the hubby has hit Kenny up with one more question and then most likely that is it. By the way this is the most helpful site I've ever visited and the folks are so great. Even the mistake the hubby and I make on the "Firing Order" post. Recon I'll just be a regular on here /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[tony barnhill]

Just PM me if you need pricing info

 

[kennypinkerton]

With only Me, Tony, Doc, Nunyas, and Banjo creating it... There's lots less noise between info here. And it's fun and most nobody gets mad or just mean. I'm glad I switched over to here back in December. Check out the Pub, humor and all the other sections too - it really is a fabulous site!

Oh, you've got mail. Pretty much what I said here, with a real basic reason why I think it's the Crane unit at fault. Get a new one, and I'm pretty sure the car will start up. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif