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Will she go?--NO!

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curtis

curtis

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Having just rebuilt the engine in the Austin A30, I put it back in and turned the engine over. Great,Oil pressure almost straight away. Final check,connect the HT leads and pull the starter.Nothing. No spark at the plugs or the points.I am now tired and that's it for today.
Any bright ideas for me to check tomorrow?
Curtis
 
Sounds like something pretty fundamental. I would check the system out from the battery on in. Have a rest and then have a go, shouldn't be anything too complex.
 
Curtis, did you install the little insulating washer on the point post correctly? That's a common reason for no spark, and I've done it myself more than once.
Jeff
 
It always puzzles me that even after years of dealing with Lucas dizzies I'll do that very thing, and feel awfully dumb as the engine spins without lighting off... know IMMEDIATELY what it is, but can't believe i'd done it again. The OTHER faux pas is leavin' the ROTOR sittin' onna cowl and with cap on, starter engaged... "Oh, fer the love of Mike..." or words to that effect.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Well,things are progressing,although the engine is not yet running!!
An initial check of the distributor in situ showed the little insulating washers to be OK.
Then I discovered that having marked some of the leads when I took them off the only two I left unmarked I put back on wrong. That was the little wire on the dynamo and the coil!
So now with an HT lead out of the coil I have got a spark on to the block.
So we are back to the distributor. That's coming off tomorrow? Could be the condenser? or some other problem. We'll see
Curtis
 
Check that the spring loaded coil wire / rotor contact is in place on the inside of the cap, mine fell out when I put in a petronix kit and created a similar problem.
 
Next instalment! Took out the dizzy and took off points and condenser etc. Gave it a good clean and reassembled it.All was well.
Put it back on the engine and had sparks in all the right places.Fuel in carb. Ignition,starter and nothing!!!
Just will not fire.Rechecked the timing and I'm pretty sure it's OK.Plugs got wet so fuel coming through.If by chance,and I don't think so, I have the dizzy 180° out there would still be some firing wouldn't there??.The manual says that at TDC on compression stroke the rotor arm should be point at No 1 plug and the points just opening. And that's what I have.
Retiring to bed. That's it for today. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Curtis
 
ACK!

Now *please* don't get yer knickers inna twist, but: have you checked to be ~certain~ you've got compression? Cam timing is spot on? The thing should light if it's only HALF right. If the timing is 180 out, you'd get some awful detonations (and you *know* what that sounds like), so if you've got: #1-fire, #2-fuel #3-squish, you SHOULD have #4-BANG!... F/O is 1-3-4-2, right? Only other thing would be coil... supply voltage and points lead junxtaposed. Not likely given your experience, BUT... I've a friend who once rang me up to come help him sort out a V8 prob after he'd replaced cap, plugs 'n wires... now this fella was not "green" at this task by any stretch, BUT: he'd been so long at it he'd connected 'em up with an impromptu firing order of "1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8"!!! That was over thirty yearn ago. He'll not live that down to this day.

...p'raps you shouldn't tell us any more /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
and had sparks in all the right places.Fuel in carb. Ignition,starter and nothing!!!
Plugs got wet so fuel coming through./ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Curtis

[/ QUOTE ]

"Plugs got wet"... Dumb question, but are they fouled? Try new plugs since you did everything else?

Mickey
 
It's finally running and sounding sweet.Somehow I must have positioned the distributor drive wrongly.In between all that the drive dropped down into the sump and I had to drain it ,remove the sump,retrieve the part and start again.
A bad hair day,or what!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
It's funny how you can confess to being stupid to someone the other side of the world without being embarrassed. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif
If there is a next time I'll time the engine while it's on the bench
Curtis
 
Glad to hear its working out for you Curtis.
Its amazing what you tell some people on the net.
Good luck!
 
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