H - not firing after engine rebuild

john taipale · Mar 4, 2010

Had engine rebuilt by reputable engine shop that does top notch work. Put engine back on tractor. Had distributor rebuilt. Placed engine in top dead center. Two notches on flywheel at pointer. Piston in cylinder one visible at top. Also stuck finger in plug hole to verify compression stroke. Put distributor on - lined up correctly. Verified spark from distributor by taking #4 spark plug out and watching for spark on each compression stroke. Made sure new plug wires going to correct cylinder in 1-3-4-2 firing order. Rotor rotating clockwise. Took off distributor cap and removed plug #1 and with finger in #1 cylinder hole watched rotor rotate and compression and rotor position and all appears to be correct. Put the plug back in and dist. cap back on and tried to start. Had sprayed starting fluid in cylinders. Starting fluid in carburetor air intake. Choked, turned on start switch; and no firing! I'm stumped. Any insight will be appreciated.
Thanks
John

Andrew Z · Mar 4, 2010

sounds like your off 180 degree and on the exhaust stroke, you get compression blowing out on the exhaust stroke as well. If your not sure what your feeling pull the valve cover off and watch the valves.

Andrew

john taipale · Mar 4, 2010

thanks, i'll give it a look tomorrow.

CNKS · Mar 4, 2010

When you install the distributer, the rotor is supposed to point to the #1 terminal on the dist cap. I think you said that. Turn the distributer counterclockwise (viewed from the rear) when installed, then rotate clockwise until you get a spark from the coil wire. Confirm by rotating the engine one turn, 360 degrees, you should get another spark from the coil wire. Provided the carb is set up right, it should start. If not remove the air cleaner hose from the carb, place your hand over the carb inlet and crank with the starter, you should feel strong suction. If you don't you have a manifold leak. If you get suction, and the timing is on, you have some sort of a fuel problem. Also, you indicated double notches on the pulley, the pointer is supposed to line up with the first one.

El Toro · Mar 5, 2010

I think you should recheck your distributor to make sure you timed it on the correct stroke. Pull No1 plug near the radiator and hold your thumb over the plug hole while someone slowly cranks over the engine. Once you feel compression drop a long straw on top of the piston and watch it rise as someone keeps slowly cranking the engine. When the straw quits rising you should have No1 piston at TDC on the compression stroke.

Remove the distributor cap and see where your rotor is pointing. It should be at the No1 plug tower. Both valves on that cylinder should now be closed. If the rotor is off just remove it from the engine and turn the rotor to the No1 plug tower. Hal
2-1
4-3
PS: If this finds your distributor timed ok you need to make sure you're getting battery voltage to your coil. With the points open you should have battery voltage on both small terminals. Use a volt meter or test lite. Make sure your ignition switch is in the on position. Rub those points with some 320 wet or dry while you have the cap off.

H - not firing after engine rebuild

john taipale

New User

Andrew Z

Well-known Member

john taipale

New User

CNKS

Well-known Member

El Toro

Well-known Member

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