Hey all, i've still got my first stationary engine, (yup you guessed it, a
D-type), got it when I was younger, i'm now 18 and have been restoring it.
Chris Bedo (he posts on here sometimes) has been helping me out a lot along
the way, so thanks a lot to him!
I did ask him about this too, but i'm eager to get it going right now!
I've been turning the engine over, the spark plug definatley sparks outside
the combustion chamber, however, it is wet with petrol when I take it out
having turned the engine over. I'll take you through what I did (to give me
the best chance of getting a solution :).
1. Put petrol in
2. Opened fuel tap
3. Pressed button on top of float chamber until petrol came out from around
the button
4. Opened needle valve a quarter/half turn from hand tight
5. Turned it over
Nothing happens, it just keeps turning over. I'm pretty sure that I got the
spark timing right because the timing mark was still on my flywheel so I
used that. I never took the camshaft out, so the timing on that should be
right (the engine ran when I got it, then seized up).
I'd be really greatful if someone could tell me how to start it properly,
and a solution to why it isn't starting, want to get this going, then I can
sort out the pump (no, not a rubber duck washing station lol).
Cheers then
Chris
Firstly, did it run when you bought it? If not, the valve timing may be
out - BUT FIRST ............
Fifty percent of the time, timing it to the mark on the flywheel will mean
you've timed it on the exhaust stroke ;o))
Make sure you have compression when it's sparking.
That done, take a wire brush and screw the wires down into the plug. This
will probably dislodge the lumps of carbon that gather there. Swill out the
inside of the plug with meths as this dries dry, not damp like petrol.
Try it again without turning the petrol on - more is NOT better!
Still nothing? Heat the whole threaded end of the plug in a flame. The
unburnt petrol inside it will slowly burn off with a dull red flame. Don't
get the plug red hot, smoking gently should do it. Juggle it into the plug
spanner and fit it hot into the cylinder.
Try it again, turning the petrol on but not flooding it until you've tried
it without.
Still no good? Go out and buy it a NEW plug - not some ancient old thing
that Noah used in his boat, but a nice, new shiny one.
And if that doesn't work, you do have a timing problem ;o))
Regards,
Kim Siddorn.
Thanks for the post, Kim! I will go and try all the things you suggested.
The engine did run when I got it. I'm sure it's sparking in the right place,
it sparks at the top of the compression stroke and on the exhaust stroke -
Chris advised me that this was correct.
How much should I be opening the needle valve? At one point there was petrol
all over the place, dripping out the end of the carb where the air valve is.
How good is the compression supposed to be? I mean on the compression stroke
the piston will not get pushed back down, the compressed gases just slowly
leak out, with a hissing noise.
Anyway, off to try what you said, (either that or go and get a new plug!) I
hope i'm pleased when i'm sitting back here ! :)
Chris
If it's sparking on both strokes, the magneto is running at engine speed,
not uncommon with slow running engines like D's and things. My Crossley has
an engine speed magneto.
Compression. Take the plug out and put your thumb over the plug hole. Turn
the engine. At cranking speeds, the compression should readily blow your
thumb off the spark plug hole. If it doesn't, you may have a tight tappet.
If asked to guess, you've probably flooded it. Turn the petrol off and dry
the plug in a flame like I said. Don't turn the fuel on until you've tried
it without doing so. Flooding is easy to do when you've rebuilt something
and it's not run in years.
Regards,
Kim Siddorn.
"He who is tired of bacon is tired of life"
King George III
button) on the carb until it fires.
If things seem desperate book it into the nearest rally & tell the
other exhibitors your problems & that you are new to the game.
Most of us love a problem like that to play with at a show!
Also you get more spectators.
--
Dave Croft
Warrington
England
Anyway, now I need some bolts to hold the water hopper and valve cover on,
time to give David Harris a ring again methinks! Then once I get those I can
give it a good run.
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