Help! First engine restoration won't fire up!

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.

Just occurred to me. You ARE cranking it the right way aren't you? The handle it came with may not be correct .............

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

That's right. Look at the fun I had on Sunday with my cheapo BSA!

Regards,

Kim Siddorn.

Hi Chris, If you go to

can download the manual for your engine. If you go to will see a list of shows. Hope this helps,

- and now we need a D specialist! My general knowledge has just failed him. Lety's see now...................

Regards,

All sorted now! It was the hole in the carb that I mentioned, I just covered it up with a nail and it fired instantly!

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.