Practically Classics Forum

The bulb test is to connect a 12V bulb between the CB connection on the coil and earth. Align the timing marks on the engine and turn the distributor until the bulb lights. This means the points have opened. Make sure No 1 cylinder is on the compression stroke (stick your thumb over the plug hole)and the rotor arm is pointing to the correct segment. You wouldn't be the first person to set the timing 180 deg. out and wonder why the engine won't start

suffolkpete wrote:The bulb test is to connect a 12V bulb between the CB connection on the coil and earth. Align the timing marks on the engine and turn the distributor until the bulb lights. This means the points have opened. Make sure No 1 cylinder is on the compression stroke (stick your thumb over the plug hole)and the rotor arm is pointing to the correct segment. You wouldn't be the first person to set the timing 180 deg. out and wonder why the engine won't start

Yeah did it last night. I believe i am not 180 degrees out because the timing marks only line up on the compression stroke? (when the dizzy is in segment 6 on the next rotation the timing marks are not there, or have i made a mistake here?) - i could be wrong

The manual says

Rotate engine till 7 degrees BTDC, on the pully and front marker, Put the distributor in so the diaphragm is touching the block. turn the distributor till the rotor (which turns anti clock) is approaching segment for cylinder 6, then do the lamp test…

Bloody thing still wont start… I have just got a new condenser just incase that’s the problem, although I do have a spark.. ;-(

almost out of ideas...

The timing marks line up on both the compression and ignition strokes.
It's easy enough to see if you are out by 180 or not, just put plug 1 in the socket opposite where it is now and follow the firing order. if it starts then you were out by 180 degrees
(I understand your frustration, i am having a similar not starting problem myself!)

Don't despair S-Type! There is a strict limit to the potential causes for your problem!

Are you certain your plug leads are on in the correct order?
It's possible that the machine shop got your valve timing wrong I guess. You can check by looking under rocker cover to see what's happening in conjunction with your distributor. You should have the spark when both valves are closed!

Good luck!

pryantcc wrote:Don't despair S-Type! There is a strict limit to the potential causes for your problem!

Are you certain your plug leads are on in the correct order?
It's possible that the machine shop got your valve timing wrong I guess. You can check by looking under rocker cover to see what's happening in conjunction with your distributor. You should have the spark when both valves are closed!

Good luck!

cheers, man. I am now officially out of ideas. The plug leads on a jag only fit one way, they are bolted in to a carrier. I am tempted to look under the rocker but have avoided it so far because they can leak and they are not at the moment, removing them is a pain. I will have to give in and take a look i guess.

Another 3 hours wasted last night...

s-type wrote: cheers, man. I am now officially out of ideas. The plug leads on a jag only fit one way, they are bolted in to a carrier. I am tempted to look under the rocker but have avoided it so far because they can leak and they are not at the moment, removing them is a pain. I will have to give in and take a look i guess.

Another 3 hours wasted last night...

I don't want to insult your inteligence S-type, so firgive me if I'm asking stupid questions!
Have you definitely got fuel? in the combustion chambers?
Have you got compression? If you have a guage, (they're not that expensive and handy to have) that would help you avoid going the rocker cover route. If the valve timing is right, you should at least have all cylinders giving a similar reading. I suppose there's also potential to have the valves closing on the exhaust stroke giving you a compression reading, but that would be really unfortunate!
If you have both of those, the only thing missing is that little spark. I think I read that you have them at the plugs which is why I was wondering about the firing order. You say they can only go one way, does this apply to the distributor end too? For peace of mind, I'd be tracing them anyway.

What I'm trying to say is that if you have fuel, compression & a spark all synchronised correctly, it will run. Your problem *must* be one of these.

pryantcc wrote:

s-type wrote: cheers, man. I am now officially out of ideas. The plug leads on a jag only fit one way, they are bolted in to a carrier. I am tempted to look under the rocker but have avoided it so far because they can leak and they are not at the moment, removing them is a pain. I will have to give in and take a look i guess.

Another 3 hours wasted last night...

I don't want to insult your inteligence S-type, so firgive me if I'm asking stupid questions!
Have you definitely got fuel? in the combustion chambers?
Have you got compression? If you have a guage, (they're not that expensive and handy to have) that would help you avoid going the rocker cover route. If the valve timing is right, you should at least have all cylinders giving a similar reading. I suppose there's also potential to have the valves closing on the exhaust stroke giving you a compression reading, but that would be really unfortunate!
If you have both of those, the only thing missing is that little spark. I think I read that you have them at the plugs which is why I was wondering about the firing order. You say they can only go one way, does this apply to the distributor end too? For peace of mind, I'd be tracing them anyway.

What I'm trying to say is that if you have fuel, compression & a spark all synchronised correctly, it will run. Your problem *must* be one of these.

No insulted at all, thanks for taking the time.

Have you definitely got fuel? in the combustion chambers? - No. I have no idea why, i have a mate coming over tonight, its dripping out the carbs. The plugs smell of petrol, but they are not wet.
Have you got compression? - yes. all fine.
If the valve timing is right... - I suspect it is wrong. I have messed with it so much.
I'd be tracing them anyway.- yes have done, it's the same as the old engine..

My Mate is coming over tonight, to laugh at me and show me the error of my ways!!!!!

Thankyou. I will let you know tomorow. Sorry i have asever skills gap in this area.

s-type wrote: Sorry i have asever skills gap in this area.

Sounds like you're about to fill it in tonight!!

I had a big skills gap and a mental block about the whole body-prep and painting side of things until a mate came around a couple of weeks ago and showed me that it wasn't rocket science. I'm not saying I'm an expert now, but I'm giving it a go and learning how to do it. Before that, I' was afraid to make a mess of it because I didn't know what I was doing!

Let us know how it goes & what you find out! Hopefully you'll be posting a video of the engine bursting into life

Ooh, just had another thought. I hope it's not right, but if your valve timing was wrong, you wouldn't be sucking mixture into the chambers when the inlet valve is open, which might explain the lack of fuel?

It's doing my head in now too, thanks S-type

I have done that with each part of the jag; Learned the skills as i went.


Door cards restored and colour changed







Engine bay re-spray..

Before


During


After


Front cross member and brake upgrade rebuild.


So it’s a long war and this is my first real defeat at battle!!!!!!