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xflow prob
Lars - 10/7/04 at 06:39 PM

i have been trying to get my engine to start today, but it wont work.

i have got sparks at the end of the spark plug leads and i can see petrol flowing, but it still wont start.

any ideas?

Chris_R - 10/7/04 at 06:54 PM

timing? Is it back-firing?

[Edited on 10/7/04 by Chris_R]

Lars - 10/7/04 at 07:03 PM

engine not back-firing, and i think i set the timing right, however it is the only thing i can think of, so i'll better check it again.

dave, how can i tell if it is 180 degrees out of phase, or is it just a case of switching leads over and trying?

cheers

Chris_R - 10/7/04 at 07:10 PM

you could try rotating the distributor cap to see if you get a reaction.

millenniumtree - 11/7/04 at 01:06 AM

Some guys were working on an older Accord (1987?) near here, and they were putting a new distributor in. They had gotten it all in, and the engine would not start. It turned, but made no firing sounds whatsoever. I thought they may have the distributor in wrong because it was worming about like the shaft was bent. Turns out, it was indeed 180 degrees out of phase. At least for the 1 honda distributor I have seen, you can put them in either the right way, or 180 degrees off. So it's definitely worth checking!

Lars - 11/7/04 at 04:00 PM

dave is right the cap only fits one way.

I think i will take the rocker cover off to check the valve movements, but i know i've got the firing order right.

barrie sharp - 12/7/04 at 07:25 AM

Hi Lars i would check that you have compression in the cylinders use a compression tester in the spark plug holes
my crossflow was dead like this and i was told it was a good runner!!

David Jenkins - 12/7/04 at 07:49 AM

If you want a rough guide to the dizzy position, stand on the dizzy side of the engine (starboard side!). Looking down on the dizzy, the vacuum advance capsule should be on your left facing the rear of the engine (slightly angled away from the engine by a degree or three). The two cap clips should be roughly at 11 o'clock and 5 o'clock, and No. 1 cylinder lead is roughly at 1 o'clock.

This will get you close enough to set the timing with a lamp (presuming that you still have contact breaker ignition).

Hope this helps,

David

Lars - 13/7/04 at 02:34 PM

re-checked all the timing and it seems to be right, when the starter runs there is even some smoke coming out of the exhaust, but it wont fire up.

Could this be caused by using the wrong coil?

I think i'm using one from a cvh, which i'm not sure if it was contact breaker ignition, and hence giving me a weaker spark?

[Edited on 13/7/04 by Lars]

britishtrident - 13/7/04 at 04:10 PM

to which to add 4 cylinder Fords (well almost all) fire 1243 not the more usual 1342

David Jenkins - 13/7/04 at 09:31 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Lars
Could this be caused by using the wrong coil?


I hope that you haven't repeated my 'Doh!' moment! Originally I fitted a Valencia engine dizzy to my xflow, with a coil designed for electronic ignition, but it wouldn't work (I found out later that I'd wired it wrong). I then put back the old dizzy and the car ran like a dog - I forgot that I had an electronic ign coil fitted!

Put back the valencia dizzy, wired it correctly, and the engine ran as sweetly as anything...

David

Lars - 14/7/04 at 02:08 PM

big smile

it started

changed the coil to a lucas dlb101 and charged the battery

David Jenkins - 14/7/04 at 02:12 PM

Excellent news! It's a great feeling when it fires, isn't it...

David