I am almost there with my build but I just can't get it to start I have checked everything e.g plugs, timing, whether the coil works, wiring from ignition to amplifier etc etc (I was told the green/black from the amp doesn't connect with anything - is that right?).

I have a 2 litre Pinto engine with an old fashioned Pierburg carb. I've read that the Pierburg is a pile of pants but that shouldn't stop me from at least getting a start or could it ?

Any advice would be welcome. I want to hear that magical sound ...

Come on !!

can you smell fuel from the exhaust? or take a plug out and there should be a slight smell of petrol.

Are you sure there is a good spark?

You haven't said if it does anything at all, like try to fire or spit back

Check -

your getting fuel

your getting a spark

that the leads are the right way round, number one lead really is were the rotor is at number 1 TDC.



[Edited on 10/4/07 by Mr Whippy]

I assume it turns over OK. If starter motor is good and battery good but turns over lazily it could be advance setting. What static advance have you set to? Mine started no problems with 10deg static.

There was a wire on my amp that wasnt connected, cant remember the colour off hand.

Do you have spark at plugs? Totally sure the leads are correct way round?

As above what does it do? Even with std carb (assuming working OK - ie was OK in donor) it should still fire up.

Have you seen engine running before? Have you done anything to it since? Just fishing for clues.

I bet he's off getting some petrol, he he

Starter motor and Battery is fine but it does turn over lazily

definitely have spark at all the plugs and the leads are all in the right order.

We are getting fuel through. Some plugs are wet and some are dry?!

what exactly is static advance, it is currently timed to the standard setting. how do i go about advancing the timing?

What does it do? well we have experienced 1 or 2 backfires and 'popping' form the carb (with filter removed)

EDIT - - - Never heard or seen the engine start - got it from MK along with the seperate pierburgh carb, though the top half has been fully rebuilt.

[Edited on 10/4/07 by iscmatt]

The green/black might be the wire to the solenoid cranking feed which gives a 12v boost while the engine is cranking so you don't have a voltage drop.

Ive had backfiring and carb popping when first firing mine up during build - it was 2 leads wrong way round.

Static advance setting. When cam sprocket is coming round to its timing mark, observe the crank pulley and instead of setting to TDC try setting to 10deg BTDC. Then loosen dizzy and align leading edge of rotor arm to its timing mark on the dizzy body. Should get you somewhere near for firing up.

Ive also had the problem when dizzy was 180deg out - it is extremely easy to do and quite a common fault.

Lazy turning over with popping and banging does sound like a timing issue. Just run through the static settings again with a clear head. Cam shaft aligned, crank aligned, dizzy aligned etc. Plugs leads 1 3 4 2. Spark at plugs etc.

Thanks for all your advice. Looks like a long Saturday ahead unless ... ?!

We have now tried everything it seems and still no go. We have tried TDC and various degrees BTDC, we have good sparks at the plugs, we cleaned out the Pierburg carb (it was a bit mucky), we have checked the fuel pump (an electronic bike one). Even bought new leads and a new rotor arm.

But still nothing. I'm not sure if its worth asking for more ideas but there must still be something we haven't tried??!!



Apart from that we're all done so you can imagine how frustrating it is that we can't even go down the drive !

Check the timing isn't 180 degrees out --

If it isn't give it a squirt of Eazistart down the carb see if it fires.

Worth checking the valve timing and while you have the timing cover off check that the distributor is set so that the rotor arm is pointing towards no 1 HT lead . Bosch distributors have a small line scribed on the top rim of the body which the rotor should be pointing to .A BT says try some easistart or brake cleaner

It is very easy to get it all 180deg out. Echo what BT has said. This si what happened to me when i changed engines over winter.

tried some eazi start with no luck checked the 180 thing and thats ok, my thinking is it must be valves. i've exhausted all other options many times over.

Thanks for all you help fingers crossed.