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Fri Jan 03, 2003 6:07 pm

Ok- I need some input. I have a 60 panel that has a 67 engine in it. The issue being this- it doesn't start, it does "turn" over. The PO had stated, that the #2 sparkplug port was stripped and as far as I can tell it isn't. A friend of mine came over took a look at it with me, and said that there seems to be compression in that "stripped" port- so it more than likely is fine. We checked out the starter, and replaced the coil and battery. Since it has been sitting for over 2 years- I ran clean fuel from a 1 gallon container. Can someone shed light on this? My knowledge of mechanics and engines is at the minimum- but I am attempting to learn, by way of the idiots guide.

Thanks-
Paul

Fri Jan 03, 2003 7:54 pm

do you have spark to the plugs? and gas to the carb? check those first

Sat Jan 04, 2003 10:04 am

my57-

if i do recall- its been a while since we actually looked at this- but yes the plugs got sparks, and there was gas to the carb- I am mtg w/ him again this week - so maybe he can provide me with somemore insite- but since it's too fricken cold to be crawlig around on the concrete- i'll read- up on as much as possible and tackle it when the flowers bloom.

thanks for the info-

Sat Jan 04, 2003 11:27 am

If it was mentioned the plug hole was stripped it might be more of a problem when the engine has heated up and the aluminum head expands away from the steel plug. I had one launch out of a head a few years ago like that. I ended up heli coiling all 4 plug holes in the end to make sure it didn't happen again. You may also want to check to make sure the plug wires are routed correctly. It only takes one set crossed and can make starting real tough sometimes. I know it's simple but easy to miss.

Sat Jan 04, 2003 12:40 pm

thx- my assumption of the "stripped plug" is that the PO knew less about it than I do. He also said it was stuck in 2nd, so he couldn't help me load it to the trailer- I popped into the cab and thru the shifter into neutral- and low and behold not stuck in 2nd.

How do I check to see if the plug hole is in fact NOT stripped?

Sat Jan 04, 2003 2:18 pm

You can try threading the plug in most of the way and try to wiggle it. The plug should be tight in the hole when it is cold. Some of the ones I had had threads in about half of the hole. If it is stripped really bad you should be able to see it. It's pretty hard to tell looking down inside of an engine compartment though.

Sat Jan 04, 2003 9:08 pm

Remove the plug and inspect the threads on the plug. If they look the least bit fouled then the hole threads are probably worse. If the plug looks good then you should be able to thread it smoothly all the way into the plug hole with a minimal amount of effort. Actually I would use a new plug just in case there is a problem with the old plug. You should be able to tighten the plug down to about 12-14 lbs of torque. If you don't have a torque wrench and you are using an 8-10 inch ratchet then just imagine applying 15-20 lbs of pressure to it. If the plug looks a little fouled you could run a tap into the hole to clean out the threads without making enough shavings to cause any problems. If you don't have a tap then a shop could probably do it for you in about 3 minutes. If the plug won't tighten down then you should definitely get it fixed with either a heli-coil or an insert. Whatever you do don't keep driving until it blows out of the whole. I have seen some ugly carnage from a blown plug. Good luck.

Sat Jan 04, 2003 10:54 pm

Whole? Sorry about that. I meant to say hole, not whole. I certainly whope the guys over in the "Rants" section haven't popped a vein over my grammar. They tend to get a little testy about those things. Take care.

Sun Jan 05, 2003 3:47 am

Another idea, just from another person here. When you turn the key, does the engine do anything? Turn over, or no? If it turns over and you are not getting it to start, you may have your spark plugs wires backward. If you have not replaced the wires since you bought it, get some good Bosch wires and put them in. $20 bucks, if that. The old ones may have lost insulation and are shorting each other out if they are at all touching, I had this happen once. Also, make sure you have the correct wires plugs to the correct sides of your coil, that has gotten me more times that I can count. And of course, make sure this battery you are using has enough juice and amperage to actually spin the motor fast enough.

Sorry, I think I splurged a bit more than I was gonna. Good luck

Jax

Sun Jan 05, 2003 7:38 am

Thnx-

Ok- the key doesnt do anything- but when "we", well my friend touched i believe the starter(?) or by-passed? it (God - that sounds totally ignorant) to the battery the engine "cranked" but didn't start- The battery is new- and so is the coil.

I will purchase a set of plug wires and new plugs-

Sun Jan 05, 2003 9:30 am

Have you tried spraying WD-40 down the carb throat? You can use ether(sp?) also but it has a nasty tendency to break parts. If it will fire but not start with the WD-40 that's a good sign it is a fuel prob and not electrical.

Sun Jan 05, 2003 10:38 am

You say that it does nothing with the when turning the key... does it have any power? like do the lights in the speedo even come on? no clicking no nothing?
You can put a screwdriver acorss the battery cable and the spade on the starter (like you said you did) all day long but if you do not have 12V feed to the coil it won't run.
I always make sure I have spark first the worry about fuel, it's easy to pour a small amount of gas down the brass vent tube in the top of the carb with a spary can paint top....and fill the carb bowl up some and whaty spills into the manifold primes it up.
If your unsure of the wiring to and from the ignition switch, just make a lead from the psoitive on the battery and connect it to the + side of the coil then with the dist cap off have your bud jump the starter and see if the points are sparking when it cranks over, you have to get fire to the coil and then make sure the points are firing or you will get nowhere but frustrated.
As far as the stripped plug the above tips are great, you should be able to b, peer down in the cylinder head tin with a flashlight and a small mirror to inspect the threads with the plug out. Helicoils and inserts are " get by fixes" and amy or may not last. tappping the hole for either can put alot of shavings inside the cyinder head even if using cautious techniques...
Most of the time I prefer to take the head off... if it is still good,( otherwise) the insert job comes out better if you can do it on the bench or just go ahead and get another cylinder head if there is any doubt. Keep tinkering!

Sun Jan 05, 2003 12:55 pm

keifer-

Thnx for the info. I will need to do a double-check on the speedo lights. If I recall- "Rich" who was here lending a hand did make a lead and jumped the starter. So, if the points DO NOT spark- what does that tell me? Bad starter?

Sun Jan 05, 2003 1:04 pm

if the points do not spark and assuming you have a good battery it could be bad coil, bad points bad coil and i would bet in your case just no power to the positive side of the coil. if you are just arking the starter you will have no power to the coil just as keifer stated.

Sun Jan 05, 2003 1:09 pm

new battery- new coil

Sun Jan 05, 2003 1:11 pm

but do you have power TO the coil? probably not

Sun Jan 05, 2003 1:13 pm

ok......like i said- i'm learning- so this power would come from the starter?

im a designer- so bare with me-

(LOL)

Sun Jan 05, 2003 1:16 pm

no it would be power form the ign switch but in your case just to see if you motor runs you can just use a wire right off the positive side of the battery and attach it to the plus side of you coil to power it up. now if you do it this way and it does start pulling that wire back off will be the way you turn the motor back off. p.s. some coils will have a plus and minus and some will be numbered 1 and 15 in that case the 15 is your positive

Sun Jan 05, 2003 1:20 pm

and your condensor wire goes to the minus or the number 1

Sun Jan 05, 2003 6:10 pm

ok- well yes the power comes from the ignition to the solinoid (from battery) the starter. If I can remember right - we did those things(by-pass the starter)- which is when I bought a new coil. We came back, attached the new coil- still notta-

of course it doesnt help that it is SNOWING again............aaaaaaaaaggggggggggggggghhhhh

slam, slam (head against monitor)