Finally getting a spark, but still no start...

waxhead

After a frustrating week of troubleshooting all the ignition components (coil, distributor, points, condensor, plug leads, plugs etc) I finally have a spark at the plugs.

I think I have a bad fuel pump, so I am filling the chamber of the carb with fresh gas - that should be enought to get it to start, no?

So last night while trying to start it, I got a backfire - flames shot from the muffler (no tail pipes on yet). It also 'burps' up through the carb now and again. Does this mean my timing could be off?
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Mike B.

germanbilly · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 9:36 am Post subject:

Timing would be the first thing I would check
GB

JayC · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 11:33 am Post subject:

Having just recently gone through this and seeing very similar symptoms, I would check the timing.

In my case, no matter how careful I thought I was, i got the distributor gear in 180 degrees out. As soon as I figured that out and rotated the spark plug wires 180 degrees, it fired right up.

You can check the timing by making by making sure you are at top dead center. Don't rely just on the pulley and the rotor pointing to the notch. Actually watch the valves as you go through two revolutions.

You can read my questions in the Performance - Engines forum at:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=621904&highlight=wits

Hope this helps.

Jay

waxhead · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 12:13 pm Post subject:

That sounds like a good idea, thanks. I'll report back with my findings.
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Mike B.

carsdlt · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 11:30 pm Post subject:

Google "Ron and Dave's Aircooled" - great section on how to set up your dizzy & get the timing right. Good luck...
_________________
Thanx, DLT
'73 181 stock 1600 - "Dr. Bombay"

"If it works, don't fix it....let it break on its own."

omg1 · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 7:22 am Post subject:

Ditto what Jay C said. I did the same thing when I put my top-end back together - everything by the book, but same problem as yours. Don't rely on just lining up seams and marks, watch the valves. I had everything lined up 'by the book' and was 180 off.

Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50352

The spark plug wire order could be off as well, the firing order is 1-4-3-2 clockwise and the cylinder positions are:

--front--

-3---1-
-4---2-

-rear-

veg-head · Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 2:54 pm Post subject:

Waxhead. Did you get that thing running, I'm in the same boat, and if you've had any luck I would be interested.

waxhead · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 5:49 pm Post subject:

Finally got this figured out!!

Yes, the timing was off by 180 degrees - I was thinking I was at TDC on cylinder #1 when in fact I was on cylinder #3. To solve it, I pulled the distributor, took off the 'dog' at the bottom of the shaft, rotated it 180 deg. and reinstalled.

Special thanks to Craig (CraigInPA) for coming over to help me trouble-shoot.

So now it starts and runs, but won't stay running, which leads me to believe my carb is not set right. I checked the main jet and that is fine.
_________________
Mike B.

GI Joe · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 8:30 pm Post subject:

Good news on the ignitio issue!

Now check your idle jet, and the anti-diesel solenoid...

Simple things that'll kill an idle..

Good luck! Wink

_________________
'74 Thing, "Our Thing".... Blue 181

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=60
'71 Beetle RPU
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8080337#8080337
www.NLEOMF.com
Respect, Honor, Remember

GI Joe · Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2015 10:43 am Post subject:

A little dribble of gas down the carb may get her going too..
_________________
'74 Thing, "Our Thing".... Blue 181

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=60
'71 Beetle RPU
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8080337#8080337
www.NLEOMF.com
Respect, Honor, Remember

doublecanister · Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2015 7:25 pm Post subject: What carb

Hey waxhead
What kind of carb do you have?

I noticed on a road trip today my new rebuilt pict34
All of a sudden started idling lower than normal had a hard time keeping the engine running almost like I was experiencing an issue from bad fuel.
Which I wouldn't think would be the cause I believe I'm on my third or forth gas tank this year already but anything is possible.

This carb has been on since October 2014 although limited mileage since then, it made it home but it worried me there on a couple episodes I didn't think I could get it started and keep it running , but only at idle, going down the road under load in gear she ran like a champ.

I did a quick readjustment when I got home and think I fixed it I think it just needed a slight tweak on the idle, it was idling in the 500 RPM range instead of 900. And that was an approximation ,

Which is why I asked what carburetor you have, I wonder if these PIct 34 carburetors need more frequent adjustments or whether I just had a fluke?

Has anyone else noticed if the P I CT34 carburetors need more than normal readjusting?
Just curious

T
_________________
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2020 - Mustang Eco Boost [High Performance]
1973 - Thing
1966 - Mustang GT- Fastback
1951 - Ford F1 pickup Flathead V8

waxhead · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 2:06 pm Post subject: Re: What carb


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