Ford 601 Wont Start

[Russ from MN]

You have done a lot of parts changing without any success, you should do some troubleshooting first, a lot cheaper!

 

[Jim.ME]

Has the distributor been out or turned? Is the timing correct (8 degrees before TDC)? Are the plug wires in the cap correct for the firing order (1-2-4-3)? Pull #1 plug out and with it connected to its plug wire crank the engine over and see if the spark appears as the compression puffs out, then do the same for #2.

 

[601workless]

So how can the spark plugs be dry and sooty black (rich) at the same time? Thanks!

 

[used red MN]

So how can the spark plugs be dry and sooty black (rich) at the same time? Thanks!

All I can say is that it apparently ran or fired the plugs under a rich mixture. Then they were exposed to another period of no fuel. Rich fouled (sooty) plugs may not fire because the carbon in the soot will allow the spark to ground out down the cone in the plug the center electrode protrudes through. But if they are dry, then that is a sign of lack of fuel. Which could also depend on how long it was before they were checked after the start attempt was made.

 

[Mcrafty1]

Did the engine fire when you used a spray bottle and sprayed into the carburetor while cranking the engine over?

 

[showcrop]

Yes, they are dry and sooty.

That means that they need gas!! pull the choke! if that doesn't do it, as Janicholson posted fix the choke.

 

[601workless]

Did the engine fire when you used a spray bottle and sprayed into the carburetor while cranking the engine over?

That means that they need gas!! pull the choke! if that doesn't do it, as Janicholson posted fix the choke.

Pulled the choke even covered the air intake on the carb with my hand and gas was running out of the carb but none going into the cylinders.

 

[Janicholson]

My 601 will fire on starting fluid but not on gas. It seems that gas/air mixture is not being sucked into the cylinders. Engine has good vacuum, new carb, new intake gasket etc. Any suggestions appreciated.

If you heat upp the spark plugs with a propane torch till they are hor enough for the ground electrode to show red, then reinstall them before they cool all the way it might just start. A second guess is that the valve timing is not correct. If it runs for 5 seconds on starting fluid, that is not likely it. Jim

 

[showcrop]

Pulled the choke even covered the air intake on the carb with my hand and gas was running out of the carb but none going into the cylinders.

Well now we are getting somewhere!! It is perfectly normal for gas to run out of the air intake of an updraft carb if it doesn't start after about for seconds of cranking. So now there are two questions: for how long did you crank it? and were the plugs wet when you pulled them after the gas was running out the air intake?

 

[601workless]

Well now we are getting somewhere!! It is perfectly normal for gas to run out of the air intake of an updraft carb if it doesn't start after about for seconds of cranking. So now there are two questions: for how long did you crank it? and were the plugs wet when you pulled them after the gas was running out the air intake?

Just a few seconds, the plugs were cleaned before trying to start and came out dry and black sooty. Thanks

 

[Russ from MN]

If you heat upp the spark plugs with a propane torch till they are hor enough for the ground electrode to show red, then reinstall them before they cool all the way it might just start. A second guess is that the valve timing is not correct. If it runs for 5 seconds on starting fluid, that is not likely it. Jim

That was one of my dad's favorite remedies, it worked for him! If you haven't already put some oil in the cylinders you need to do that. All this cranking you have been doing has them dried out. I was given an old Wisconsin engine that didn't want to start, I oiled the cylinders, and it took right off.

 

[showcrop]

Just a few seconds, the plugs were cleaned before trying to start and came out dry and black sooty. Thanks

That means that they need gas!! pull the choke! if that doesn't do it, as Janicholson posted fix the choke.

 

[used red MN]

That means that they need gas!! pull the choke! if that doesn't do it, as Janicholson posted fix the choke.

Pulled the choke even covered the air intake on the carb with my hand and gas was running out of the carb but none going into the cylinders.

You would have thought this would have got it to at least fire. Unless the plugs were fouled at that point. When it fires does it sound like it is “running” several cylinders firing in succession. I would like to know as JimME requested in reply 22 about the timing, has the distributor been out since it last ran?

 

[601workless]

After sitting the timing marks 8 degrees BTDC and the rotor to # 1 cylinder, nothing. Rotated the rotor 180 degrees, nothing. Tried moving the plug wires every way possible, nothing. It will fire on starter fluid but doesnt try to run. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

 

[used red MN]

When it fires does it sound like it is “running” several cylinders firing in succession.

Which do you think it is doing, just hitting on one cylinder or several in succession as above? Is all this being done with the aftermarket carb? Per my reply number 4 some of those cheap carbs have been found to be completely missing a drilled hole feeding the main fuel delivery passage.

Carbureted engines require a high fuel-air mixture to start when cold. When colder richer mixture is needed. So rich that if it doesn't start the plugs will be wet.

As showcrop says an over a rich mixture is needed for a cold start.
On an updraft carb, fuel dripping out of the carb intake does not always equal a flooding mixture at the cylinders.

 

[601workless]

On fluid it only fires on a couple of cylinders, same with original and aftermarket carb. there is a good hot spark at the plug. About ready to drop a match in the gas tank. Thanks again!

 

[used red MN]

Rotated the rotor 180 degrees, nothing.

Sorry, but have to ask. Did you pull the distributor and turn it 180 degrees by the gear or just tried placing the rotor on the distributor shaft 180 degrees from where it was.

 

[Janicholson]

My 601 will fire on starting fluid but not on gas. It seems that gas/air mixture is not being sucked into the cylinders. Engine has good vacuum, new carb, new intake gasket etc. Any suggestions appreciated.

With the cap off the distributor, look at it and crank the engine with the starter for 1/2 second. Watch the direction of the rotor. make sure the wires are organized in that direction! Jim

 

[Rich'sToys]

Sorry, but have to ask. Did you pull the distributor and turn it 180 degrees by the gear or just tried placing the rotor on the distributor shaft 180 degrees from where it was.

On any distributor I've ever dealt with, the rotor only went on one way. Not sure how you could turn it 180 degrees.

 

[used red MN]

On any distributor I've ever dealt with, the rotor only went on one way. Not sure how you could turn it 180 degrees.

That’s why I opened it with Sorry,… he seems like a knowledgeable guy but you never know what some people try. If he doesn’t tell us he most certainly reset the actual distributor shaft 180 degrees different then we don’t know, he said “rotor.”