801 Won't Start

[ccfoshee]

All:

I've been rehabbing an 801 (gas) for the past few months. Engine ran well when tear down began. Opened up the engine to check things out (did not remove rotating assembly or cam) - cylinders looked great.

Now putting it back together. Got everything completely rewired (12V conversion), new plugs, cap, rotor, wires, condenser, points, solenoid, battery. I am getting great spark and fuel. I've stabbed my dizzy at least 4 times after rotating engine to show about 5* BTDC. I've even rotated the cap 180* just in case I didn't get it right.

I've been messing with it for about a week, with nothing but draining the battery. I pulled my battery off my Farmall M (high CCA rating) and used it last night. Pulled on the choke for a while and got flame out the exhaust pipe. So, I rotate the cap 180* thinking it's firing on the exhaust stroke rather than the compression. Still only get some pops and flame out the exhaust.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Caleb

 

[JMOR]

"Engine ran well when tear down began. "

By making so many attempts at timing the distributor, it surely sounds like you don't know how to perform that operation, otherwise once would have been enough. So, let me see if I can help........how did you determine TDC-compression stroke? Do you know direction of rotation of distributor? What is it? Do you know firing order? What is it? Let me see your answers & we go from there.

 

[ccfoshee]

TDC Compression Stroke - Pulled #1 (closest to radiator) spark plug and put finger over hole, had somebody bump the starter until I felt the compression pushing against my finger. Opened the timing window and manually rotated the engine back (ever so slightly) to see about 5*.

Rotor rotates clockwise.

Firing order - 1, 2, 4, 3

How's that? :wink:

 

[JMOR]

Mighty fine, just like to establish a bit about who/what working with. The questioning point now is that you bumped starter to find TDC & unless you are very careful, you can overrun the mark by a lot more than you think & you have though that as shown by trying 180 movement of wires in cap. It surely sounds like spark at wrong time. I have verified before by either turning engine by engaging 4th gear & rocking the tractor or on some by using a screwdriver in flywheel teeth, so that I have better control over engine rotation. Once you prove to yourself that timing is right, then you might try starting fluid/ether & possibly fresh plugs, for as much as you have cranked by now, those plugs may be gas fouled. I really don't like "backing up....would rather stop early & then still feel a bit of compression on the last little bit before TDC....just as confirmation. Rocking tractor with hand on tire, you can do that. HTH

 

[ccfoshee]

Yeah, I am pretty confident in the timing, it was just the only piece that I could think of after checking for spark and fuel.

May try another set of plugs and some ether next.

Last night was the first hopeful sign I've had in a while. The engine actually made noise on its own.

Thanks,
Caleb

 

[JMOR]

OK & if still stuck after that, come back.......we will think of something. :wink: