Non starting TI

Post by **td99** » Sun Aug 04, 2019 9:07 pm

hermeticist wrote: ↑
Sun Aug 04, 2019 9:03 pm
I made a video but cannot see how to post it, it is basically backfiring through the emergency boost valve, you hear a bang and can see a small amount of flame...

In that case I think you really need to check the camshaft (belt) alignment

Post by **hermeticist** » Sun Aug 04, 2019 9:14 pm

Possibly, but I followed the cam belt procedure to the letter and checked it multiple times (due to paranoia over my first belt change). On the crank damper, the arrow points to 0 at TDC on cylinder 1 - I checked this today with a rod in cylinder one, moving the crank forward and back slightly to check. Obviously, it should be at 15 degrees, but I thought this was done more with the dizzy?

Post by **hermeticist** » Sun Aug 04, 2019 9:20 pm

Hmmm... I think I'll take the cam cover off and photograph the belt and associated bits and see if anyone can see what may be wrong...

Post by **hermeticist** » Sun Aug 04, 2019 9:21 pm

Cambelt cover

Post by **Dcrosby13** » Sun Aug 04, 2019 10:48 pm

Right, I didn't know you had replaced the belt. Pull the rocker cover and check the valves are definitely shut by rocking the rockers on cylinder 1 if they are not then pull the belt and start again with the timing. Revving to 3k has nothing to do with that though, could be a stuck throttle butterfly or idle adjustment?

Post by **Dcrosby13** » Sun Aug 04, 2019 10:49 pm

Farting through a valve could be ignition timing as much as valve timing

Post by **hermeticist** » Mon Aug 05, 2019 12:50 am

If the weather holds I'll strip the engine down and check it again. I'm by no means a mechanic and I have probably made a really stupid mistake!

However, thanks to this site I'm much more knowledgeable now than I was in December, when I purchased the car, so a big thank you to everyone who has taken the trouble to reply to me over the last eight months!

I shall take photos and post them up so people can check my work. It could well be the ignition timing but until the little beast starts I can't get the timing gun on it. Is there any way to set the distributor in the middle range, so to speak, to get it going?

I could cheat and take it in to a garage but every time I've almost been beaten I have managed, usually with help from people on here, to win through, so I'm determined to do this myself.

Thank you again and I'll hopefully post some stuff tomorrow!

Post by **hermeticist** » Mon Aug 05, 2019 12:51 am

Oh, and a special thanks to Darryl who has consistently replied to my daft questions!

Post by **Dcrosby13** » Mon Aug 05, 2019 11:14 am

Not daft questions at all, I have just suffered with exactly this and I know how disheartening it can be. grab yourself a copy of the service manual and start again, it is possible that you have the belt a tooth out.

Post by **Dcrosby13** » Mon Aug 05, 2019 11:27 am

Valve clearance instructions here, you will need some feeler gauges https://www.autozone.com/repairguides/N ... 5280099628

Post by **Dcrosby13** » Mon Aug 05, 2019 11:34 am

This shows the rotor position you want (notice the mark on the cap)

Post by **Dcrosby13** » Mon Aug 05, 2019 11:37 am

Post by **Dcrosby13** » Mon Aug 05, 2019 11:38 am

Post by **Dcrosby13** » Mon Aug 05, 2019 11:42 am

1800oldb · Post by **1800oldb** » Mon Aug 05, 2019 4:41 pm

Don't know if this will be of any help.
After setting up mechanically, set the ignition as follows:
tune a transistor radio (your car radio should do) so that no station is being heard, i.e., only slight static.
turn ON the ignition but do NOT operate the starter.
turn the distributor by hand so the points close
slowly move the distributor to open the points - a burst of static will be heard on the radio.
Stop and secure the distributor.
If you have the mechanicals, and fuel, sorted then the car should start with starter operation.
This is the way I used to set the ignition timing on cars before the advent of electronic gubbins.
If you haven't guessed already, the burst of static you hear is generated by the points opening, i.e., firing.
Best of luck.