Engine Will Not Start

[smoothsailing]

Engine No Start
1969 Morgan 30’
Newer A-4 Engine

1. Points, Rotor, Condensor, Coil, Distributor Cap, Spark Plug Wires, And Plugs All Brand New And Are Working Properly. Spark To All Plugs Ok.

2. Timing Right On

3. Good Compression In All Cylinders

4. Batterys Charged

5. Engine Cranks Good

6. Gas Pumping Pressure To Carb Good.

7. Gas In Carb

8. No Gas Going To Cylinders. Plugs Dry

9. Ether (quick Start) Sprayed Into Carb. Engine Will Not Even Try To Start.

10. Some Minor Poping Sound At Exhaust Outlet While Cranking

I Do Not Know Much About The Workings Of The A-4 Engine Other Than The Above.

Thinking Possibly Not Enough Engine Pressure To Cylinders Or Valve Timing Off.

Any Ideas Please For The Route To Take Without Tearing Everything Apart

Tia

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

how's the timing chain?

 

[KD3PC]

Only needs air, fuel and spark...you have verified spark apparently...now, hold your hand over the carb throat while cranking -just a few seconds..you should feel your hand being "sucked down"...

then there is fuel...you should be able to SEE the fuel being sprayed in to the carb throat by manually moving the linkage towards accelerate.

IF all three of these is happening, then you have a timing issue or stuck valve or mechanical problem. Wires could be misplaced or backwards.

It is odd that ether does not even pop...blockage or valve not opening. Even more odd is the popping noise while cranking..that possibly indicates a stuck/broken valve...

How did you verify spark, fuel pressure? When did the engine last work and who did the new parts replacement...

 

[Ed Schenck]

Yep, gotta' be timing. You said it was OK. But that "popping" sound is a dead giveaway.

 

[All U Get]

I got the book out and can copy the wiring diagram. I can also get the trouble shooter for starting.
All U Get

 

[sailaway78]

My first suggestion

Is to check the plug wires, making sure all are on the proper cylinder. An engine needs compression, fuel and spark to run. You are pretty sure of all three. So, look at timing, and since you have some popping, I would make sure the plug wires are not crossed.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

His and her diaries for the same day...

This opportunity is too perfect to pass up...

HER DIARY
Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a nice restaurant for dinner. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it. Conversation wasn't flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed, but he didn't say much. I asked him what was wrong; He said, 'Nothing.' I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn't upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it. On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving. I can't explain his behavior I don't know why he didn't say, 'I love you, too.' When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just
sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent. Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed. About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep - I cried. I don't know what to do. I'm almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.











HIS DIARY
Boat wouldn't start, can't figure out why.

 

[Alec]

Was it running before you changed all the ignition parts?

 

[Don12364]

Peggy - you are evil - but fun!
Don

 

[mr c]

Several issues. If you have gas to the carb and in the carb but not out your needle and seat or float are stuck. The fact that u bypassed the fuel and sprayed eather and it just pops through the exhaust either valve timing or someone tightened the valves too tight.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Peggy - you are evil - but fun!
Don

Not evil...I'm not nasty or malevolent. But I CAN accept wicked. :dance:

 

[zeehag]

wicked is fun--evil isnt fun....
atomic 4--- good luck. how many hours on that old gas engine? when was last valve job and tune? when didit last run?
please use the blowers so ye dont blow yer self up.

 

[Benny17441]

All you need is a fuel mixture, spark, compression and timing. Lets start with compression; a compresiion tester should be used to determine compression is within allowable parameters and that the reading is pretty even among all cylinders. Valve timing as well as valve clearances are a primary factor of compression. Camshaft and cranckshaft marlers should be properly aligned and the chain should have proper tension. An engine without compression will not draw fuel into the cylinders and could be a cause for dry plugs. Ignition timing, check the manual for the engine's firing order and make sure that wires are in the proper sequence from distributor to plugs. Verify static timing by insuring a spark at Cylinder #1 when that cylinder is at top dead center. The spark should be strong, if not check the gap on the points and the plugs. With good compression the engine should be sucking fuel out of the carburator so make sure that there is fuel in the float bowl. The engine may run rough until properly tuned but at least should fire if these items are present.

 

[Monty Miller]

Peggie, you cracked my wife and I up with that story.

It reminds of a long time ago when I was going to college and I didn't have very much money. My car started to run rough and I took it to the garage and they wanted big bucks to tune it. I got the brilliant idea to do it myself. I bought all the tune up stuff from condensor to PVC valves and spark plugs and coil, etc., just like the original post listed. I did it all in the student parking lot and met some pretty women while I replaced everything. It wouldn't start after I did all those things and had to have it towed to the garage and it ending up costing way more then they quoted me originally. Lessons learned. Replace one thing at a time and see if it still starts.

 

[zeehag]

hay smooth sailing--didja ever get yer atomic bomb started????

 

[smoothsailing]

Only needs air, fuel and spark...you have verified spark apparently...now, hold your hand over the carb throat while cranking -just a few seconds..you should feel your hand being "sucked down"...

then there is fuel...you should be able to SEE the fuel being sprayed in to the carb throat by manually moving the linkage towards accelerate.

IF all three of these is happening, then you have a timing issue or stuck valve or mechanical problem. Wires could be misplaced or backwards.

It is odd that ether does not even pop...blockage or valve not opening. Even more odd is the popping noise while cranking..that possibly indicates a stuck/broken valve...

How did you verify spark, fuel pressure? When did the engine last work and who did the new parts replacement...

SPARK: Hold coil HV wire 1/4 to ground. Nice spark
Hold SP wire to ground. Nice spark

FUEL PRESSURE: My mechanic checked. Said OK

PARTS REPLACEMENTS: Myself. Done correctly by the book. Mechanic says OK

LAST RUN: 6/9/11 Ran great 1hr plus. Week later N/G

 

[smoothsailing]

Re: A-4

hay smooth sailing--didja ever get yer atomic bomb started????

Short on time. Not yet.

I will post when prob. is solved

 

[KD3PC]

Spark test, maybe this is what you describe...using an insulated tool, place the spark plug in the cable end and hold the end of the plug to ground while cranking...spark? or not? at the electrode of the plug..

Fuel test....look down the throat of the carb, while manually advancing the throttle linkage...confirm that fuel spray is seen entering the carb throat.

Verify plug wires are correctly ordered in the cap.

else you need to remove the valve cover and make sure that the valves are rising and falling as you crank the engine.

keep us posted as to what you find.