Author Topic: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run  (Read 4276 times)

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Offline Nick0

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Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« on: April 06, 2014, 07:13:35 PM »
So I have put my engine back together and put all the wiring on and I can get it to start, the engine turns over fine and has both spark and fuel. I don't understand how it not be firing but  it appears to be blowing a most of fuel out of the carbs? Where did I screw up


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Offline mcswny

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #1 on: April 06, 2014, 07:31:56 PM »
You running points or an electronic ignition? I had a similar sounding thing happened and I just crossed the blue and yellow wires going to the coils...


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Offline Nick0

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #2 on: April 06, 2014, 07:40:32 PM »
Points


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Offline Nick0

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2014, 07:41:06 PM »
I've tried the coil wires both ways


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DH

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2014, 07:48:16 PM »
valves adjusted too tight?/not closing......Floats stuck? Did it run before you took it apart? What has changed since then?
« Last Edit: April 06, 2014, 07:50:10 PM by DH »

Offline Nick0

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #5 on: April 06, 2014, 08:19:30 PM »
I readjusted all my tappets according to my clymer and everything seemed correct


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Offline Nick0

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #6 on: April 06, 2014, 08:20:30 PM »
I was having float troubles before I took it apart but it still ran great and started right up


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Offline mcswny

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #7 on: April 06, 2014, 08:37:47 PM »
What does "newly assembled" mean? Did you do a rebuild?


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Offline Dr. Noisewater

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #8 on: April 06, 2014, 09:33:15 PM »
Are you sure the ignition timing is correct? Is enough gas getting to the cylinder or is it all dumping out of the carbs?

Offline Don R

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #9 on: April 06, 2014, 10:15:26 PM »
Cam timed properly? spark plugs wet? forgive us for guessing but we don't have much info to work with.
« Last Edit: April 06, 2014, 10:23:11 PM by Don R »
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Offline Nick0

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #10 on: April 07, 2014, 03:12:53 AM »

What does "newly assembled" mean? Did you do a rebuild?


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yes fresh top end honed cylinders, new rings, new gaskets and seals, lapped valves.


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Offline Nick0

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Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #11 on: April 07, 2014, 03:15:37 AM »
Are you sure the ignition timing is correct? Is enough gas getting to the cylinder or is it all dumping out of the carbs?
not certain but I I imagine it should be close enough to at least start up. Gas is coming out of the carbs but the plugs are wet so it seems to be getting to the cylinder too.


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« Last Edit: April 07, 2014, 03:22:53 AM by Nick0 »

Offline Nick0

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Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #12 on: April 07, 2014, 03:19:00 AM »
Cam timed properly? spark plugs wet? forgive us for guessing but we don't have much info to work with.
Is there such thing as 180 degrees out with the cam? Could I have lined up the marks on the cam chain sprocket even with the cases at tdc but put the cam facing the wrong way? I didn't think that was possible. Spark plugs are wet


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« Last Edit: April 07, 2014, 03:21:33 AM by Nick0 »

Offline Nick0

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #13 on: April 07, 2014, 03:19:23 AM »
Bike is a cb350f


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Offline Nick0

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #14 on: April 07, 2014, 03:20:43 AM »
1972


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AJK

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #15 on: April 07, 2014, 03:23:08 AM »
Cam timed properly? spark plugs wet? forgive us for guessing but we don't have much info to work with.

+1

If everything else is within spec (I.e. ignition timing and fuel), then you need to check whether the valve timing was not set correctly during assembly.

also, are your mixture screws set say 1 turn out from the base?

Offline trueblue

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #16 on: April 07, 2014, 03:39:28 AM »
Go back to basics.  Make sure everything is 100% perfect.  Now isn't the time to be guessing or imagining.  Do your base timing setting correctly, check you're getting fuel into the cylinders.  Pull the plugs and make sure they are getting wet after cranking for a while.  Make sure you have good strong spark, I use a screw driver and stick it in the plug cap, I then balance the screwdriver so I have about a 10mm gap to the head.  Wind it over it should throw a spark over the 10mm gap easily, don't touch the screwdriver while cranking, it can throw a spark through the plastic handle.  It hurts like hell and could be the last mistake you make if you have a dickey ticker.  Don't worry about the colour of the spark, that has more to do with gases in the atmosphere than it does spark voltages.  If you have the clymers manual, it shows which colour wire goes to which coil.  Do your tappet clearance one cylinder at a time, when the valves on 4 are on the rock, adjust number 1, when number 3 are rocking adjust number 2 and vice versa.  These engines can never be 180 out on the cam, the spark system is wasted spark, which means the spark fires on 2 cylinders at a time, and the spark is triggered off of the crank.  The cam turns at half crankshaft speed, so everytime the crank does one full revolution the cam does 180 degrees.
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Offline Nick0

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #17 on: April 07, 2014, 05:02:19 AM »
I pulled the plug and stuck it in the boot and rested the base of the plug on the head of a Bolt on the engine and I'm getting spark


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Offline Nick0

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #18 on: April 07, 2014, 05:16:34 AM »
I adjusted my tappets according to the Manual. Rotated the engine clockwise untill both valves on the right hand cylinder were closed and timing mark pointed to the t(indicating a compression stroke) then set the indicated tappets then did one more rotation and stopped at t and set all other tappets


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Offline 05c50

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #19 on: April 07, 2014, 05:26:12 AM »
I agree with Trueblue, go back to basics, but I would go all the way............Check the compression. If the valve timing is off, your compression will be low and could cause pressure to shoot out of the carbs.  You said that it won't even fire, but is putting gas out of the carbs. If the ignition isn't firing, then it won't cause gas to  back out.

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Offline Nick0

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #20 on: April 07, 2014, 07:13:45 AM »
Well I then I must be firing out of synch with the valves ?


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Offline Nick0

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #21 on: April 07, 2014, 07:15:26 AM »
It did backfire out of the carb yesterday


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Offline mcswny

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #22 on: April 07, 2014, 07:34:00 AM »
I know you checked the wiring coming off your points, but that sounds literally exactly like what happened to my bike 2 weeks ago when I pulled and retorqued my engine...
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Offline Nick0

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #23 on: April 07, 2014, 08:10:32 AM »
Well the valves are either opening out of time of the spark is firing at the incorrect time. Will a compression test tell me weather my valves are closing correctly ? Low reading=valve problem? Thanks to everyone who has replied


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Offline 05c50

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Re: Things to check when a newly assembled engine won't run
« Reply #24 on: April 07, 2014, 12:00:57 PM »
If the compression is low, the cam timing may be off allowing the valves to open too early or too late. Low compression can also be caused by a valve that is not closing completely due to mis adjustment. Also, the rings may not be sealing, but not likely in this case.

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