Checking for a spark

[albertramsbottom]

Hi

Can anyone tell how to check for spark to all four cilinders. Do I pull of the ht lead and hold to some clear metal on the engine or would i remove the spark plug and then hold it to a clean part of the engine or both.

I have just had a secondhand dizzy fitted by a freind which worked fine until this cold snap where I have been having difficulties starting my van. But on most occasions i have managed it in the end. Until that is, the last two days where i just havent been able to get it running. It turns for about 30 seconds with nothing and then it trys to fire or something happens but doesnt quite get there. It actually sounds like only one or two cilinders are popping.

When my mate fitted the dizzy we didnt have a timing gun so he told me it would need the timimg done.

Is there a process i should go through to check all parts of the electrical system

Cheers

[R0B]

its possible your dizzy is 180 degrees out..

[albertramsbottom]

its possible your dizzy is 180 degrees out..

Thanks

But it has run in its current position, would that be possible if the dizzy is 180 degrees out

Cheers

[albertramsbottom]

Does it matter where the vacume advance is as I have noticed that its on the front of the dizzy, rather than hidden behind lower down (which it was). Or is it simply an internal thing i.e where the spindle is set to

Cheers

[R0B]

if its been running ok then it prob isnt 180 out(should of read your post properly)to check if plugs are sparking.take each plug out one at a time.put plug back onto lead hold it against the engine get someone to crank engine.plug should spark.do this with all four plugs.

[albertramsbottom]

Thanks

Ill give it ago.

On another note, how does one check if the choke is working properly. I have an automatic choke (Aircooled 2lt 1983), well i think i have one anyway becuase there isnt a lever anywhere.

I ask becuase when i pulled the air filter off i noticed that one choke was open and the other was closed. Excuse my ignornace but the choke is the butterfly valve in the top of the carbs?

Cheers

Ill get there

[albertramsbottom]

Just been searching on this forum and its seems that there are other people who have there dizzy 180 degrees out after rebuilds and the engine has still run but with eratic idle and a bit of huccuping.

My idel was eratic and it did hickup somethimes. So back to my other question does it matter where the vacume advance is as this is in a different place than the old dizzy or is the 180 degree thingy and internal thing.

[albertramsbottom]

All day i have been turning this van over with noting but a pop. Battery went flat and I stromed off in a huff!

Just walked back to the van to get the battery to put on charge and i thought that ill just try once more.....and yipee it started with only 5 turns.

Great so I now know that ive got sparks, but the thing needs its timimg done. But why is it so hard to start in the cold.

One thing I notied was that the lefthand carb was sucking in to much air. At the back of the carb there is a round cilinder with a wire sticking out of it. Now this was a bit lose and when i push it the carb stops sucking in air. What is this and how does one tighten it.

Cheers guys

[jason k]

both butterflys should be closed when its cold so you have one choke not working!!!

as for the thing thats leaking bang a photo up.

you really do need to get this van to gasure sharpish!!!

running lean will burn valves / pistons.

[albertramsbottom]

both butterflys should be closed when its cold so you have one choke not working!!!

as for the thing thats leaking bang a photo up.

you really do need to get this van to gasure sharpish!!!

running lean will burn valves / pistons.

I thought both should be open when its cold to let more air to the engine or is it less air and more fuel?

Ill bang an image tommorow. It might be in a different post as I am drifting from the original thread

Thanks again

[jason k]

both closed when cold and open when warm. its a choke. less air to enrichen for starting.

[albertramsbottom]

Hi

I havent bothered taking a pic of the bit on the card as i have found out that its the central air cut off thingy on the lefthand carb.

And mine is lose which is causing the engine once warm to idle too high. When i push it back in the engine idles corectly. I was wondering how one tightens this as it doesnt seem to have a nut or bolt.

Cheers