New Engine - Will not start

[mattrsa]

Hi All

I had a new engine built a few months ago and have finally got round to getting it into the van after a few mishaps

The engine is a cu type 4 Aircooled 2L which is the exact spec (apart from a mild cam) as the last engine. The old engine had twin dell 36's installed which were working fine when removed them and boxed them up.

I have now bolted them to the new engine and set the timing roughly correct and it does not seem to want to fire up.

I have checked everything I can think off. The engine is spinning as I can hear it and have checked the starter motor it working. There is plenty of fuel getting to the carbs as I have an electric fuel pump installed and the plugs are sparking. All the plugs and leads are brand new from machine 7.

I figured that although the carbs may need setting up again to get them perfect there would at least be close enough to get the engine to fire up but I have had no joy. It has threatened to fire up a few times but never quite does it

Any advice would be great as this is rally doing my head in.

regards
Matt

[kevtherev]

Reluctant starting after a rebuild is frustrating.
But you must have patience and eliminate things methodicaly.

Were the carbs emptied or stored wet?
My money is on the timing

[kevtherev]

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[kevtherev]

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[kevtherev]

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[kevtherev]

.. I dont know what happened there
but it repeated my post a few times

[mattrsa]

thanks for all the replies

The carbs were emptied when stored.

Your very right, this is incredibly frustrating and I am beginning to lose patients all together.

Matt

[BOXY]

Just check you haven't got the dizzie 180' out. Is No1 definitely at TDC on compression and not TDC on exhaust when the rotor is pointing at the mark on the distributor rim?
The only other thing I can think of if you've got a spark and fuel is getting to the carbs, is maybe the fuel has gone off? If it's been sitting in the tank for a few months drain it out and try a fresh gallon or two.

[mattrsa]

Not sure how I know for sure that it is on TDC for compression or exhaust

A number of people I have spoke to have suggested that cap may be 180 out but I don't think this is the case.

Added 5L of new fuel last night as I thought it might be a bit low .

Looks like I am going to have to get it towed to a garage and see what they can do.

[kevtherev]

Put a squirt of fuel in the carbs and crank it
dry stored carbs some times glue up or residue gets dislodged to block idle jets.
Fuel straight down the throat will tell you whether the carb is fueling the engine..
Or your timing is out..

Do you have an electrical idle speed valve?

[jason k]

aye as kev says drop some fuel in.

it can take an age just to fill the bowls on dells if dry, either that or try tow starting it.

[BOXY]

Not sure how I know for sure that it is on TDC for compression or exhaust

If you take the spark plug out of the No1 cylinder and hold something air tight over the hole you should be able to feel the air being pushed out as the cylinder comes up on compression. You can turn the engine over by using the nut in the centre of the fan under the basket, or put the van in gear (on the flat) and push it forwards. Some people say screw a cork into the spark plug hole but I'm always worried about bits of cork falling into the cylinder. Once you're happy the piston is at TDC, check the mark on the fan pulley is at 0' on the timing scale and that the rotor is pointing to the part of the dizzie cap that the HT lead from the No1 plug is attached to. If it all lines up then as Kev says fuel is probably the problem.

[mattrsa]

thanks for all the replies guys

I'm pretty sure that there is plenty of fuel getting to the carbs as when I hold the throttle linkage down with the fuel pump on I can see the fuel coming out out the accelerator pump jet(according to the dellorto book) and dropping in the carb. And if I leave the ignition on for too long the fuel starts to come out the overflow pipe(but only on the right hand carb)

Guess I will have to have another go at making sure that the engine is on tdc for the compression stroke.

Kev : What is an electrical idle speed valve? As you prob have guess I'm not too clued up on these sorts of things