T25 wont start??????

[hunt*266]

Hi guys im new to the forums so please bare with me ......
Im in desprate need of a little help as i have now run out of ideas. i recently brought my first T25 2.4 Aircooled CU engine with twin carbs which im really chuffed about but after driving her home from weston supermere to portsmouth with only a few minor coughs and splutters on the start of my journey i have since pulled her up on my nans drive and have only managed to get her started with a bump start. which was a real easy start i might add. since then i haven't been able to start her with the key????
I have been trawling all sorts of sights and have used my mechanical knowledge which is adverage if not slightly above id say. I have also dabbled with aircooleds in the past as i have a 67 beetle going through extensive restoration.
things ive tried are as follows:
New leads (as old were very ropey)
new starter and bush as turning very slow and old one had burnt out!!
new rotor arm and dizzy cap (agian didnt look too great)
new points as old looked shot and was hardly getting a spark
new battery as old wasnt holding charge
The reason i am a little stuck is i seem to have a more consistent spark now and fuels going into the pots but still no fire up????
I did notice a fuel leak comming from the carbs, could this be drawing in to much air i wonder?????
also the van does still seem to turn rather slow is this normal??? Any help on this would be great guys as all i want to do is get out and play
Thanks for your time and sorry bout any punctuation or spelling mistakes.

[BOXY]

You shouldn't have points unless you've got a 009 dizzie fitted. Try the gap at 0.6mm and set the timing to around 8 BTDC. If it''s timed at 4' ATDC like it would be if it had a dual-vac dizzie it might not fire up?

[hunt*266]

Cheers for your reply BOXY, Yeah its a 009 dizzie so will give that a try when i get some decent light ive set the points gap at 0.4mm so il try 0.6mm. il also have a play with the timing, didn't realise the timing would be that different with the 009 apart from the intial position of 1 being at 7 o'clock rather then 5? but worth a try cheers again

[Choppski]

Have you checked the saprk plugs are in good condition - or better relpace them?
have you got a spark from the coil?
have you checked the earth cable is in place and cleaned it up?

Also you say it turns over slow, is it just slow or doesn't fire up unless you jump start it?

[BOXY]

didn't realise the timing would be that different with the 009 apart from the intial position of 1 being at 7 o'clock rather then 5?

With a dual vac dizzie, the idle vac signal retards the timing to 4-6'ATDC. At lowish RPM this signal drops out and the timing advances to about 6-8'BTDC. As the engine speed increases the mechanical advance takes the timing up to about 30'BTDC. Finally the second vac signal takes the timing to about 40'BTDC. The 009 dizzie is only mechanical so the extra few degrees at the top and bottom of the timing curve are out of reach. One of the problems with the 009 dizzie seems to be how they vary in performance. I timed mine by running the engine at high revs and setting the maximun advance to just under 40'BTDC. This gave me an idle timing of 8'BTDC. I ended up with a a points gap of 0.6mm because this seemed to give a quicker throttle response and a bit more torque up hills.

I did fit the original electronic set-up for a few days and the van seemed to have a bit more poke, but the Hall sensor gave up so I put the 009 back on. If you can get hold of the electronic set-up it'll make starting easier and maybe better MPG?

[kevtherev]

yes Boxy, a time- ly reminder that the van originally came with modern electronic ignition..
starter earth or the live braid on the motor is faulty?

[rubarb]

Is the new battery holding it's charge? If not the alernator may be goosed or a short somewhere. Just a thought

[jimpainter]

Could just be a bad earth causing the slow turning of the starter motor.
You say that you have spark and fuel, Have you done a compression check?
If you have all them it will start depending on how fast the motor turns over.
Jim

[hunt*266]

Thanks for your replys, I have checked and cleaned spark plugs, both earth straps and its a brand new starter with test certs so don't think it would be anything to do with starter itself. I haven't yet done a compression test but thought if it was to do with lack of compression then it wouldn't run? I will still and have already thought about checking the compression. what would be the normal compression readings?
cheers again all the advice is much appreciated.

[Plasticman]

Well as others have alluded to, I woulld get the sod cranking at a decent rate before going anywhere else, as without this you have no chance, and will just throw more money at stuff for no gain.
mm

[ermie571]

In relation to the slow starting....

mine was suffering similar issues. Starter was serviced, and the problem remained. Battery checked, and found to be ok too. Oilite bush was changed.

Checked output of alternator at alternator when running....Good. Checked at Battery when running....much lower. Followed the cables (big thick red one) and one ran off to the big black box in the engine bay, in which there is a stud to which the wire is bolted to. Welllll.....was covered in GREEN! and poor connection, and other grottiness that was preventing the leccy getting to where it should have been going. So, was all cleaned, the cable made good, new connections, the bolt cleaned and sanded down, and all reconnected. All new connections at the starter as well.

Now turns over with enthusiasm.

Just a thought....if you are sure that the pieces of equipment at either end of the circuit are performing as they should....then check the bits that join them together! In this instance, the multimeter was my mate's best mate!!

Em
xx

[Plasticman]

How nicely put good technical detail then we have "the bits that join them together" couldnt have put it better and you made my day start with a
mm

[hunt*266]

hi guys thanks for all your help, been busy over the festive period but got to spend some time on the van today!! After checking all points, and all connections to the starter i decided to turn my attention to the timing. Well low and be hold after taking your advice boxy and setting at 8 BTDC (originally 16 BTDC..... ) she fired write up almost straight away!!! . just like to say a big thanks guys, also now turned my attention to the carbs as leaking fuel and found inlet manifolds where loose, once carbs are back on i think il set the timing properly with a light just to make sure all is sweeet!!!
Cheers again, cant thank you all enough for your advice and il be speaking again soon.