QuestionHello Howard,
I rebuilt mgb engine 18v673z completely. The crankshaft was reground, pistons are new and liners was implemented.
The engine has new camshaft piper 285. I setup the valves, carburetors and the candle got a spark . Unfortunately I have problem to do the first engine start.
Could you give me any advice what to do start the engine?
Thank you,
Mariusz
AnswerHi Mariusz,
All engines require the same three items to run with conditions on each. Compression, Fire and Fuel.
Compression- must be 125 to 180 PSI on a compression test.
Fire- must have a good spark available to the plug and at the correct time.
Fuel- must be a combustible fuel available to the combustion chamber in roughly the correct air/fuel ratio.
Compression test easily done with a compression gauge.
Fire can be checked with a timing light or a quick rough test is to remove the plugs and place the plugs on each wire and lay the plugs on a metal part of the engine and put you thumb over the plug hole on #1 and have someone spin the engine. When the compression comes up on #1 it will blow your thumb off of the hole with a "Pop" sound. At the same time you can see the plug spark and it will make a "Click" sound. When the timing is close to correct for it to run, it will seem that the "click" is causing the "Pop". If it is "Click'- "Pop" or "Pop-Click" the timing is probably far enough off not to start. The spark should be think and blue in color too.
Fuel is also easy to test by just spraying a little starter fluid into the intake when trying to start the engine.
Howard
