Triumph Repair: TR5 will not start, bright sun light, vacuum gauge

Question
I have a TR5 which will not start after approx 6 months without being used. It is fully restored and had been recently been serviced prior to the no use period. The plugs, points, and fuel seem to OK. Can you advise what else is likely to be the problem. PS. I have replaced the battery and cranked the car for an extended period in an attempt to reprime the fuel injection system. I believe I can feel a pulse through the fuel leads to the injectors when attempting to start the car. I appreciate your help.

thanks

Answer
Hi Robert,
All engines only require 3 items to run, Compression, fire and fuel with conditions on each. Setting for 6 mo could be any one or more of the 3 so start from scratch with a compression test. It should be from 125 PSI to 170 PSI with little difference between cylinders. (be sure to hold the throttle open when testing) If it passes the compression test proceed to Fire and fuel. If it don't pass the compression test don't waste your time going any further until you fix the compression.

The test for Fuel is easy by just spraying a little starting fluid into the intake when someone tries to start the engine. If it starts but will only keep running if you keep spraying starter fluid then you know it is a fuel problem.

Fire is easy to test by removing a spark plug and reconnect the wire to the plug and lay the plug on a metal part of the engine and spin the engine over and watch the spark. It should be thick and blue in color (not is bright sun light)

Let me know which of the three it is and I will go over the test procedure for that section. Don't skip any of the tests.

Also, do one more test. put a vacuum gauge on the intake manifold and spin the engine over for at least 20 seconds and let me know what the reading was. (throttle closed)

Howard