QuestionHoward- i had to start a new question but here is what you asked me before,
"Remove a spark plug and then reconnect the plug wire to the plug and lay the plug on a metal part of the engine. Yes use the starter to spin the engine and watch the spark plug to see if it sparks. This is a test for spark when an engine will not start. If the engine starts but will not idle, you don't need to do this test because if it runs, you know it has spark.
How much old gas was in the fuel tank and how much new super unleaded did you add? If there was a lot of old stale gas in the tank and you only added a few gallons of super to it, the problem could still be the gas.
Did you ever do the compression test? You can waste a lot of time trying to hunt and peck at fixing a problem if you skip important preliminary tests that are necessary."
I put about 2 gallons of super in the tank and don't know how much old gas was in it at the time but I would estimate about 1/4 tank.
Which one was the compression test? Spraying the WD40 in the intake? If so then no I did not do that yet. What intake are you referring to, the carb intake or the hole where the sparkplug is located? When I took the new sparkplugs off after it died the first time, I could smell gas on them so I assumed it was getting gas.
Sorry for all of the very basic questions I am asking as this is the first time I have restored a vehicle.
Thanks, Ross
AnswerSorry Ross, I was doing some assuming.
A compression test is when you remove all spark plugs and take a compression gauge (not expensive and available at auto parts stores and even Wall Marts)
and put it in a spark plug hole and use the starter to spin the engine at least 4 or 5 revolutions and be sure to hold the throttle wide open during the test. You should expect to see at least 125 PSI to 180 PSI on the test. This test is called a "Dry" test. A second compression test on that same cylinder called a "Wet" test should be done right after the "Dry" test. This test must have about a teaspoon of engine oil put in the spark plug hole and run the compression test just like before. The gauge readings will be higher on the "Wet" test but should only be about 10% to 15% higher. If the "Wet" test is a lot higher then you have a piston ring problem on that cylinder. You should run the "Dry" and the "Wet" test on each cylinder.
As far as the gas is, you should smell the gas to see if it is very old. You know what gas smells like and stale old gas smells completely different. If it smells bad you should drain it and put in fresh gas.
Howard
