Not Firing Up ?

[The Bird Man]

Hi everyone, I'm trying to start my SJ engine for the first time in nearly a year of standing still. All I've got wired up is the battery, coil, starter and obviously the radiator. Now I had a split second of it firing up yesterday but only for two seconds, I believe that the battery didn't have enough charge in it to keep it running as no alternator yet. So I swapped batteries with a fully charged one, I tried and tried again until that battery was flat but nothing, turning over fine, I'm getting sparks, fuel is being pumped round. I put both batteries on charge and both are now full so I put one back in my car and thought I would try and jump start it to give it more chance of starting up but still no luck. I've had this engine running before I started this whole project and haven't touched anything engine wise other than the timing belt which I'm pretty positive that I've got right. Is there anything you guys can suggest, am I forgetting something ? Thanks, Eddie

[The Bird Man]

I'm pretty sure the timing engine timing belt is all cushty as all the marks are lined up alright, I had it a T.D.C on the compression stroke. Now I'm not sure if the ignition timing is perfect as I haven't got a timing gun, I don't see why would be out as like I said, nothing in that department has been touched. Though if it is that, how do I go out adjusting it without a strobe light ? Could I do any damage if I turned the distribute too much ?

[The Bird Man]

Right, turns out that the fuel isn't getting pump round ( I think ) I squirted some fuel straight into the carb from the air intake and it fires up for a split second then cuts out. I've got a tin can half full of petrol leading into the top of the carb, I thought this would be sufficient for it to pump enough around ?

[The Bird Man]

IT'S ALIVE !!!!!!! Dam, it's a good feeling striking it up for the first time after being so long. I can see light at the end of this tunnel now

[twiss]

Check any fuel filters as they may be full of crap

[The Bird Man]

Will do, cheers pal This is something close to what my reaction was when it fired up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9Lx7chd5X8

[muddymesser]

thats the same reaction i had when i put the new engine in