it turns over when there are no spark plugs in

when they are in it tries but fails

is it me connecting it wrong
battery is form my tin top so is charged

any help

[Edited on 27/10/09 by greed1]

timing could be out ?? what engine is it

Bad earth or ectrical conection?
Darren

should have said that lol

it is a x flow 1700

Bad earth, I bet

knackered battery, tried jump leads or starter pack?

other than that bad earth

Cheers

Rich

timing could be 180 degrees ot have you set the static timing on the distributer using a bulb, battery not a problem as u state its from your tin top, could be an earth could also be a dodgy solenoid or starter drawing too much current

Is this a run in, known good engine?
Or an unknown or recently rebuilt engine?

unknown rebuilt engine but at least 5 years since it has been running i think
maybe earth as i was only holding it down a bolt head
the wire i was using was getting hot could that be a sign of a dodgy solenoid/starter

thanks for the fast replies

this is going to sound daft - disconnect the alternator belt. I had a duff alternator, it caused so much friction with the plugs in the starter wasn't man enough to turn it all over! Although for u i'd expect it to be one of the previous suggestions

it is worth a try if a better earth doesn't do it before i start to take bits off the engine

A dogy earth willmake the wire hot at the point of poor contact as heat is produced at the point of high resistance.
Darren

if you take the plugs out does it turn over easily by hand - ie no compression.

If it has been sitting for 5 years. could be the rings have dried out and sized in the bores.

Some oil into the bores and turn manually to lubricate the pistons might help

i had put oil on the pistons when i took the valves out to relap them
it does turn over easy


edit

i forgot to say it was onlt turning slow with the spark plugs out

[Edited on 28/10/09 by greed1]

I had this exact same problem. I checked everything, turned out it was the old inertia starter motor, replaced with new in exchange for old plus £15 and job was sorted.

Then it's either...

A bad battery, but you say thats ok in your tin-top.
or...
a very tight engine. Can you turn it by hand with the plugs out?

or...
Battery and earth leads not up to the job or poorly connected,
or...
A poor starter,

Try adding good jump leads direct from the battery to the starter main feed and the starter body. If that cures it its the leads, if not it's the starter.

adrian

Had a similar problem with mine recently. After checking all leads and contacts it turned out that the armature windings in the starter motor had part-failed.
So despite a fully charged battery and clean contacts throughout it would only turn over imtermittently. A re-furbed replacement sorted it out.
May be worth taking it off and having your local specialist bench testing it for you.

BOL, Pewe

put a better earth wire and properly bolted to the gearbox which did make it turn faster without plugs
but with spark plugs in if still failed

there was a small amount of smoke that came from the starter motor so i guess that is the next thing to change


thanks for all the help i will you keep up to date

What is the compression ratio? Most tuned crossflows really need a geared motor to turn over properly!

all of the compressions are 170 does that sound right

quote:

---

Originally posted by austin man
timing could be 180 degrees ot have you set the static timing on the distributer using a bulb, battery not a problem as u state its from your tin top, could be an earth could also be a dodgy solenoid or starter drawing too much current

---

no i mean the compression ratio, if its high thaen the starter motor will has trouble compressing the air in the engine when turning it over

how do i find out what the compression ratio is

turning the engine by hand haw easy is easy

quote:

---

Originally posted by rusty nuts
If the engine turns over more easily check the throttle cable and the choke cable for damage

---

thanks for all the help

to start with it was a bad earth

then it was a bad positive (losing voltage through the switch (wired wrong by me)

then the points werent making contact

then when i got that sorted the ignition timing was 90 degrees out

but now it lives

quick question without making another thread
should a ZX6R fuel pump stop running when it gets to pressure

thanks again graham (who couldnt have done it if a mate wasnt driving past my house on his way to Cumbria)

yes