engine won't crank after pulling distributor

[JV1964]

I recently replaced my manifold gasket on a 1983 350 mercruiser engine.. To do so I had to remove the distributor. After putting it all back together she won't crank up..I have checked for any loose wires and all is good.. I did mark the cap with a marker so as not to lose the timing setting. I am having doubts now about the timing. She was cranking up fine before the repair. If i attempt to start it up while turning the distributor slowly and it is the timing will this turn the engine over? Thanks for any help

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: engine won't crank after pulling distributor

Crank the engine over until the number one piston is coming up on the compression stroke. You can remove all the spark plugs and crank it over with your finger in the #1 spark plug hole and wait until you feel the compression start to build up. Both valves will be closed.

Next, watch for the timing mark to come to TDC. Stop the cranking there. Now set the distributor so that the rotor is pointing at the #1 position on the distributor, ie. where the #1 spark plug wire would be when the cap was in place.

Insert the distributor into place and make sure the gear is engaged. Then push it into place. The distributor gear is a bevel gear which means that the distributor shaft will rotate when you push it into place. You need to watch to see how much it turns and then compensate by backing off the position on initial insertion so that it is perfectly lined up when it is fully seated.

The oil pump shaft may be driven by the bottom of the distributor. If it is then it may be difficult to get the distributor to line up with the hex shaft in the oil pump at the same time you have the gears lined up. When you are absolutely sure you have it ready to go in and have the gears engaged, just rotate the engine a slight bit until the oil pump shaft lines up and it will go in easily.

Recheck the position by going thru the cranking process described above and make sure that the rotor points to the #1 position on the cap when the crankshaft is lined up on TDC on the compression stroke.

Remember, the crankshaft is lined up on TDC twice as the distributor turns around, once on TDC when the piston is coming up on the exhaust stroke and once when it is coming up on the compression stroke!! Don't get the two positions confused. Make sure you are on TDC on the compression stroke

 

[calwldlif]

Re: engine won't crank after pulling distributor

It won't start?
Or will it not crank?

 

[Kevin70]

Re: engine won't crank after pulling distributor

uuuummmm .....yeah.....what Reel Poor said. Did you check the positive lead to the coil? How about the coil lead to the distributor?

 

[milkyway]

Re: engine won't crank after pulling distributor

Describe clearly what happens after you hit the ignition.

 

[bamadave]

Re: engine won't crank after pulling distributor

Marking the cap probably didn't help. Taking the cap off and marking where the rotor was pointing would have been better. Best would have been put on top dead center and then pulled the distributor. Follow Reel Poors suggestion, he's dead on. Make sure it's timed before anything else.

 

[hullofalottatrouble]

Re: engine won't crank after pulling distributor

wondering if it is not even getting the engine to turn over or it turns over but doest start and run like others have mentioned??

if it is starting that you need help with.. my 350 set up is with cyl 1 plug at roughly 6 oclock on the distributor.. assuming that 6 is pointing towards the front of the engine.. and 12 towards the flywheel.. that at least was good enough to get it fired up. .

did you get all the plugs back in the correct firing order? 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 if its a standard LH rotation..

 

[Scaaty]

Re: engine won't crank after pulling distributor

"She was cranking up fine before the repair. If i attempt to start it up while turning the distributor slowly and it is the timing will this turn the engine over? "

Just WHAT do you mean here.....Ya got us all lost in space.

 

[Robert Pitts]

Re: engine won't crank after pulling distributor

Have you tried pushing the distributor?

 

[freddyray21]

Re: engine won't crank after pulling distributor

you marked the cap but not the rotor. start over with the good directions listed above for finding number one compression and tdc then put the dist in right.

 

[JV1964]

Re: engine won't crank after pulling distributor

ok i will try to clear things up...the engine will turn but not start up.. an i marked the cap but i didn't take the cap off as suggested and mark the rotor itself..I am pretty sure that it is the timing..What I meant about turning the distributor as i attempt to start it is that in the past I have had engines that were slightly off time and wouldn't start just turn...and i got them to fire up by having someone turn the key while i turned the distributor slightly until she fired up then put a timing gun to it..

 

[hullofalottatrouble]

Re: engine won't crank after pulling distributor

i would think you would mark the distributor and the intake manifold? once you get the timing set and know its right.. then you can just line up the marks again...

only thing i mark on the cap is the firing order.. so i can make sure to put my plugs wires back in right..

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: engine won't crank after pulling distributor

If the shaft turned at all in the dist. housing during the removal or instillation process all bets are off on the timing. See Reel Poor's post.

 

[calwldlif]

Re: engine won't crank after pulling distributor

For future ref there are 2 things to
mark/note.
1 dist housing to block (mark housing and block)
2 direction rotor is pointing (crank untill rotor pointing
to a ref point)

To regain timing:
place engine damper to basic timing pos.
(note how your cap is orientated to #1 wire)
pull distributor to allow turning of rotor untill
pointing to where #1 wire is.
Use your meathod you mentioned to start. OR

Get test light/DVM attach to neg side coil.
Twist dist untill light lights up(points closed)
Continue to twist(note proper rotor turning direction
when you turn damper to proper timing mark)(TDC)
untill light just goes out.
This is now static time.

 

[JV1964]

Re: engine won't crank after pulling distributor

ok guys thanks alot..I will try your suggestions and post on the results..

 

[paulrfrancisco]

Re: engine won't crank after pulling distributor

When you hit the ignition switch does the engine turn freely or does it turn and bind, turn and bind.... Also check to see if you have spark... It sounds line no spark vs timing...