need to fire engine 1st time

[Josh9685]

Hi,<br />I have a recently rebuild 460 Ford in my boat, which has a berkeley jet drive in it.<br /><br />I am attempting to fire it for the first time, and it won't start.<br /><br />I pore some gas down the holley carb,<br />have my wife crank it while I turn the distributor back and forth, <br />I have gotten a couple of pops, and a couple of backfires through the carb., but thats it.<br /><br />I was once told the fuel pump was bad, but the boat was running at the time, I attributed the low fuel pressure to the engine doghouse sitting on the rubber fuel line. <br />at any rate, I would expect more than a couple of pops and backfires.<br /><br />what gives?<br /><br />thanks<br />Josh

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: need to fire engine 1st time

It sounds like the ignition timing, firing order, and/or dwell may be off.

 

[Bondo]

Re: need to fire engine 1st time

1st Guess would be the Dist. is in 180*s Out.................

 

[Josh9685]

Re: need to fire engine 1st time

firing order is good,<br />what does 180 degrees off mean?<br />what is dwell?

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: need to fire engine 1st time

Dwell is measuing the time the points are open. Make sure they are set properly before setting the timing to manufactures specs.<br /><br />How to install a distributor: <br /><br />Crank the engine over until the number one piston is coming up on the compression stroke. Crank it over with your finger over/pluging the #1 spark plug hole and wait until you feel the compression start to build up. Both valves will be closed. <br /><br />Next, continue to rotate the engine until the timing mark comes to TDC. Stop 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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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

 

[Josh9685]

Re: need to fire engine 1st time

hey,<br />thanks for the instructions,<br />I did something similar but it never occured to me to check the timing indicator...duh!!!!!<br /><br />Josh

 

[RedRangerVIP]

Re: need to fire engine 1st time

Just a thought but , is the timing gear marks aligned properly?<br />I agree with Bondo also. Sounds like distributor is 180 out. (It's trying to fire on the exhaust stroke instead of on the compression stroke).